Ashley Barron
Ashley Barron
And So It Begins
This morning, my new day dawned.
Ava arrived on Amazon’s e-shelves sometime around 4:00 AM. In the coming weeks, the novel will find its way to other e-shelves, too.
There were untold challenges presented, encountered, and traversed during this long journey to transform a simple idea, just one sentence on a page, into a novel about love, politics, relationships, and murder.
I spent most of this month locked away in, perhaps, this author’s interpretation of seclusion. During that time, I lived in the land of the Priyas, and they were as real to me as any human I’ve ever encountered.
It’s hard for me to remember that life existed before them, the Priyas. I haven’t yet decided what side of normal that falls on, but it is the truth. My truth.
Authors, you have walked this path before me, this path to a first novel. You know the dazed look in my eyes and the quiet, secret pride in my heart, because you, too, have felt it, lived it.
The journey is long and, at different points, I’ve had my doubts and struggles. Turning away from what one knows and cutting a new path, a new road, takes everything that person has to give—and that’s just on the first day. If there was one lesson from this experience, one piece of knowledge that rises above all others, it’s this: Have patience in all things.
I was never exactly sure when Ava would be finished, not until the moment I found myself staring at a new sentence on an old page and knowing, finally understanding, I had reached the end.
And that reaching the end of my first novel was, in fact, the real beginning. For Ava, for the Priyas, and for me.
Ava arrived on Amazon’s e-shelves sometime around 4:00 AM. In the coming weeks, the novel will find its way to other e-shelves, too.
There were untold challenges presented, encountered, and traversed during this long journey to transform a simple idea, just one sentence on a page, into a novel about love, politics, relationships, and murder.
I spent most of this month locked away in, perhaps, this author’s interpretation of seclusion. During that time, I lived in the land of the Priyas, and they were as real to me as any human I’ve ever encountered.
It’s hard for me to remember that life existed before them, the Priyas. I haven’t yet decided what side of normal that falls on, but it is the truth. My truth.
Authors, you have walked this path before me, this path to a first novel. You know the dazed look in my eyes and the quiet, secret pride in my heart, because you, too, have felt it, lived it.
The journey is long and, at different points, I’ve had my doubts and struggles. Turning away from what one knows and cutting a new path, a new road, takes everything that person has to give—and that’s just on the first day. If there was one lesson from this experience, one piece of knowledge that rises above all others, it’s this: Have patience in all things.
I was never exactly sure when Ava would be finished, not until the moment I found myself staring at a new sentence on an old page and knowing, finally understanding, I had reached the end.
And that reaching the end of my first novel was, in fact, the real beginning. For Ava, for the Priyas, and for me.
The Challenge of Reviews
Writing my first novel has changed the way I read books.
Now, as I’m reading, I think about you, Author; I’m thinking about you in ways that I never, ever did before while buried in the pages of a story.
When I open a novel on my e-reader and it automatically takes me to the first page of the story, I find myself scrolling to the copyright, dedication, book cover, and anything else that may have been included before that opening page.
Why? Because the opening page no longer represents the beginning of the story, Author. Not for me.
Now, after all these years of reading and loving books, I realize what I had failed to grasp before I set out on this, the journey to self-publish my writing.
Now, I realize the story begins with you.
Why this story? Why now? Why these characters? This ending?
I wonder all of those things when I am reading your book.
At what point did you decide the story was all the way done? Which scenes were the hardest to write? Which pages did you cry over? Which character still haunts your dreams?
I wonder all of these things, too.
What’s strange, Author, is I’ve just realized, sitting here at my computer, that I only do these things, wonder these things, about fellow self/indie published authors.
Perhaps, knowing I can reach out and ask these questions, my mind opens and sees these novels in a different context, with a broader slice of interest, than those where I know the author is unreachable, untouchable, or uninvolved.
I think it all comes down to the little nuggets you picked up along the way to writing the story, Author. You know, the plain-looking, seemingly ordinary nuggets that others walk past, oblivious, but somehow your vision knows there is a diamond underneath that plain wrapping.
These are what interest me, these nuggets. Where did you find them? How did you turn them into stories, characters, plots, beginnings and endings?
Many times, I will find answers to my questions on your blog or on one of your social media accounts. Maybe you gave an interview discussing it, or wrote a guest post with information about how you transformed a single nugget into a book.
As a reader, I find myself searching for that nugget, that original idea, in your story. It’s like a treasure hunt. A wonderful, glorious search through words, ideas, blood, sweat, tears, hurts, hopes, failures, successes, and love, all elements in the magical art we call storytelling.
It’s the reason why I can’t do reviews for your books, Author.
No matter how much I admire, enjoy, cherish or love them, I no longer read books with a reader’s eye, a reader’s heart.
I’m seeing them as a writer does, as one who has traveled down the uncut path, and faced all the obstacles and doubts one must conquer in order to present a first novel to the world.
It takes an almost immeasurable amount of work—and heart—to reach that precise point. But you already know that, Author.
When I read your books, I’m looking for evidence of you, of your spirit, your energy, no matter the genre or plot.
I no longer see a novel as a story; I see it as your story.
Your creation, Author.
For the readers who, like me, prefer to have some background, some clues about the treasure we are about to hunt in the pages of your novel, I hope you will consider adding a little more detail to your e-books, Author.
Add in a little bio, a paragraph or two about you, and put it right at the front. Maybe add a photo of yourself, or links to your blog and social media. Put a bonus chapter, or outtakes, or a preview of your next novel at the end of this one.
Make sure the book summary is right there at the beginning, too. Several months may go by between the time I download your novel, and the time I read it. Help refresh my memory about the story.
If you’ve written a blog post that connects with the evolution of that story, link to it or include the post as almost a prologue of sorts in the e-book.
For example, I recently wrote a blog post about the origins of my short story, Famous. It’s about a daughter whose father has Alzheimer’s. The subject matter is tough, certainly, and it is a disease that touches the lives of most, if not all, Americans, in one way or another.
I wrote Famous for a reason. It was the direct result of an unexpected conversation, and I choose to share the origins of this story with readers here. I will be adding the blog post, in full, to the e-book to share background about the story for those who would like to have it.
Now that this post is nearly complete, I think I understand the point of it.
See beyond the obvious when finding ways to connect with your readers. Use the pages of your e-book to provide context for, and information about, the story, its origins, and why you are the one telling it.
Add a little something special to your e-pages, something the reader will discover only when he or she sits down and opens your novel, ready to get lost in its pages.
Your novel is, and always will be, the treasure, Author.
But social media has broadened the map, the location of clues, and the means of communicating them. Have fun planting those clues all over your social media and in your novel.
Let the hunt begin!
Now, as I’m reading, I think about you, Author; I’m thinking about you in ways that I never, ever did before while buried in the pages of a story.
When I open a novel on my e-reader and it automatically takes me to the first page of the story, I find myself scrolling to the copyright, dedication, book cover, and anything else that may have been included before that opening page.
Why? Because the opening page no longer represents the beginning of the story, Author. Not for me.
Now, after all these years of reading and loving books, I realize what I had failed to grasp before I set out on this, the journey to self-publish my writing.
Now, I realize the story begins with you.
Why this story? Why now? Why these characters? This ending?
I wonder all of those things when I am reading your book.
At what point did you decide the story was all the way done? Which scenes were the hardest to write? Which pages did you cry over? Which character still haunts your dreams?
I wonder all of these things, too.
What’s strange, Author, is I’ve just realized, sitting here at my computer, that I only do these things, wonder these things, about fellow self/indie published authors.
Perhaps, knowing I can reach out and ask these questions, my mind opens and sees these novels in a different context, with a broader slice of interest, than those where I know the author is unreachable, untouchable, or uninvolved.
I think it all comes down to the little nuggets you picked up along the way to writing the story, Author. You know, the plain-looking, seemingly ordinary nuggets that others walk past, oblivious, but somehow your vision knows there is a diamond underneath that plain wrapping.
These are what interest me, these nuggets. Where did you find them? How did you turn them into stories, characters, plots, beginnings and endings?
Many times, I will find answers to my questions on your blog or on one of your social media accounts. Maybe you gave an interview discussing it, or wrote a guest post with information about how you transformed a single nugget into a book.
As a reader, I find myself searching for that nugget, that original idea, in your story. It’s like a treasure hunt. A wonderful, glorious search through words, ideas, blood, sweat, tears, hurts, hopes, failures, successes, and love, all elements in the magical art we call storytelling.
It’s the reason why I can’t do reviews for your books, Author.
No matter how much I admire, enjoy, cherish or love them, I no longer read books with a reader’s eye, a reader’s heart.
I’m seeing them as a writer does, as one who has traveled down the uncut path, and faced all the obstacles and doubts one must conquer in order to present a first novel to the world.
It takes an almost immeasurable amount of work—and heart—to reach that precise point. But you already know that, Author.
When I read your books, I’m looking for evidence of you, of your spirit, your energy, no matter the genre or plot.
I no longer see a novel as a story; I see it as your story.
Your creation, Author.
For the readers who, like me, prefer to have some background, some clues about the treasure we are about to hunt in the pages of your novel, I hope you will consider adding a little more detail to your e-books, Author.
Add in a little bio, a paragraph or two about you, and put it right at the front. Maybe add a photo of yourself, or links to your blog and social media. Put a bonus chapter, or outtakes, or a preview of your next novel at the end of this one.
Make sure the book summary is right there at the beginning, too. Several months may go by between the time I download your novel, and the time I read it. Help refresh my memory about the story.
If you’ve written a blog post that connects with the evolution of that story, link to it or include the post as almost a prologue of sorts in the e-book.
For example, I recently wrote a blog post about the origins of my short story, Famous. It’s about a daughter whose father has Alzheimer’s. The subject matter is tough, certainly, and it is a disease that touches the lives of most, if not all, Americans, in one way or another.
I wrote Famous for a reason. It was the direct result of an unexpected conversation, and I choose to share the origins of this story with readers here. I will be adding the blog post, in full, to the e-book to share background about the story for those who would like to have it.
Now that this post is nearly complete, I think I understand the point of it.
See beyond the obvious when finding ways to connect with your readers. Use the pages of your e-book to provide context for, and information about, the story, its origins, and why you are the one telling it.
Add a little something special to your e-pages, something the reader will discover only when he or she sits down and opens your novel, ready to get lost in its pages.
Your novel is, and always will be, the treasure, Author.
But social media has broadened the map, the location of clues, and the means of communicating them. Have fun planting those clues all over your social media and in your novel.
Let the hunt begin!
The Countdown To 'Ava' Begins
Here, in Washington, D.C., some stories are hastily told.
Rushed through to fulfill an obligation, then left behind, forgotten, in the ruins of what once was or might have been.
Other stories are savored, brought to a boil time and again to extract the richness of each tasty detail, and shared with anyone who cares to partake.
That’s just life in a political town.
But this story, this tangle of events and perspectives and outcomes, is more than even these women had expected, bargained for, hoped for, feared.
To think it all began on a hot August day, a time when the city moves at a lazy pace, a month in which nothing ever happens, makes it all the more difficult to reconcile.
To understand just how many lives were affected, changed, renewed, lost, the story of the Priyas must be told from the very beginning.
And the very beginning is Ava.
Read more about Ava:
"Excerpt from Ava"
"Another excerpt from Ava"
"Character Interview with Ava Arden"
"Ava Outtakes: Kettle & Gracie"
Read interviews with Ashley:
On Cassandra Davis' Blog
On SocialImprove.com
On Terra Harmony's Blog
Read short stories from the Love + Family collection:
On Amazon
On Barnes & Noble
On Smashwords
On iTunes
Guest Post On Michael Mulligan's Blog
"I've been blogging now for ten months, and using Twitter for the last nine months. My very first step was to create a marketing plan. I didn't know much about social media back then, but I put what I knew on paper and shaped it into goals. Every week, I pulled out my plan and added my new knowledge.
The goals evolved over time and the results of have been encouraging."
Klout & The 'ABC' Awards
Earlier this week, the wonderful Adrienne Thompson passed the ABC Award on to me. She is an author who writes about three of life’s most beautiful gifts: hope, forgiveness, and faith. I am honored by her recognition, and I appreciate the opportunity, for those of your who haven’t yet met her, to make the introduction.
Author Adrienne Thompson
Twitter: @A_H_Thompson
Facebook: Adrienne Thompson
Websites: ilubmusik.blogspot.com/ and adriennethompsonwrites.webs.com/
Blog: adriennethompsonwrites.webs.com/apps/blog/
Bio: Married at sixteen, a mother twice by seventeen, and thrice a mother and divorced by twenty-four, Adrienne Thompson is no stranger to adversity. Not your typical teenage mother, she went on to complete her college degree and to earn her nursing license. She attributes God’s faithfulness as the catalyst for her success in life.
Now, having raised two children as a divorced mother, with a third fast approaching adulthood, she is sharing a long hidden talent and passion with the world. Using the lessons that life has so expertly taught her as a guideline (betrayal, abusive relationships, self-esteem issues, witnessing the deteriorating effects of drug abuse), she has created stories that will both entertain and inspire the reader.
Adrienne Thompson’s Novels
A part of accepting the award from Adrienne is keeping it in motion.
After careful thought, I’ve decided to pass the ABC Award on to the first five people I come across in my Twitter “Interactions” page who have earned a Klout score of 50 or higher.
From the Klout website: “The Klout Score measures influence based on your ability to drive action. Every time you create content or engage you influence others.”
Earning a Klout score of 50+ seems to be a solid indicator that a person is actively involved in his or her social media community, and that the content they are sharing is connecting with a strong audience.
Is this important? Well, with all the changes over at Nielsen Ratings, it appears that Klout has figured out how to, essentially, rate us as individual marketers.
Good.
Statistically-driven tools, like Klout, can be helpful with highlighting the marketing areas in which we are achieving success and those in which we need to make improvements. I don’t recommend setting the clock by statistics, not ever, but I do believe in reaching into the data and getting a good grasp on the mechanics of how it was formulated and what it reveals.
“If you have a public account with Twitter, which makes updates available for anyone to read, you have a Klout score, whether you know it or not…”
Source: Wired
“There’s no way to get around the fact that we put a number next to your face and it’s tied to your ego,” Klout founder, Joe Fernandez says. “I think the controversy and conversation around what we’re doing is ultimately good. The world is changing and we’re doing something completely new.”
“But forward-thinking companies and employers recognize that social media is the platform of the future. Whether or not you work in an industry where building your online influence matters (i.e. public relations, marketing or sales), over the next decade you will be hired and promoted based upon your reputation capital.”
Right now, Klout is paving new roads to new opportunities. They are out front, leading the way. Will any of their new roads create paths to new opportunities for the authors, writers, editors, designers, formatters, technical pros, marketers and bloggers in our self/indie published community?
For each of us, there is only one way to find out.
Congratulations to the ABC Award winners!
Gae-Lynn Woods
Klout Score: 50
Twitter: @gaelynnwoods
Carmen DeSousa
Klout Score: 56
Twitter: @Author_Carmen
DeWayne Harrell
Klout Score: 53
Twitter: @harrelldewayne
Brian Rathbone
Klout Score: 50
Twitter: @BrianRathbone
Stephanie Alexander
Klout Score: 52
Twitter: @crackedslipper
The second part of accepting this award is to provide an A - Z list of words that either describe me or are related to me in some way.
Ava debuts next week, and is the first novel in my romantic thriller series about a group of women who have grown up together in Washington, D.C. The timing of receiving this award from Adrienne, especially with its A - Z requirement, seems perfect to introduce you to the Priyas.
Here they are!
Ava
Bonner
Carys
Devon
Eden
Fallon
Gemma
Helaina
India
Jilla
Kenna
Lyric
Marah
Nanette
Olive
Paige
Quinlan
Rose
Sonnet
Tellie
Ulrike
Violet
Westyn
Xandra
Ysabel
Zara
A Mother's Hope
History has much to say about motherhood. So does fiction.
In the stories we read there are uncountable perspectives, ideas, situations, outcomes, failures, and successes influenced, created by, or attributed to mothers. From the literary classics to the latest novels, many plots center on a mother’s critical role in the foundation, development, and future prospects of her children and her community.
An example of this is Amy Tan’s ‘The Joy Luck Club,’ a masterful literary work about the power, the sacrifices, the pain, the bliss and, most importantly, the enduring hope of mothers.
The life of a mother is multifaceted, and is often a challenging undertaking. She is at once life-giver, nurturer, disciplinarian, sweetness, guiding hand, naysayer, protector, and immoveable force.
She is the one who both ties the home strings and later cuts them to free her children of the past, in order for them to form an independent future. She is the one who has to keep pace with the shifting lines of right and wrong as society grows, evolves and, sometimes, turns on a dime.
Not an easy task.
She is the sounding board, the carefully balanced mix of cheerleader and critic. She is the challenge, the testing ground—and often the target—when her teenagers take their first steps into adulthood.
She is the one with all the answers because, for so long, she is the one who asked all the questions.
She is a memory bank, a fierce warrior, an advocate for peace who knows evolution doesn’t always deal out a fair hand.
Her arms are the first home her children ever know. Her voice is the echo that winds its way through their thoughts. Her approval is the bonus no amount of money can equal.
To honor a mother is to carry her hope forward. Into relationships. Into homes. Careers. Into the hearts and minds of the generations that follow.
For Mother’s Day, I wish for all mothers what I wish for my own mom: radiant happiness, profound good health, and the best of surprises to find you each and every day of your life.
And, in honor of Mother’s Day, several friends from the self/indie-published literary community are sharing insights, experiences, and novel excerpts about mothers.
Enjoy!
There are certain people who shape our lives, parents, friends, teachers, siblings, and others. Each has the power to shape us in a negative or positive way. I'm not sure many people understand the depth of their words, or the impact of how a single comment can change someone's life. My book, Megan's Way, was written because of something that happened years ago with my mother, and tortured me for years. I could have lost her, and the decision she had made, and kept secret from me, festered and tore at me every waking moment for many years, until finally I came full circle, and understood why her decision would have been the right one for her, and probably for me.
Every Mother's Day I take a trip back through Megan's Way to revisit the hurt, and rebuild the strength, that I gained from that event. Megan's Way is the story of one mother's journey through illness, her daughter's will to survive, and a circle of friends shrouded in secrets.
Read more from Megan's Way
Read an interview with Melissa Foster
Tweet Melissa Foster
One year ago I wrote a blog about the first anniversary of my mother’s passing. Just yesterday my son asked me if I held any regrets in my heart, anything that I was sorry I had not done or said.
It seems so cliché, but the truth is I regret taking her for granted. I always thought she would be here, always waiting just behind her apartment door with some fresh cookies and a half-finished crossword.
I never thought about the day when I wouldn’t be able to email her for a favorite recipe or call to see if she had picked up my son from school because it was raining. I never thought there would be things I could not share with her.
This summer I will be four years cancer-free, but when I worry about a relapse, one of the things that scare me about that possibility is that she wouldn’t be here to talk to. I also know that she will never again sit at the foot of my bed and tell me everything will be okay.
So many times I was dropping by to pick up my son, or to bring something to her, or to get something from her, and I hurried along, so worried about the next place I had to be (or even just wanting to get home to unwind, decompress from the long work day). But as is so often the case, I didn’t think about the time when I wouldn’t be able to see her—the time when I wouldn’t have the luxury of her laugh or the gift of her comforting presence.
I try to tell my son how proud she would have been to see him becoming the young man he is, and how I am sure she still watches over him. I want him to understand how precious life is and how quickly it is gone, but how can I convince him?
I myself was never convinced.
Indeed it seems I am still not convinced. I trudge along as if there will be a never-ending parade of tomorrows. I procrastinate; I put off until tomorrow what I could easily do today—or worse, I wait to say the things that might never get to be said.
So to her I say:
I miss you so much, Mom. The weather is turning warm and the days are so much longer and I know you would love it. I have so many things in my heart that I wish I could share with you. Sometimes I feel frozen in time because I can’t admit you aren’t here anymore. I envy those who still have both their parents. I think about the fact that you are in a place so far beyond the sadness of this world that I should be happy for you, but I can’t help being so very, very brokenhearted just the same. When you were here I don’t know if made you feel special, but you were. You were my mother in so many ways that I couldn’t begin to write them here. You never let me down. Not ever. There were times I know you felt you had so little to give me, but that was only in a material sense. Within your soul you had every good thing in the world, and I always knew it.
I will never get over losing you.
The backseat is quiet.
See a photo of R. S. Guthrie and his mom.
Read an interview with R. S. Guthrie
Tweet R. S. Guthrie
'Tell my mother she looked cute in something, at any age, and she would bristle. No woman should ever be called cute, she insisted. Girls are cute. Boys are cute. Little dogs are cute. (She hated cats.)' — From Because my name is mother, Deborah Batterman
Read more about Because my name is mother
Read an interview with Deborah Batterman
Tweet Deborah Batterman
This excerpt is from 'Water, Book One of the Akasha Series', when the main character, Kaitlyn, is being held captive and tortured by the antagonist, Shawn. Kaitlyn finds the strength to endure and persist by recalling memories of her mother, and uses certain skills her mother taught her to concoct an escape plan:
I have no doubt that both intrinsic and learned qualities from my mother and the other strong women in my life have helped me through my most trying times. This mother's day, as we give thanks to our mothers, don't forget to celebrate our shared mother – the Earth. She, too, shares her gifts with us every day of the year!
Read more about the Akasha Series
Read an interview with Terra Harmony
Tweet Terra Harmony
Read more of 'The Birthday'
Read an interview with Ashley Barron
Tweet Ashley Barron
In the stories we read there are uncountable perspectives, ideas, situations, outcomes, failures, and successes influenced, created by, or attributed to mothers. From the literary classics to the latest novels, many plots center on a mother’s critical role in the foundation, development, and future prospects of her children and her community.
An example of this is Amy Tan’s ‘The Joy Luck Club,’ a masterful literary work about the power, the sacrifices, the pain, the bliss and, most importantly, the enduring hope of mothers.
The life of a mother is multifaceted, and is often a challenging undertaking. She is at once life-giver, nurturer, disciplinarian, sweetness, guiding hand, naysayer, protector, and immoveable force.
She is the one who both ties the home strings and later cuts them to free her children of the past, in order for them to form an independent future. She is the one who has to keep pace with the shifting lines of right and wrong as society grows, evolves and, sometimes, turns on a dime.
Not an easy task.
She is the sounding board, the carefully balanced mix of cheerleader and critic. She is the challenge, the testing ground—and often the target—when her teenagers take their first steps into adulthood.
She is the one with all the answers because, for so long, she is the one who asked all the questions.
She is a memory bank, a fierce warrior, an advocate for peace who knows evolution doesn’t always deal out a fair hand.
Her arms are the first home her children ever know. Her voice is the echo that winds its way through their thoughts. Her approval is the bonus no amount of money can equal.
To honor a mother is to carry her hope forward. Into relationships. Into homes. Careers. Into the hearts and minds of the generations that follow.
For Mother’s Day, I wish for all mothers what I wish for my own mom: radiant happiness, profound good health, and the best of surprises to find you each and every day of your life.
And, in honor of Mother’s Day, several friends from the self/indie-published literary community are sharing insights, experiences, and novel excerpts about mothers.
Enjoy!
Author Melissa Foster
There are certain people who shape our lives, parents, friends, teachers, siblings, and others. Each has the power to shape us in a negative or positive way. I'm not sure many people understand the depth of their words, or the impact of how a single comment can change someone's life. My book, Megan's Way, was written because of something that happened years ago with my mother, and tortured me for years. I could have lost her, and the decision she had made, and kept secret from me, festered and tore at me every waking moment for many years, until finally I came full circle, and understood why her decision would have been the right one for her, and probably for me.
Every Mother's Day I take a trip back through Megan's Way to revisit the hurt, and rebuild the strength, that I gained from that event. Megan's Way is the story of one mother's journey through illness, her daughter's will to survive, and a circle of friends shrouded in secrets.
Megan's Way
Prologue
Summer 1988
Prologue
Summer 1988
Megan and Holly ran, weaving their way through the crowds of the carnival and hollering to hear over the thick cheer that permeated the festive evening. Two teenage boys looked them up and down as they passed. Megan yanked Holly by her arm and pulled her into a long shadow cast by the colorful lights that illuminated a rickety roller coaster. They huddled together, giggling. A moment later, the roller coaster whooshed by, sending them scampering through the mass of carnival-goers, engulfed in uncontrollable shrieks of laughter.
A small red tent with a psychedelic sign that read “Psychic Readings! See Your Future! $3!” caught Megan’s attention. She dragged Holly to the entrance, and they peered into the smoky gloom as they parted the curtain of stringed glass beads, which clinked and jingled as they were pushed to the side.
Holly pulled at Megan’s sleeve, “Let’s get out of here.”
Megan distractedly shrugged off Holly’s hand. She was mesmerized by the rush of the unknown, spellbound by the eccentric woman sitting within the darkened tent. A chill ran up Megan’s spine. The woman looked into her eyes and beckoned her forward. Megan reached behind her and grasped Holly’s hand, pulling her into the tent against her will. She reached into her pocket and, barely able to take her eyes from the old woman’s, fumbled to count her money and then shoved six crumpled dollar bills into a glass jar that sat on a pedestal by the entrance.
The cacophony of the rides and the crowds seemed to fall away as a hushed stillness closed in around them, save for the crackle of the flickering flames dancing on their wicks. The girls’ hands trembled. They were equally scared and excited by the mystical old woman shrouded in veils. Several bracelets clanked and dangled from her thick wrist as she motioned for them to sit around the small round table. They startled when the old woman grabbed their hands with her rough, plump fingers, then she slowly and dramatically closed her eyes.
Her hands tightened around theirs. The woman gasped a deep breath, and her body rose up and back, as if she were being pushed against the back of her chair. She held her breath, then let it out in a rush of air. Her hands fell open, releasing theirs. Her shoulders slumped forward, and her head followed.
Holly snapped her head in Megan’s direction and mouthed, “What the hell?”
The woman opened her heavily-painted eyes, which grew wide and laden with concern, and stared into Megan’s eyes. Megan felt riveted to her chair. The woman reached across the table and touched her hand, sending a jolt of energy up Megan’s arm. Megan pulled her hand away, frightened. The woman whispered to her, “Ah, High Priestess, my teen querent. She will need you, and you will know.”
Megan’s legs trembled, her heart pounded in her chest. Her breaths came in short, clipped bursts. She and Holly turned wide, scared eyes toward each other. The woman moved her vision to the space between Megan and Holly. “Three of Swords pierce a heart. Against the background of a storm, it bleeds.” She closed her eyes again, and whispered, “I see death.” Her eyes slowly opened and she squinted, as if she were watching a scene unfold of a different time and place, her eyes darting without focus. Then seeming to recite, she intoned, “Blood or poison will come: Transformation—passage—truth.”
The girls reached for each other’s shaking hands. Holly’s eyes welled with tears, her head visibly shook. Megan remained focused on each word the old woman said, unable to turn away.
The psychic turned those same concerned eyes to Holly. They glazed over with a look the girls could not read. Fear? Hatred? Understanding? She pointed a long, painted fingernail at Holly and hissed, “Judgment asks for the resurrection to summon the past, forgive it, and let it go.” She lowered her hand and said, “One will be released,” then quietly, under her breath, “and returned after death.”
After a moment of panicked silence, the girls stood, sending their chairs flying askew. Then they fled, running fast and hard into the chaos of the carnival, caught in a frenzy of fear and hysterical laughter.
The psychic screamed into the night behind them. Her words trailed in their wake and echoed in Megan’s ears for days, “With this spell, I empower thee. I empower thee!”
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Author R. S. Guthrie
One year ago I wrote a blog about the first anniversary of my mother’s passing. Just yesterday my son asked me if I held any regrets in my heart, anything that I was sorry I had not done or said.
It seems so cliché, but the truth is I regret taking her for granted. I always thought she would be here, always waiting just behind her apartment door with some fresh cookies and a half-finished crossword.
I never thought about the day when I wouldn’t be able to email her for a favorite recipe or call to see if she had picked up my son from school because it was raining. I never thought there would be things I could not share with her.
This summer I will be four years cancer-free, but when I worry about a relapse, one of the things that scare me about that possibility is that she wouldn’t be here to talk to. I also know that she will never again sit at the foot of my bed and tell me everything will be okay.
So many times I was dropping by to pick up my son, or to bring something to her, or to get something from her, and I hurried along, so worried about the next place I had to be (or even just wanting to get home to unwind, decompress from the long work day). But as is so often the case, I didn’t think about the time when I wouldn’t be able to see her—the time when I wouldn’t have the luxury of her laugh or the gift of her comforting presence.
I try to tell my son how proud she would have been to see him becoming the young man he is, and how I am sure she still watches over him. I want him to understand how precious life is and how quickly it is gone, but how can I convince him?
I myself was never convinced.
Indeed it seems I am still not convinced. I trudge along as if there will be a never-ending parade of tomorrows. I procrastinate; I put off until tomorrow what I could easily do today—or worse, I wait to say the things that might never get to be said.
So to her I say:
I miss you so much, Mom. The weather is turning warm and the days are so much longer and I know you would love it. I have so many things in my heart that I wish I could share with you. Sometimes I feel frozen in time because I can’t admit you aren’t here anymore. I envy those who still have both their parents. I think about the fact that you are in a place so far beyond the sadness of this world that I should be happy for you, but I can’t help being so very, very brokenhearted just the same. When you were here I don’t know if made you feel special, but you were. You were my mother in so many ways that I couldn’t begin to write them here. You never let me down. Not ever. There were times I know you felt you had so little to give me, but that was only in a material sense. Within your soul you had every good thing in the world, and I always knew it.
I will never get over losing you.
The backseat is quiet.
See a photo of R. S. Guthrie and his mom.
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Author Deborah Batterman
'Tell my mother she looked cute in something, at any age, and she would bristle. No woman should ever be called cute, she insisted. Girls are cute. Boys are cute. Little dogs are cute. (She hated cats.)' — From Because my name is mother, Deborah Batterman
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Author Terra Harmony
This excerpt is from 'Water, Book One of the Akasha Series', when the main character, Kaitlyn, is being held captive and tortured by the antagonist, Shawn. Kaitlyn finds the strength to endure and persist by recalling memories of her mother, and uses certain skills her mother taught her to concoct an escape plan:
In the Akasha Series, both of Kaitlyn's parents passed just after she had turned 18. The family's ability to manipulate the natural elements of water, air, fire, and earth, was yet to be revealed. However, Kaitlyn was able to tap into the strength of her mother to survive some of the worst moments life had to offer."Is it happy hour already?"
Shawn didn't laugh. Without glancing up, he said, "I am souring your luck." He put the lime in a bowl and added salt and ashes. He placed the bowl in front of me, stood, and gave orders to have me moved back into the bed. As they lifted me off the table, I managed to kick over the bowl of lime and ashes.
I can make my own luck, I thought. Mother taught me how.
I have no doubt that both intrinsic and learned qualities from my mother and the other strong women in my life have helped me through my most trying times. This mother's day, as we give thanks to our mothers, don't forget to celebrate our shared mother – the Earth. She, too, shares her gifts with us every day of the year!
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Author Ashley Barron
Excerpt from 'The Birthday'
“Why did you take the toys away?”
For a second, I think the dog—already convinced she’s human—has finally mastered English. I look back down at my feet and see that my daughter has joined her brother on the cold tiles of the kitchen floor.
I don’t answer the question. I’m wondering if I should make them get up and relocate to the family room carpet. But I don’t. They look so adorable, so relaxed, like sunbathers on the first day of summer.
With time moving so fast I’m determined to hold on to all the sweetness I can find in a day.
“Don’t you love her anymore?” My son’s chin rests against the dog. His voice is muffled by her thick coat.
I wonder why he’s so focused on the question of love, today. He’s fast approaching that age when boys discover girls, and the first blush of hormones turns into trading notes in class, sitting together at lunch, and calling each other on the phone.
I’m dreading it.
I don’t want him to outgrow childhood, to outgrow the reach of my mommy role as Most Important Person.
“Of course, I love her,” I say. “That’s precisely why I cleaned her toys. She can have them back tomorrow.”
The kids cuddle up closer to our dog, tangling themselves into a heap of limbs, pajamas and fluffy fur. And they begin to sing. It’s a song I thought they had long-ago forgotten. A child’s song, soft and happy.
I stand completely still, afraid my slightest movement will end the magic.
I hear the garage door rising. As my husband walks through the side door, I hold a finger in front of my lips. He nods, and flashes me a smile. I want to relive this moment later, much later in life when we sit our old bones down in rocking chairs and hold wiggling grandchildren on our knees.
Our children finish the last few lines of the song before calling out, in unison, “Hi Dad!”
His reply is drowned out by the chimes of the doorbell. The kids and dog are up in a flash in a mad-scrabble race to the front door. Their favorite babysitter has arrived. I know all of them are thrilled by the prospect of no parents for the evening.
My son will get to watch that absurd reality show, thinking I’ll never be the wiser. My daughter, who greatly aspires to be sixteen, will spend the evening being dazzled by stories about high school. And the babysitter, about to get royally paid for spending the evening texting half the teens in our zip code, will be adored by all present.
As I listen to the hurried chatter of excited voices, my eyes remain on the now-empty spot on the kitchen floor. Is this what it will feel like when they’ve gone off into the world? Will I still hear their laughter echoing in this house?
“I love you.”
My husband’s words are soft in the quiet room. I know the exact look on his face when he speaks with that tone—the tone he’s been using lately when he talks about us having another child, one more child, before no more are possible.
I love this man. I love seeing his sleepy eyes in the morning. I love holding his body against mine in the night. I love hearing him tell the same stories over and over again.
And I love his children.
One more?
Yes.
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The Terra Harmony Interview - Seven Questions
Author Interview: Ashley Barron
by Terra Harmony on 5/03/12
Q: How long did it take you to build your current number of followers? What techniques have you found to work the best?
I’ve been blogging for ten months and tweeting for nine months. I have invested real time in building up my Twitter community. I believe the authors, writer, and readers on Twitter are among the most engaged book lovers I’ve ever encountered.
At the very beginning, during my first week in this online world, I created a marketing plan. It wasn’t perfect; I look back at it now and realize how far I’ve come. But it was a starting point, a place to focus, to gather ideas and track results.
I cannot stress this enough: you need...
Here is the full interview with Terra Harmony
by Terra Harmony on 5/03/12
Q: How long did it take you to build your current number of followers? What techniques have you found to work the best?
I’ve been blogging for ten months and tweeting for nine months. I have invested real time in building up my Twitter community. I believe the authors, writer, and readers on Twitter are among the most engaged book lovers I’ve ever encountered.
At the very beginning, during my first week in this online world, I created a marketing plan. It wasn’t perfect; I look back at it now and realize how far I’ve come. But it was a starting point, a place to focus, to gather ideas and track results.
I cannot stress this enough: you need...
Here is the full interview with Terra Harmony
Reality Bites
…sometimes.
I am in a writing frenzy right now. I am literally pulsing with words.
My schedule is backwards—well, I’m up even later than usual—and my jumbled thoughts make no sense until I read them on the page.
I took a mental break late tonight and used the time to catch up on some of the shows on my DVR. One of them was Fashion Star. When it comes to providing advice for harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit of a small business, it’s right up there with Shark Tank. But for different reasons.
Yes, I’m serious.
Shark Tank is about the business model. What are you making? How much will it cost? How are you going to distribute it? What’s your profit margin? Do you have a utility patent?
I love it. Brings back the memories.
If I had been standing in front of the “Sharks” in the early stages of my first business, they would have ripped me from head to toe. And rightly. I would have turned away from their keen advice, certain, as most newbies are, that I knew better.
I learned.
Fashion Star is about finding that balance between pleasing your customers and staying true to your creative vision. It represents a different place in the self/indie publishing process than does Shark Tank. It’s a place that is infinitely more personal. Well, infinitely harder to separate from the personal, anyway.
While watching Fashion Star tonight I was imagining that I was a contestant, that the show was about landing a publishing contract, and that I was standing between the mentors (editors) and the buyers (publishers).
How would I present my book? How would they respond? What would they ultimately be looking for? Would they find it in my work? In me?
I can say this: I’m happy to be long past the first – and second, and third – drafts of my novel, Ava. And the reason is simple. I wouldn’t have been ready to listen back then.
I am now.
One of the hardest lessons to learn, especially as a creative type, is how to take criticism constructively. No one likes to hear they don’t measure up. I sure don’t. But nothing changes your perspective like a failed business. Don’t take the hard road—be smart, early. Embrace the criticism and see it for what it is: a path to a better product.
Because without constructive criticism, how do we improve? If we don’t involve experts in our process, people who have the talent, experience, and willingness to make us better, we stagnate.
On par in importance with the words, themselves, is what leads up to them, and how we behave after the criticism is delivered.
There are haters in this world, unhappy people who routinely sling unhappy words at innocent bystanders. (Think: anonymous 1-star reviews.) They don’t factor into this equation. I’m talking about receiving criticism from someone in power and in the full light of day.
Perhaps it is an editor, a literary agent, a book reviewer or a marketing professional.
Perhaps they are explaining that you are on the right track, that you have made a promising start, but you’re still a few drafts away from being classified as “good” or “really good.”
Or, maybe they are telling you that your writing doesn’t meet the needs of their audience. Their advice might include suggestions about editing out certain characters or dropping whole sections of the manuscript.
Make those changes, they might say, then come back and see me again.
Would you do it?
But I have a vision, you might protest. You can’t ask me to change my vision!
Sure they can. They’re successful. They know their readers. They know what sells.
Do you want to sell?
I do.
Tonight, I watched three foolish contestants on that show argue with the judges or mentors during every step of the creative process. No wonder they were the bottom three. Being there, at the bottom, wasn’t about lack of talent – not for any of them. It was about lack of humility and appreciation when being told by experts in the field how to improve on a design.
I think those lessons translate to the creative and incredibly personal process of bringing a story to life on the pages of a novel. Especially, for a self/indie published writer who does not have the advantages the traditional layers of publishing bring to an author, a book, and a brand.
The first draft of my novel, Ava, was far too long. It was fuzzy and disjointed. I wasted months railing against the idea of cutting it down and tightening it up. Then, one day, I was ready. Just like that.
What was so special about that day? It was the day I decided to self-publish my novel.
And that changed everything.
Overnight, I let go of the emotional “this is my baby” mentality and embraced the practical “this is my product” mindset. Changes will be made. Changes should be made.
Before you know it, I’d cut the first two hundred and fifty pages down to a slim eighty-eight. I kept on cutting, rewriting, redrafting. I kept on asking questions and listening to the answers.
I’ve thought about posting the original draft of the first chapter alongside the final version. Frankly, I’m not sure they even look like they came from the same novel.
Have you made big changes to a manuscript? Have you embraced constructive criticism from the experts? What was the result? Have you blogged about it?
I hope you’ll share your comments and your links!
I am in a writing frenzy right now. I am literally pulsing with words.
My schedule is backwards—well, I’m up even later than usual—and my jumbled thoughts make no sense until I read them on the page.
I took a mental break late tonight and used the time to catch up on some of the shows on my DVR. One of them was Fashion Star. When it comes to providing advice for harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit of a small business, it’s right up there with Shark Tank. But for different reasons.
Yes, I’m serious.
Shark Tank is about the business model. What are you making? How much will it cost? How are you going to distribute it? What’s your profit margin? Do you have a utility patent?
I love it. Brings back the memories.
If I had been standing in front of the “Sharks” in the early stages of my first business, they would have ripped me from head to toe. And rightly. I would have turned away from their keen advice, certain, as most newbies are, that I knew better.
I learned.
Fashion Star is about finding that balance between pleasing your customers and staying true to your creative vision. It represents a different place in the self/indie publishing process than does Shark Tank. It’s a place that is infinitely more personal. Well, infinitely harder to separate from the personal, anyway.
While watching Fashion Star tonight I was imagining that I was a contestant, that the show was about landing a publishing contract, and that I was standing between the mentors (editors) and the buyers (publishers).
How would I present my book? How would they respond? What would they ultimately be looking for? Would they find it in my work? In me?
I can say this: I’m happy to be long past the first – and second, and third – drafts of my novel, Ava. And the reason is simple. I wouldn’t have been ready to listen back then.
I am now.
One of the hardest lessons to learn, especially as a creative type, is how to take criticism constructively. No one likes to hear they don’t measure up. I sure don’t. But nothing changes your perspective like a failed business. Don’t take the hard road—be smart, early. Embrace the criticism and see it for what it is: a path to a better product.
Because without constructive criticism, how do we improve? If we don’t involve experts in our process, people who have the talent, experience, and willingness to make us better, we stagnate.
On par in importance with the words, themselves, is what leads up to them, and how we behave after the criticism is delivered.
There are haters in this world, unhappy people who routinely sling unhappy words at innocent bystanders. (Think: anonymous 1-star reviews.) They don’t factor into this equation. I’m talking about receiving criticism from someone in power and in the full light of day.
Perhaps it is an editor, a literary agent, a book reviewer or a marketing professional.
Perhaps they are explaining that you are on the right track, that you have made a promising start, but you’re still a few drafts away from being classified as “good” or “really good.”
Or, maybe they are telling you that your writing doesn’t meet the needs of their audience. Their advice might include suggestions about editing out certain characters or dropping whole sections of the manuscript.
Make those changes, they might say, then come back and see me again.
Would you do it?
But I have a vision, you might protest. You can’t ask me to change my vision!
Sure they can. They’re successful. They know their readers. They know what sells.
Do you want to sell?
I do.
Tonight, I watched three foolish contestants on that show argue with the judges or mentors during every step of the creative process. No wonder they were the bottom three. Being there, at the bottom, wasn’t about lack of talent – not for any of them. It was about lack of humility and appreciation when being told by experts in the field how to improve on a design.
I think those lessons translate to the creative and incredibly personal process of bringing a story to life on the pages of a novel. Especially, for a self/indie published writer who does not have the advantages the traditional layers of publishing bring to an author, a book, and a brand.
The first draft of my novel, Ava, was far too long. It was fuzzy and disjointed. I wasted months railing against the idea of cutting it down and tightening it up. Then, one day, I was ready. Just like that.
What was so special about that day? It was the day I decided to self-publish my novel.
And that changed everything.
Overnight, I let go of the emotional “this is my baby” mentality and embraced the practical “this is my product” mindset. Changes will be made. Changes should be made.
Before you know it, I’d cut the first two hundred and fifty pages down to a slim eighty-eight. I kept on cutting, rewriting, redrafting. I kept on asking questions and listening to the answers.
I’ve thought about posting the original draft of the first chapter alongside the final version. Frankly, I’m not sure they even look like they came from the same novel.
Have you made big changes to a manuscript? Have you embraced constructive criticism from the experts? What was the result? Have you blogged about it?
I hope you’ll share your comments and your links!
The Making Of ‘Famous’
Year before last, at Christmas time, I was visiting an old family friend at the specialized care facility where he now makes his home. I was there with his daughter and with two of his grandchildren, both under the age of five.
He didn’t know any of us.
It was surreal, the experience of listening to the Christmas carols and smiling as packs of small children wove their way through the tables and chairs, all the while knowing the man seated next to me couldn’t remember anything about me.
For the record, he has known me since I was a newborn.
It was heart-wrenching to watch all those families doing their best to embrace the spirit of the holiday in the face of such a devastating disease. From my seat, I couldn’t help but listen to the all of those complicated conversations—if you want to call them that—between spouses, or siblings, or parent and child with one of them deeply affected by Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
But they had come in great numbers, these families, showing love with their hugs and kisses, their words and gifts. With their very presence.
I had stepped away from the table for a few minutes and, on my way back to my seat, I passed another man I’ve known all my life. His name is Bob, and family legend has it that when I was about five years old, I told Bob I was going to marry him when I grew up. Apparently, I was a thoughtful child because I told his wife, Sandy, she could live next door to us.
I loved him, you see. In so many ways, Bob was a grandfather to me—to us, my brothers and me.
Bob’s own children were already grown when my family moved onto that street. When Bob’s eldest daughter married, I was the flower girl. I was six, and I stood under the Chuppah in their living room for the entire ceremony. My long, pink dress had a little bell pinned to the skirt, and it made a little faerie sound every time I moved.
I was so proud.
Running into Bob at the specialized care facility, a nice place, all things considered, was completely unexpected. I hadn’t known his illness had reached this stage. He looked at me, his eyes bright, and I knew that seeing me had triggered a memory in him.
Which memory was it, I wondered. There were so many to choose from. After all, I had lived across the street from him for sixteen of the first eighteen years of my life.
I knelt before him, held his hand, and waited to see if he would recognize me. At first, he simply stared at my face. Then – I’ll never forget it – his expression changed and he looked at me, so pleased, so certain, and said, “I could be famous. It could happen.”
That was all. He said nothing else.
The memory of his words, of the light dancing in his eyes, haunted me. Why had he said that? Did he remember anything about me? What if Bob had been my father, and I, his broken-hearted daughter, hoping, praying, pleading for a miracle?
Needing to know I was not forgotten. Never forgotten.
Needing to know that no disease was stronger than my father’s love for me.
In the spring, very late at night, with those questions still on my mind, I wrote “Famous.”
This one’s for you, Bob, with all my love.
‘Famous’ is free on Smashwords.
‘Famous’ is coming soon to Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
He didn’t know any of us.
It was surreal, the experience of listening to the Christmas carols and smiling as packs of small children wove their way through the tables and chairs, all the while knowing the man seated next to me couldn’t remember anything about me.
For the record, he has known me since I was a newborn.
It was heart-wrenching to watch all those families doing their best to embrace the spirit of the holiday in the face of such a devastating disease. From my seat, I couldn’t help but listen to the all of those complicated conversations—if you want to call them that—between spouses, or siblings, or parent and child with one of them deeply affected by Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
But they had come in great numbers, these families, showing love with their hugs and kisses, their words and gifts. With their very presence.
I had stepped away from the table for a few minutes and, on my way back to my seat, I passed another man I’ve known all my life. His name is Bob, and family legend has it that when I was about five years old, I told Bob I was going to marry him when I grew up. Apparently, I was a thoughtful child because I told his wife, Sandy, she could live next door to us.
I loved him, you see. In so many ways, Bob was a grandfather to me—to us, my brothers and me.
Bob’s own children were already grown when my family moved onto that street. When Bob’s eldest daughter married, I was the flower girl. I was six, and I stood under the Chuppah in their living room for the entire ceremony. My long, pink dress had a little bell pinned to the skirt, and it made a little faerie sound every time I moved.
I was so proud.
Running into Bob at the specialized care facility, a nice place, all things considered, was completely unexpected. I hadn’t known his illness had reached this stage. He looked at me, his eyes bright, and I knew that seeing me had triggered a memory in him.
Which memory was it, I wondered. There were so many to choose from. After all, I had lived across the street from him for sixteen of the first eighteen years of my life.
I knelt before him, held his hand, and waited to see if he would recognize me. At first, he simply stared at my face. Then – I’ll never forget it – his expression changed and he looked at me, so pleased, so certain, and said, “I could be famous. It could happen.”
That was all. He said nothing else.
The memory of his words, of the light dancing in his eyes, haunted me. Why had he said that? Did he remember anything about me? What if Bob had been my father, and I, his broken-hearted daughter, hoping, praying, pleading for a miracle?
Needing to know I was not forgotten. Never forgotten.
Needing to know that no disease was stronger than my father’s love for me.
In the spring, very late at night, with those questions still on my mind, I wrote “Famous.”
This one’s for you, Bob, with all my love.
‘Famous’ is free on Smashwords.
‘Famous’ is coming soon to Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Blogging: Community
If you’re going to dream of great success as a self/indie published author, set that dream in a place where reality actually has a chance to reach it: Twitter.
Remember, the more customers that enter your personal bookstore (your blog) the better the odds are you’ll connect with new readers. If people don’t know about your blog, how are they going to stop by and check out all those samples of your writing? You want to turn those visiting readers into devoted, life long fans of your work.
In Blogging: Twitter & The Hashtag, we talked about creating tweets that broaden your ability to connect with readers by inviting them to visit your blog.
We need to talk about the second part of that process: growing your Twitter community.
When I am exploring Twitter, working my way through bios, tweets, links, announcements, and promotions, I keep a particular eye out for writers and authors. When I see one, which is quite often, I read the Twitter bio and take note of his or her follow/follower numbers.
Too often, those numbers are very low—painfully low, from a business standpoint. Self/indie published authors need to be regularly increasing the size of their Twitter communities. As in, all the time. And on a schedule.
Your week-to-week Twitter numbers should show an across-the-board increase. You’re following more people. More people are following you. You both give and receive more tweets, RTs, #SO, #MM, #WW, #FF, and all that good stuff.
Ashley, I’m busy and I don’t have the time, you say.
Make the time. It’s not optional. Success requires sacrifice, every step of the way.
But as I said, start small. I remember standing in my sister-in-law’s kitchen and telling her, with great excitement, that I had twenty-eight Twitter followers. Yes, that’s 28.
I was so proud. Those twenty-eight people were my proof, my evidence that I really was on this new path. I had no idea the changes in store for me along this journey. I’m not even a year into yet, into this social media-driven parallel life I live. Though I can’t begin to imagine what surprises the second year will hold, I do know my goals.
You should, too.
Sit down with a piece of paper (or an Excel workbook) and outline your own Twitter goals. At the beginning, start small. Aim for adding twenty new follows/followers a week. Guess what? At the end of the year, your numbers will have increased by 1,000 in each of those categories.
Think of all that good energy surrounding you and your writing. More blog visitors. More guest posts. More opportunities to attract new readers and fans. More book sales. More confidence.
There are several categories in which you should be making progress every time you log on to Twitter. Get on a schedule. Five days a week. You need to be meeting certain goals. These actions have a big effect on both your Twitter score and your ranking as determined by companies like Klout. Some of the categories include:
· Following new people
· Being followed by new people
· Retweets
· Conversation starters
· Random responses
On Twitter, following new people is reasonably straightforward. The key here is to consistently add to the number of people you follow, without fail, every time you log on. Again, aim for adding twenty people per week to start, and increase the goal number as you grow more comfortable.
The purpose of actively growing your Twitter community is to steadily increase your “listening audience.” Those are the people who sign up for your tweets. Unless you’re famous, you have a better chance of people following you if you follow them first.
Retweets are easy enough. Admittedly, sometimes I over-do the retweets (and I know that because Twitter cuts me off), but then again, I follow 10,000 people on Twitter and there are always many interesting, funny or newsworthy items to share.
Conversation starters are similar to walking into a party filled with friends, and greeting everyone individually. These are tweets that you originate (checking in to see how an online friend is coming along with his or her editing, for example) and which may or may not include links or hashtags.
Random responses are very important for community building. When you see a tweet that makes you laugh, even if it was not addressed to you, respond to the sender. Interact. Be the initiator. Most people will appreciate the recognition. Sure, there will be some who ignore or rebuff you, but who cares?
Risk of rejection is a normal part of achievement. If it happens, shrug it off. Most people are on Twitter to talk, engage, share, learn, dream.
@Author_Carmen, a lovely writer I follow on both Twitter and Facebook, posted a funny item the other day. In it, she relayed a conversation with her son. He was quizzing her about her Twitter community by reading bios and asking her to identify the Twitter ID of each person. She got them all right. Then he asked her to recite his cell phone number, and she missed a digit. I laughed hard over that one.
The point is this: follow Carmen DeSousa’s example.
Don’t just grow your community, know your community.
The Series Continues:
Blogging: The Series
Blogging: Getting Started
Blogging: Content
Blogging: Twitter & The Hashtag
Other Posts About Self-Publishing:
Risk And The Unpublished Writer
Single And Looking
Resolutions 2012
Remember, the more customers that enter your personal bookstore (your blog) the better the odds are you’ll connect with new readers. If people don’t know about your blog, how are they going to stop by and check out all those samples of your writing? You want to turn those visiting readers into devoted, life long fans of your work.
In Blogging: Twitter & The Hashtag, we talked about creating tweets that broaden your ability to connect with readers by inviting them to visit your blog.
We need to talk about the second part of that process: growing your Twitter community.
When I am exploring Twitter, working my way through bios, tweets, links, announcements, and promotions, I keep a particular eye out for writers and authors. When I see one, which is quite often, I read the Twitter bio and take note of his or her follow/follower numbers.
Too often, those numbers are very low—painfully low, from a business standpoint. Self/indie published authors need to be regularly increasing the size of their Twitter communities. As in, all the time. And on a schedule.
Your week-to-week Twitter numbers should show an across-the-board increase. You’re following more people. More people are following you. You both give and receive more tweets, RTs, #SO, #MM, #WW, #FF, and all that good stuff.
Ashley, I’m busy and I don’t have the time, you say.
Make the time. It’s not optional. Success requires sacrifice, every step of the way.
But as I said, start small. I remember standing in my sister-in-law’s kitchen and telling her, with great excitement, that I had twenty-eight Twitter followers. Yes, that’s 28.
I was so proud. Those twenty-eight people were my proof, my evidence that I really was on this new path. I had no idea the changes in store for me along this journey. I’m not even a year into yet, into this social media-driven parallel life I live. Though I can’t begin to imagine what surprises the second year will hold, I do know my goals.
You should, too.
Sit down with a piece of paper (or an Excel workbook) and outline your own Twitter goals. At the beginning, start small. Aim for adding twenty new follows/followers a week. Guess what? At the end of the year, your numbers will have increased by 1,000 in each of those categories.
Think of all that good energy surrounding you and your writing. More blog visitors. More guest posts. More opportunities to attract new readers and fans. More book sales. More confidence.
There are several categories in which you should be making progress every time you log on to Twitter. Get on a schedule. Five days a week. You need to be meeting certain goals. These actions have a big effect on both your Twitter score and your ranking as determined by companies like Klout. Some of the categories include:
· Following new people
· Being followed by new people
· Retweets
· Conversation starters
· Random responses
On Twitter, following new people is reasonably straightforward. The key here is to consistently add to the number of people you follow, without fail, every time you log on. Again, aim for adding twenty people per week to start, and increase the goal number as you grow more comfortable.
The purpose of actively growing your Twitter community is to steadily increase your “listening audience.” Those are the people who sign up for your tweets. Unless you’re famous, you have a better chance of people following you if you follow them first.
Retweets are easy enough. Admittedly, sometimes I over-do the retweets (and I know that because Twitter cuts me off), but then again, I follow 10,000 people on Twitter and there are always many interesting, funny or newsworthy items to share.
Conversation starters are similar to walking into a party filled with friends, and greeting everyone individually. These are tweets that you originate (checking in to see how an online friend is coming along with his or her editing, for example) and which may or may not include links or hashtags.
Random responses are very important for community building. When you see a tweet that makes you laugh, even if it was not addressed to you, respond to the sender. Interact. Be the initiator. Most people will appreciate the recognition. Sure, there will be some who ignore or rebuff you, but who cares?
Risk of rejection is a normal part of achievement. If it happens, shrug it off. Most people are on Twitter to talk, engage, share, learn, dream.
@Author_Carmen, a lovely writer I follow on both Twitter and Facebook, posted a funny item the other day. In it, she relayed a conversation with her son. He was quizzing her about her Twitter community by reading bios and asking her to identify the Twitter ID of each person. She got them all right. Then he asked her to recite his cell phone number, and she missed a digit. I laughed hard over that one.
The point is this: follow Carmen DeSousa’s example.
Don’t just grow your community, know your community.
The Series Continues:
Blogging: The Series
Blogging: Getting Started
Blogging: Content
Blogging: Twitter & The Hashtag
Other Posts About Self-Publishing:
Risk And The Unpublished Writer
Single And Looking
Resolutions 2012
Blogging: Twitter & The Hashtag
I do love a good party.
Perhaps that’s why I’m so happy here on Twitter—it really is one big party.
There are many parallels between the way we socialize in our physical lives and the way we socialize in our online lives.
For this installment in the blogging series, we’ll explore the active role Twitter plays in steering traffic to our blogs.
Blog traffic is the starting point, the foundation stone, for building up a readership for self/indie published authors.
Alone, a high number of “hits” doesn’t really mean anything. Your goal is to convert that energy, that traffic, into sales of your books. In my experience, the best way to increase the number of people visiting your blog is through tweeting about your posts.
With so many social media options out there, why does Twitter get a starring role in all of this?
One reason: hashtags.
Twitter’s use of the hashtag is the ingenious “idea within an idea” that Facebook lacks.
Twitter’s entire approach to the concept and application of hashtags is crazy smart.
Hashtags cut across all divides, barriers, layers, and distances. They unite people who previously never, ever had any reason to come together. They do it instantly. And they do it by user choice.
Hashtags convert hundreds of millions of registered Twitter IDs into a searchable database. Hashtags create middle ground, a place where people can come together to discuss or debate an idea without having to “follow” one another first. They prevent all that background emotion (are we “friends”; do you “like” me) from entering into the equation.
To connect with the widest possible range of potential friends/readers/followers/fans, you can use a general hashtag like #author or #amwriting in your tweets. Even though your tweets will appear only in the streams of those Twitter members who “follow” you, if you include hashtags, you’ll open up your tweets to everyone else on Twitter.
And isn’t that the point of marketing? To connect with the widest possible audience?
Not everyone will buy your books, not even in a perfect world. But by exponentially increasing the number of people who visit your blog, and thereby have the opportunity to sample your writing style, you are dramatically increasing your chances of selling books and developing a following.
Put Twitter’s hashtag to work for you.
Use it to grow your Twitter following. Use it to attract traffic to your blog. Use it to convert that traffic into book sales.
But first, remember this important fact: your blog is your personal bookstore. It’s a business. Treat it as such. Inside that store you’re ultimately selling one thing: your own books.
Your original blog posts, the interviews you conduct, the book trailers you either create or host, the guest posts you add, the reviews you share, the giveaways and contests you offer become the displays in the “windows” of your bookstore. The purpose of the displays is to attract readers to "step inside."
Every single item you display in your “windows” should have a measurable, noticeable connection to you and/or to your writing.
Why? You’re building a brand. The brand of YOU.
Make sure every single page on your blog contains core information about your brand. Think of it as your e-business card, and keep your purchase links, your social media links, and some sort of brief “About Me” or “About My Books” information visible on all pages.
I visit more than one hundred new (to me) blogs each week. I can’t tell you how many of them don’t have information and/or links displayed on whichever page I’ve landed on. Don’t hide key information under separate tabs or pages. Don’t make the reader hunt for it. The odds are very strong that he or she won’t bother.
If someone wants to make a connection with you, make it easy for them. Keep your social media links and the purchase links for your books visible on every page in your blog.
When you tweet a link, be certain the page you are tweeting tells the reader something about you, as they may never look beyond that page. In a sense, it becomes your elevator pitch. Think it through. Use the time well.
Recent changes aside, Twitter remains the gold standard of business communications.
The number of people you are able to reach with an individual tweet is virtually limitless. Hashtags are the key with the potential to unlock most any door. Anyone who tells you otherwise doesn’t understand them.
For self/indie published authors, hashtags are a vital part of developing a brand, attracting new readers, and selling books.
Use hashtags to raise your profile. Use them to make a point, join a community, cross into new territory. Heck, use them to broadcast what you ate for lunch today…if you must.
The real value of hashtags, and that which I daresay cannot currently be achieved through any other social media, is their ability to jump-start the process of building your brand.
Your blog, as discussed in Parts One, Two and Three of this series, is the most important place for you to market your work. Your Twitter account is the place where readers congregate. You want the Twitter readers to spend time on your blog.
That makes blogs and Twitter two halves of the same goal.
Here are a couple of quick things about Twitter. If you intend to sell books, don’t lock your tweets. It’s off-putting. I see locked tweets and I see someone isn’t serious about selling their books. Someone who isn’t interested in attracting fans and readers.
Most people have work emails and personal emails. Employ the same strategy for your Twitter account by setting yourself up with a separate ID for family and friends who want to tweet about personal items. Locking those tweets is no big deal because you’ve offered readers a better location, a business location, to find you on Twitter. They shouldn’t even know the other account exists.
If you’re worried about spam, be prepared to manage your account. I do not suggest using Twitter verifying services. They are annoying. Half the time I don’t bother to take the extra steps. Twitter verifying services turn into barriers between your work and potential sales.
At least, when I encounter them.
It is hard enough to make a name for yourself as a self/indie published author. It is hard enough to connect with readers, even those who want you to find them. Don’t add any unnecessary layers. It’s not my job to keep your Twitter account clean of spam and weirdoes. It’s your job.
Speaking of odd, Twitter spam travels in packs. Yes, it is annoying to find a wave of unwelcome visitors among your followers and DM, but it is generally easy enough to block them from your account.
Keep in mind that many groups you may consider to be spam use auto-follow. If you decide to follow one person in a particular category, say, SEO or Marketing, more will almost instantly pop up in your account.
I like to follow all sorts of people, topics, professions, backgrounds, ideas, politics, locations and genres, for one primary reason: I write about love, a universal emotion. So I ask myself, when I’m looking at a Twitter ID, is that a human or a bot? If it’s a human, something that’s usually readily apparent, I follow or follow back.
Speaking of Twitter IDs, if you don’t yet have a lot of Twitter followers, and your Twitter ID uses most or all of the allotted spaces, considering switching to a shorter ID. The value of each letter in that annoyingly brilliant cap of 140 characters per tweet increases as your brand begins to rise.
I originally wanted @AshleyBarron but another Ashley Barron got there first. In the end, I settled on @dcPriya. I am thrilled with that ID. It is unique to me, ties into my brand, and is short in length. It also sets up a whole new round of social media for my book, Ava, coming in May 2012. I’ll be posting more about those new social media sites in a few weeks.
And now the fun begins... It’s time to invite guests to your Twitter party!
Make a list of hashtags you regularly use. If you don’t yet use hashtags, now is the time to start. Carve out an hour from your day/evening and explore the tweets of authors and writers you follow. Which of their tweets get your attention? What words did they use? What structure?
Your starting list should contain at least forty different hashtags, all of which should relate to the contents of your blog. You will need them all. Run each hashtag you choose through Twitter to get an idea of how often people include it in a tweet. Once a day? Once an hour? Six times a minute?
More is better.
Once finished, sort your list of hashtags into groups based on the number of characters they take up on the page. Remember to add one space to the total number in order to account for the blank space between words.
Print out a copy of your list and tape it where you can see it when your fingers are on your keyboard. You won’t need it forever, but having the list will save time in the beginning.
Efficiency is a critical component of success. Help yourself win.
I think having this list, and updating it regularly, helps me to speed up the task of creating new tweets. Some of my “go-to” hashtags are:
Four spaces: #IT #PR #UK #US
Five spaces: #PUB #KDP #WLC
Six spaces: #BOOK #COOL #BLOG #EPUB #PLOT
Seven spaces: #NOVEL #EBOOK #SALES #BOOKS #GENRE
Eight spaces: #KINDLE #AUTHOR #WRITER
Nine spaces: #SELFPUB #FICTION #BLOGGER
Ten spaces: #INDIEPUB
Eleven spaces: #AMWRITING #AMREADING #MARKETING
Once you have created your own list of hashtags, you will be ready to prepare your tweets.
Tweeting and blogging are two important components of a successful marketing plan.
Don’t shortcut your social media time. Someone has to let the world know about your novels. It is a must-do step in self/indie published author process; and, unless you have your own PR rep, you aren’t likely to sell too many books without making an investment in building and marketing your own brand.
The hashtags in your tweets function as keywords. They tell people what is on the other end of the link you’ve included in the tweet.
Be upfront about it. If you mislead people, they won’t come back. Also, if the blog post you are tweeting about is an interview, remember to include the @(TwitterID) so that the author or person connected to the link has the opportunity to retweet it to their own Twitter followers. It’s a good thing.
Think of hashtags as a recipe for the blog post. They represent some or all of the ingredients a reader will find when he or she clicks on the link.
I visited the blogs of some of the readers who left comments on my blogging series, picked an entry from each one, and created sample tweets to show you examples of how I would have marketed those blog posts.
Brandon Charles West
"It's a matter of perseverance mixed with a healthy dose of acceptance." #indiepub #author @fortoldon http://ow.ly/aBFDx #amwriting #novel
Deborah Batterman
"Whoever concocted the game was clearly ahead of his or her time." #selfpub #author @DEBatterman http://ow.ly/aBHCc #visa #password #humor
Teresa Cypher
"For this particular scene, I worked a local...dialect in." #selfpub #author @Teresa_Willow's #SixSentenceSunday http://ow.ly/aBIqT #novel
James Garcia Jr.
"I absolutely adore serious writing about flawed and scarred characters." #indiepub #author @danceauthor http://ow.ly/aBIYo #genre #books
Skip Prichard
"Is Your Brain the Fountain of Youth?" Read #CEO @SkipPrichard's interview with @DocAmen http://ow.ly/aBKmy #aging #smart #health #author
Graeme Ing
"It isn’t as simple as tweeting a hundred times a day about your book." #selfpub #author @GraemeIng http://ow.ly/aBMup #marketing #books
Sandra Tyler
"A-Z Challenge: Z is for Zebra" - a blog post by #author @Sfiberworks http://ow.ly/aBN5r #love #motherhood #animals #sweet #imagination
R A Jones
"Concentration span of a gnat, appetite of a gorilla. That’s what he’ll have on his gravestone." #YA #author R A Jones http://ow.ly/aBNsR
David Good
"Admitting our mistakes...and asking for forgiveness is the path to healing." #pastor #author @DavidGoodSATX http://ow.ly/aBPIW #christian
Jeri Walker-Bickett
"Exposure to so many blogs made participating in #NaBloPoMo worthwhile." #blogger @JeriWB ow.ly/aBOa3 #amwriting #books #fiction
Tim Madigan
"I am Grill Man."- a blog post by #author #journalist @tsmadigan http://ow.ly/aBP58 #humor #family #summer #grilling #tradition #foodie
Do you want to be a bestselling author? Only the readers can make that happen.
Introduce yourself to each and every reader you can find. There are billions of them on this planet, and hundreds of millions on Twitter. Invite them to your personal bookstore. Use hashtags to give them a reason to come. Use good writing and interesting posts to give them reasons to come back.
All by itself, writing a book isn’t nearly enough. Success has many facets.
Without a plan, a clear and manageable strategy, having your own blog can quickly become overwhelming. Maybe even a confidence buster. Trying to be all things to all people is a losing proposition. Just ask a politician.
Think carefully about your blog, your writing past and future, and the uniqueness of you. Select a few of those topics for your blog, and stick to them. Make the topics general—author, athlete, designer, parent, law enforcement, medical field, your city, teacher, painter, etc—to give yourself the broadest possible interpretations of tie-ins to your blog posts.
Down the road, once you’ve mastered the techniques of blogging, and you’ve developed your own winning formula, you may find that you are ready to start a second blog—one that focuses on other aspects of your life and interests.
When you do, I hope you’ll remember to tweet me the link!
A quick summary of this post:
1. Make sure every page of your blog provides purchase links and at least a few “About Me” sentences for the readers. If a reader only visits that one page, you want to make the most of it.
2. Don’t lock your business tweets. Ever.
3. If your Twitter name is unnecessarily long, and you don’t yet have many followers, chose a shorter option. You will want the extra space as your brand grows.
4. Make a list of hashtags. Look around and see what others are using, but if they don’t apply to your blog, don’t use them. Truth in advertising at all times.
5. Create at least one hashtag-filled tweet for each post on your blog.
6. Don’t do any of the above steps until you’ve completed the steps outlined in the first three posts in this blogging series. I’m not kidding. Don’t let an increase in blog traffic be a fluke, or beyond your ability to maintain, because you didn’t properly prepare. Success doesn’t happen by accident.
Related Posts:
Blogging: The Series
Blogging: Getting Started
Blogging: Content
Interviews with Self/Indie Published Authors:
Melissa Foster
R.S. Guthrie
Chicki Brown
Carl Purdon
Collette Scott
Micheal Rivers
Perhaps that’s why I’m so happy here on Twitter—it really is one big party.
There are many parallels between the way we socialize in our physical lives and the way we socialize in our online lives.
For this installment in the blogging series, we’ll explore the active role Twitter plays in steering traffic to our blogs.
Blog traffic is the starting point, the foundation stone, for building up a readership for self/indie published authors.
Alone, a high number of “hits” doesn’t really mean anything. Your goal is to convert that energy, that traffic, into sales of your books. In my experience, the best way to increase the number of people visiting your blog is through tweeting about your posts.
With so many social media options out there, why does Twitter get a starring role in all of this?
One reason: hashtags.
Twitter’s use of the hashtag is the ingenious “idea within an idea” that Facebook lacks.
Twitter’s entire approach to the concept and application of hashtags is crazy smart.
Hashtags cut across all divides, barriers, layers, and distances. They unite people who previously never, ever had any reason to come together. They do it instantly. And they do it by user choice.
Hashtags convert hundreds of millions of registered Twitter IDs into a searchable database. Hashtags create middle ground, a place where people can come together to discuss or debate an idea without having to “follow” one another first. They prevent all that background emotion (are we “friends”; do you “like” me) from entering into the equation.
To connect with the widest possible range of potential friends/readers/followers/fans, you can use a general hashtag like #author or #amwriting in your tweets. Even though your tweets will appear only in the streams of those Twitter members who “follow” you, if you include hashtags, you’ll open up your tweets to everyone else on Twitter.
And isn’t that the point of marketing? To connect with the widest possible audience?
Not everyone will buy your books, not even in a perfect world. But by exponentially increasing the number of people who visit your blog, and thereby have the opportunity to sample your writing style, you are dramatically increasing your chances of selling books and developing a following.
Put Twitter’s hashtag to work for you.
Use it to grow your Twitter following. Use it to attract traffic to your blog. Use it to convert that traffic into book sales.
But first, remember this important fact: your blog is your personal bookstore. It’s a business. Treat it as such. Inside that store you’re ultimately selling one thing: your own books.
Your original blog posts, the interviews you conduct, the book trailers you either create or host, the guest posts you add, the reviews you share, the giveaways and contests you offer become the displays in the “windows” of your bookstore. The purpose of the displays is to attract readers to "step inside."
Every single item you display in your “windows” should have a measurable, noticeable connection to you and/or to your writing.
Why? You’re building a brand. The brand of YOU.
Make sure every single page on your blog contains core information about your brand. Think of it as your e-business card, and keep your purchase links, your social media links, and some sort of brief “About Me” or “About My Books” information visible on all pages.
I visit more than one hundred new (to me) blogs each week. I can’t tell you how many of them don’t have information and/or links displayed on whichever page I’ve landed on. Don’t hide key information under separate tabs or pages. Don’t make the reader hunt for it. The odds are very strong that he or she won’t bother.
If someone wants to make a connection with you, make it easy for them. Keep your social media links and the purchase links for your books visible on every page in your blog.
When you tweet a link, be certain the page you are tweeting tells the reader something about you, as they may never look beyond that page. In a sense, it becomes your elevator pitch. Think it through. Use the time well.
Recent changes aside, Twitter remains the gold standard of business communications.
The number of people you are able to reach with an individual tweet is virtually limitless. Hashtags are the key with the potential to unlock most any door. Anyone who tells you otherwise doesn’t understand them.
For self/indie published authors, hashtags are a vital part of developing a brand, attracting new readers, and selling books.
Use hashtags to raise your profile. Use them to make a point, join a community, cross into new territory. Heck, use them to broadcast what you ate for lunch today…if you must.
The real value of hashtags, and that which I daresay cannot currently be achieved through any other social media, is their ability to jump-start the process of building your brand.
Your blog, as discussed in Parts One, Two and Three of this series, is the most important place for you to market your work. Your Twitter account is the place where readers congregate. You want the Twitter readers to spend time on your blog.
That makes blogs and Twitter two halves of the same goal.
Here are a couple of quick things about Twitter. If you intend to sell books, don’t lock your tweets. It’s off-putting. I see locked tweets and I see someone isn’t serious about selling their books. Someone who isn’t interested in attracting fans and readers.
Most people have work emails and personal emails. Employ the same strategy for your Twitter account by setting yourself up with a separate ID for family and friends who want to tweet about personal items. Locking those tweets is no big deal because you’ve offered readers a better location, a business location, to find you on Twitter. They shouldn’t even know the other account exists.
If you’re worried about spam, be prepared to manage your account. I do not suggest using Twitter verifying services. They are annoying. Half the time I don’t bother to take the extra steps. Twitter verifying services turn into barriers between your work and potential sales.
At least, when I encounter them.
It is hard enough to make a name for yourself as a self/indie published author. It is hard enough to connect with readers, even those who want you to find them. Don’t add any unnecessary layers. It’s not my job to keep your Twitter account clean of spam and weirdoes. It’s your job.
Speaking of odd, Twitter spam travels in packs. Yes, it is annoying to find a wave of unwelcome visitors among your followers and DM, but it is generally easy enough to block them from your account.
Keep in mind that many groups you may consider to be spam use auto-follow. If you decide to follow one person in a particular category, say, SEO or Marketing, more will almost instantly pop up in your account.
I like to follow all sorts of people, topics, professions, backgrounds, ideas, politics, locations and genres, for one primary reason: I write about love, a universal emotion. So I ask myself, when I’m looking at a Twitter ID, is that a human or a bot? If it’s a human, something that’s usually readily apparent, I follow or follow back.
Speaking of Twitter IDs, if you don’t yet have a lot of Twitter followers, and your Twitter ID uses most or all of the allotted spaces, considering switching to a shorter ID. The value of each letter in that annoyingly brilliant cap of 140 characters per tweet increases as your brand begins to rise.
I originally wanted @AshleyBarron but another Ashley Barron got there first. In the end, I settled on @dcPriya. I am thrilled with that ID. It is unique to me, ties into my brand, and is short in length. It also sets up a whole new round of social media for my book, Ava, coming in May 2012. I’ll be posting more about those new social media sites in a few weeks.
And now the fun begins... It’s time to invite guests to your Twitter party!
Make a list of hashtags you regularly use. If you don’t yet use hashtags, now is the time to start. Carve out an hour from your day/evening and explore the tweets of authors and writers you follow. Which of their tweets get your attention? What words did they use? What structure?
Your starting list should contain at least forty different hashtags, all of which should relate to the contents of your blog. You will need them all. Run each hashtag you choose through Twitter to get an idea of how often people include it in a tweet. Once a day? Once an hour? Six times a minute?
More is better.
Once finished, sort your list of hashtags into groups based on the number of characters they take up on the page. Remember to add one space to the total number in order to account for the blank space between words.
Print out a copy of your list and tape it where you can see it when your fingers are on your keyboard. You won’t need it forever, but having the list will save time in the beginning.
Efficiency is a critical component of success. Help yourself win.
I think having this list, and updating it regularly, helps me to speed up the task of creating new tweets. Some of my “go-to” hashtags are:
Four spaces: #IT #PR #UK #US
Five spaces: #PUB #KDP #WLC
Six spaces: #BOOK #COOL #BLOG #EPUB #PLOT
Seven spaces: #NOVEL #EBOOK #SALES #BOOKS #GENRE
Eight spaces: #KINDLE #AUTHOR #WRITER
Nine spaces: #SELFPUB #FICTION #BLOGGER
Ten spaces: #INDIEPUB
Eleven spaces: #AMWRITING #AMREADING #MARKETING
Once you have created your own list of hashtags, you will be ready to prepare your tweets.
Tweeting and blogging are two important components of a successful marketing plan.
Don’t shortcut your social media time. Someone has to let the world know about your novels. It is a must-do step in self/indie published author process; and, unless you have your own PR rep, you aren’t likely to sell too many books without making an investment in building and marketing your own brand.
The hashtags in your tweets function as keywords. They tell people what is on the other end of the link you’ve included in the tweet.
Be upfront about it. If you mislead people, they won’t come back. Also, if the blog post you are tweeting about is an interview, remember to include the @(TwitterID) so that the author or person connected to the link has the opportunity to retweet it to their own Twitter followers. It’s a good thing.
Think of hashtags as a recipe for the blog post. They represent some or all of the ingredients a reader will find when he or she clicks on the link.
I visited the blogs of some of the readers who left comments on my blogging series, picked an entry from each one, and created sample tweets to show you examples of how I would have marketed those blog posts.
Brandon Charles West
"It's a matter of perseverance mixed with a healthy dose of acceptance." #indiepub #author @fortoldon http://ow.ly/aBFDx #amwriting #novel
Deborah Batterman
"Whoever concocted the game was clearly ahead of his or her time." #selfpub #author @DEBatterman http://ow.ly/aBHCc #visa #password #humor
Teresa Cypher
"For this particular scene, I worked a local...dialect in." #selfpub #author @Teresa_Willow's #SixSentenceSunday http://ow.ly/aBIqT #novel
James Garcia Jr.
"I absolutely adore serious writing about flawed and scarred characters." #indiepub #author @danceauthor http://ow.ly/aBIYo #genre #books
Skip Prichard
"Is Your Brain the Fountain of Youth?" Read #CEO @SkipPrichard's interview with @DocAmen http://ow.ly/aBKmy #aging #smart #health #author
Graeme Ing
"It isn’t as simple as tweeting a hundred times a day about your book." #selfpub #author @GraemeIng http://ow.ly/aBMup #marketing #books
Sandra Tyler
"A-Z Challenge: Z is for Zebra" - a blog post by #author @Sfiberworks http://ow.ly/aBN5r #love #motherhood #animals #sweet #imagination
R A Jones
"Concentration span of a gnat, appetite of a gorilla. That’s what he’ll have on his gravestone." #YA #author R A Jones http://ow.ly/aBNsR
David Good
"Admitting our mistakes...and asking for forgiveness is the path to healing." #pastor #author @DavidGoodSATX http://ow.ly/aBPIW #christian
Jeri Walker-Bickett
"Exposure to so many blogs made participating in #NaBloPoMo worthwhile." #blogger @JeriWB ow.ly/aBOa3 #amwriting #books #fiction
Tim Madigan
"I am Grill Man."- a blog post by #author #journalist @tsmadigan http://ow.ly/aBP58 #humor #family #summer #grilling #tradition #foodie
Do you want to be a bestselling author? Only the readers can make that happen.
Introduce yourself to each and every reader you can find. There are billions of them on this planet, and hundreds of millions on Twitter. Invite them to your personal bookstore. Use hashtags to give them a reason to come. Use good writing and interesting posts to give them reasons to come back.
All by itself, writing a book isn’t nearly enough. Success has many facets.
Without a plan, a clear and manageable strategy, having your own blog can quickly become overwhelming. Maybe even a confidence buster. Trying to be all things to all people is a losing proposition. Just ask a politician.
Think carefully about your blog, your writing past and future, and the uniqueness of you. Select a few of those topics for your blog, and stick to them. Make the topics general—author, athlete, designer, parent, law enforcement, medical field, your city, teacher, painter, etc—to give yourself the broadest possible interpretations of tie-ins to your blog posts.
Down the road, once you’ve mastered the techniques of blogging, and you’ve developed your own winning formula, you may find that you are ready to start a second blog—one that focuses on other aspects of your life and interests.
When you do, I hope you’ll remember to tweet me the link!
A quick summary of this post:
1. Make sure every page of your blog provides purchase links and at least a few “About Me” sentences for the readers. If a reader only visits that one page, you want to make the most of it.
2. Don’t lock your business tweets. Ever.
3. If your Twitter name is unnecessarily long, and you don’t yet have many followers, chose a shorter option. You will want the extra space as your brand grows.
4. Make a list of hashtags. Look around and see what others are using, but if they don’t apply to your blog, don’t use them. Truth in advertising at all times.
5. Create at least one hashtag-filled tweet for each post on your blog.
6. Don’t do any of the above steps until you’ve completed the steps outlined in the first three posts in this blogging series. I’m not kidding. Don’t let an increase in blog traffic be a fluke, or beyond your ability to maintain, because you didn’t properly prepare. Success doesn’t happen by accident.
Related Posts:
Blogging: The Series
Blogging: Getting Started
Blogging: Content
Interviews with Self/Indie Published Authors:
Melissa Foster
R.S. Guthrie
Chicki Brown
Carl Purdon
Collette Scott
Micheal Rivers
#TeaserTrain Sample: Kellianne Sweeney's 'The One That Got Away'
Excerpt From 'The One That Got Away'
My mind seemed to turn off and my body moved by its’ own accord to open the door and walk inside. I stood in the middle of the foyer and tried to collect my thoughts. I knew I had been instructed on where to meet in the event of the ship’s sinking. I had not been paying particular attention to this information because I had believed the Titanic to be unsinkable. Quick action was required, but I needed to figure out where to dash off to and stop standing motionless in the middle of the foyer like a simpleton. I could feel panic burbling from the tips of my toes, thrashing in my guts and squeezing my chest. I was very aware of my heart beating rapidly. Panic was a foreign emotion to me. It hit me like a brick wall and seemed to immobilize my limbs. Then, I thought of Jackson. I needed to be sure of Jackson’s safety. Oh, dear God, protect my child! If anything were to happen to him…I couldn’t even let my mind go there. My mind and body seemed suddenly connected with purpose and I bolted to the stairwell.
As I clambered down the narrow stairwell I was greeted by a deluge of third class passengers trying to come up. By the time I made it to the foot of the stairs the corridor before me was filling quickly with a glut of milling and frightened families. The sleepy, crying children wrenched jaggedly at my heart. I could see Jackson in every face. As I rounded each corner I hoped against hope that I would see his crazy, curly head bob into view. Surely Jane would get the children up and out right away? What if they were all still asleep? I pressed on with my mission to locate their room, but I was getting confused coming from this direction. It became apparent to me that I was not going to be able to navigate my way to Jane’s room due to the budding chaos in the hallways and my unfamiliarity with this end of the ship. I decided that it might be better for me to go up and come back down using the route that I was familiar with. I spun on my heel and joined the rapidly increasing exodus up the stairs. I was so grateful to finally reach the top. The stale air down there was giving me a headache. The foyer area was starting to fill with people now as well. On every face I saw varying degrees of panic. I vaguely wondered what my own face looked like. My thoughts were scattered again. I was fervently trying to figure the most efficient way to get to Jane’s berth in order to scoop up my son. My arms ached to hold him and bring him to safety. I struggled to think clearly. I would have gladly slapped myself upside the head if I thought that would juggle my thoughts back together. Even at the best of times I was not good with directions.
“Please,” a timid voice cut through the increasing din surrounding me, “are we to go to the lifeboats?” I turned to my left and found a pale and fragile looking young woman holding the hands of what appeared to be her daughters. The younger girl was sobbing so hard that she was hiccupping, while the older one looked as though her face would burst with the effort of holding back her tears. The woman’s face was strained and tight and her voice trembled as she spoke politely to me. “Would you please tell us where to go? Please, miss?”
“Yes,” I answered immediately and matter-of-factly. “Follow me.” I offered my hand to the older girl. She took it gratefully. My small gesture seemed to send a cascade of relief over her pinched face. She even smiled a little. I grabbed her hand with purpose and the four of us began to wind our way through the thickening throng up to the deck. After I saw this trio safely to a lifeboat I would cross over to the other side of the ship to where I would be more able to get my bearings. I thought of Violet. Of course she would be doing exactly what she needed to be doing in this situation. Violet was always able to take care of herself and others with poise and aplomb. I could even imagine her managing a lifeboat herself. As we entered the deck area the cold once again slapped me hard, but this time I had no time or concern for it. Up ahead I saw a lifeboat being readied to lower. I squeezed the girl’s hand tighter and guided the family firmly through the confusion. A sudden, thunder-like bang stopped me dead in my tracks for a moment as I searched for its’ source. I soon discovered that a distress rocket had been fired. It was fascinatingly lovely in the star sparkled sky. There was a collective pause as everyone on deck stared at the brilliant spectacle that meant disaster.
Purchase Links for 'The One That Got Away'
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Contact links and interview with author Kellianne Sweeney.
Read interviews with more #TeaserTrain authors:
Rob Guthrie
Beth Elisa Harris
Keith Weaver
Howard Hopkins
Alex Laybourne
Gae-Lynn Woods
Wendy L. Young
Carrie Green
John W. Mefford
T.M. Souders
A.R. Silverberry
New Release: Author Deborah Batterman
Throughout 2012, I will be highlighting the new releases of members of the Facebook group SelfPubEBooks. The group is open to all writers and self-published or indie-published authors.
The purpose of SelfPubEbooks is to discuss marketing ideas, innovations, and changes in the industry, and to support one another by sharing information about the new releases and successes of fellow members. We welcome your participation.
* An April 2012 New Release *
Author Deborah Batterman
Bio: Contrary to appearances, I'm not obsessed with shoes, although I'm no stranger to their appeal. You might say I am obsessed, as a writer, with everyday symbols and their metaphoric underpinnings, especially the ways in which those associated with all things female tend to be trivialized. It's the very reason I chose the stories I did to serve as a kind of cornerstone to my collection, SHOES HAIR NAILS. What my fiction may well share with the essays in my new little e-book, Because my name is mother, is the way in which we're shaped by family relationships. On any given night, when I was a young girl, our small Brooklyn apartment would be filled with aunts and uncles and cousins; lots of cigarette smoke, a little laughter, arguments that tended to get loud. Escape took the form of going into my bedroom to do homework, read, and, eventually, start writing. I guess I've never stopped escaping.
Book Name: Because my name is mother
Release Date: April 2, 2012
Genre: essays
Author Links: @DEBatterman
www.facebook.com/deborah.batterman
deborahbatterman.com/
With poignancy and humor, Deborah Batterman reminds us in these brief, linked essays that every mother is a daughter, too. The insights she brings to simple acts - looking at old photographs, recalling the smells and tastes of her mother's cooking, making her daughter's bed or shopping with her - are as beautifully rendered as they are profound.
READER REVIEWS FOR Because my name is mother
Intimate and inventive, the linked essays in Deborah Batterman's 'Because My Name is Mother' are rich with telling details. Objects and everyday acts resonate until we can see ourselves in the vivid moments the author creates. There's the photograph of the author's parents, "young and happy and vibrant, maybe even in love." There's the author's attempt to keep her dying mother's traditions alive, but in her own way. The end of a grown daughter's visit is touchingly rendered by her mother's homely act of making her bed.
Deborah Batterman fills the senses with her poignant, funny observations of family and modern life, drawing the reader in, revealing layers of existence with the nuanced phrase, the apt symbol. Whether photographs or fabulous shoes, the refrains make this a collection to savor. "There are some things you just never want to come to an end," the author says in "Sweet Indulgence." For me, reading 'Because My Name is Mother' is one of them. — Cheryl Snell
Deborah Batterman is the best combination of a writer: intelligent, insightful and funny! I love reading her short stories, essays and blog entries...I'd read the menu if she wrote it! Do yourself a favor and quick, go get this book... Deborah Riggs Previte
Read an interview here with author Deborah Batterman.
The SocialImprove.com Interview - Seven Questions
Author Interview: Ashley Barron
by Bes Zain on 04/18/12
SocialImprove: What are you trying to achieve through your blog?
Ashley Barron: This is an interesting question. The answer has changed several times since I began my blog nine months ago, and I’m certain it will continue to evolve going forward.
In the very beginning, when I realized I needed one, I simply wanted to prove to myself I could blog. As I came to find out, starting a blog is a serious undertaking when you have no prior related experience of any kind. In the past, I’ve launched websites as components of businesses I’ve been involved in, and I thought launching a blog wouldn’t be that different. How wrong I was!
Websites and blogs are worlds apart in purpose, methodology, pace, and style.
Here is the full interview with SocialImprove.com.
by Bes Zain on 04/18/12
SocialImprove: What are you trying to achieve through your blog?
Ashley Barron: This is an interesting question. The answer has changed several times since I began my blog nine months ago, and I’m certain it will continue to evolve going forward.
In the very beginning, when I realized I needed one, I simply wanted to prove to myself I could blog. As I came to find out, starting a blog is a serious undertaking when you have no prior related experience of any kind. In the past, I’ve launched websites as components of businesses I’ve been involved in, and I thought launching a blog wouldn’t be that different. How wrong I was!
Websites and blogs are worlds apart in purpose, methodology, pace, and style.
Here is the full interview with SocialImprove.com.
Television And Self-Publishing
Not too long ago, I received a phone call from a powerful person at a powerful company.
The person was responding to a particular blog post of mine, one in which I had made suggestions for changes in certain areas of the publishing industry.
Was I surprised to receive that call? You bet. I was honored to be in a position to articulate some of the good things happening here in our community.
I shouldn’t have been.
What was made clear to me over the course of the thirty-minute conversation was that neither that person nor that particular company held self/indie published authors in high esteem. If I were to paraphrase, I would probably use the expression “a passing fad” to sum up the perspective presented to me.
Friends, I’m telling you now: I didn’t do the finest job putting forth the strengths of our community.
Based on how the arrangements for the call were set in place, I believed it would be a fluid conversation, informative and mutually beneficial, about specific ideas for bringing improvements to an industry already in a state of flux.
I was too excited and, frankly, too flattered by the contact to be examining the basis for the call from all angles.
My mistake.
I’m from Washington; I know better.
If the person I spoke with that day is representative of the mainstream views of the self/indie publishing community, we have a long public relations road ahead of us.
In retrospect, what I find most troubling is that this person had spoken with members of the traditional publishing community versus self/indie publishing at a ratio of about 250 to one. At the time, that information, no more than an off-hand remark, really, slipped past me, overshadowed by stronger topics.
Now that I’ve had a stretch of time to reflect on the conversation, I’ve come to understand that this phone call, about which I was so disheartened afterwards, was really a wake-up call.
It seems that, as a community, we self/indie published authors are perceived as not having any leadership or defined standards.
I know; it’s absurd. But far too often, mistaken perceptions, when left uncorrected, become accepted as reality.
The unity, camaraderie, intelligence, and enthusiasm that defines and uplifts this community of business-minded entrepreneurial risk-takers extends beyond the writers and authors to include the technical professionals, graphic artists, bloggers, and so many more.
I’m willing to wager that most every one of us could provide at least one name of a self/indie member who has shown leadership in our community. My list already has three names, and I hope to see it grow exponentially over the next few weeks.
The time is right to step forward and define ourselves instead of letting others—however well-intentioned—take on the responsibility of communicating to the world our roles within the shifting paradigms of the publishing industry, and the business community as a whole.
Self/indie published authors are the most motivated marketers around, and the tools we use, mostly of the free social media variety, are about to take on added significance.
Why?
Nielsen is changing its ratings system for television programs.
This has huge potential for a motivated, united community like ours to effectively lobby for new or expanded content on existing television shows.
What kind of content?
For starters, how about interviews with self/indie published authors from all genres, all price points, and all levels of book sales?
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be blogging about the topic of leadership within the self/indie publishing community and brainstorming about ways to increase our collective media exposure through branding.
I hope you’ll join this open dialogue by sharing the names of authors you consider to be leaders in the self/indie publishing community and sharing your thoughts on how to raise the general understanding of what being a self/indie published author is really all about.
Let the Twitter trending begin!
The person was responding to a particular blog post of mine, one in which I had made suggestions for changes in certain areas of the publishing industry.
Was I surprised to receive that call? You bet. I was honored to be in a position to articulate some of the good things happening here in our community.
I shouldn’t have been.
What was made clear to me over the course of the thirty-minute conversation was that neither that person nor that particular company held self/indie published authors in high esteem. If I were to paraphrase, I would probably use the expression “a passing fad” to sum up the perspective presented to me.
Friends, I’m telling you now: I didn’t do the finest job putting forth the strengths of our community.
Based on how the arrangements for the call were set in place, I believed it would be a fluid conversation, informative and mutually beneficial, about specific ideas for bringing improvements to an industry already in a state of flux.
I was too excited and, frankly, too flattered by the contact to be examining the basis for the call from all angles.
My mistake.
I’m from Washington; I know better.
If the person I spoke with that day is representative of the mainstream views of the self/indie publishing community, we have a long public relations road ahead of us.
In retrospect, what I find most troubling is that this person had spoken with members of the traditional publishing community versus self/indie publishing at a ratio of about 250 to one. At the time, that information, no more than an off-hand remark, really, slipped past me, overshadowed by stronger topics.
Now that I’ve had a stretch of time to reflect on the conversation, I’ve come to understand that this phone call, about which I was so disheartened afterwards, was really a wake-up call.
It seems that, as a community, we self/indie published authors are perceived as not having any leadership or defined standards.
I know; it’s absurd. But far too often, mistaken perceptions, when left uncorrected, become accepted as reality.
The unity, camaraderie, intelligence, and enthusiasm that defines and uplifts this community of business-minded entrepreneurial risk-takers extends beyond the writers and authors to include the technical professionals, graphic artists, bloggers, and so many more.
I’m willing to wager that most every one of us could provide at least one name of a self/indie member who has shown leadership in our community. My list already has three names, and I hope to see it grow exponentially over the next few weeks.
The time is right to step forward and define ourselves instead of letting others—however well-intentioned—take on the responsibility of communicating to the world our roles within the shifting paradigms of the publishing industry, and the business community as a whole.
Self/indie published authors are the most motivated marketers around, and the tools we use, mostly of the free social media variety, are about to take on added significance.
Why?
Nielsen is changing its ratings system for television programs.
"Nielsen Media announced today that it would be abandoning its trademark people meters as data gathering devices for its television ratings measurements and would begin using Facebook Likes and Twitter Trends instead."
This has huge potential for a motivated, united community like ours to effectively lobby for new or expanded content on existing television shows.
What kind of content?
For starters, how about interviews with self/indie published authors from all genres, all price points, and all levels of book sales?
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be blogging about the topic of leadership within the self/indie publishing community and brainstorming about ways to increase our collective media exposure through branding.
I hope you’ll join this open dialogue by sharing the names of authors you consider to be leaders in the self/indie publishing community and sharing your thoughts on how to raise the general understanding of what being a self/indie published author is really all about.
Let the Twitter trending begin!
'Ava' Outtakes: Kettle & Gracie
My first draft of Ava was 165,000 words. During the tough process of editing down the story to 100,000 words, and shaping up the material for sequels, hundreds of pages were cut from the manuscript.
Below, is a chapter that takes place about halfway through the book, and focuses on Ava’s parents, Kettle and Gracie Arden. In the end, this chapter contained too much background for mid-point in the novel, and it didn’t match with the flow and tone of the story, so I removed it.
It’s hard to cut words from a story so close to one’s heart, and the thought of leaving 65,000 of them to languish in the dark of my cloud storage pained me. I’ve pulled a chapter out and decided to post it here on my blog.
For those readers who may find these types of pages interesting, especially as we ramp up to the launch of Ava, a romantic thriller, I’m happy to report there is plenty more material.
Enjoy!
On the way home from dealing with the burglary at Ava’s apartment, Kettle turned into the neighborhood a dozen streets early.
Sitting beside him in the front seat, Gracie knew where he was going; he was headed for their old house. As they came upon it, Kettle pulled to the curb.
The quaint brick beauty was very small. Despite the late hour, light from several windows and a fixture above the front door shone brightly in the crisp fall night.
The tiny shrubs and trees Kettle had installed with his own hands three and a half decades earlier had matured into a graceful landscape. Pots of amber-colored mums lined the stone walkway, gently drawing the eye up to the freshly painted wooden porch.
He couldn’t have been more pleased.
How different it looked now from the first time he and Gracie had set eyes on it back in the spring of their first year of marriage. With the due date for their first baby a scant month away, they’d bought the smallest house in the very best neighborhood they could afford.
After they’d politely but firmly declined any financial assistance from both set of parents, Gracie’s mom had expressed her disapproval by purchasing a gigantic antique Venetian chandelier as their housewarming gift. For years, it had dwarfed that small dining room, and it now hung in Gracie’s private study at the new house.
He smiled to himself. Twenty-five years later and he still thought of it as the "new" house.
But this one? This old house?
Kettle loved it the way a man always loves his first. He’d been a new husband here, a new father, a new lawyer.
As he sat in the stillness of the car, his wife beside him, a long strand of beloved memories rose up from the dusty corners of his mind.
Over the course of their marriage, he and Gracie had achieved all of the goals they’d set for themselves as a young couple. He was proud of the children they had brought into this world, proud of the adults they had become.
When the kids were little, Gracie had begun writing a popular children’s book series, and now a long-overdue Saturday morning cartoon was in development for next year. Though the success of his law practice was one for the history books, Kettle took as much pride in his wife’s achievements as he did his own.
Over the decades, they had traveled the globe, dined with presidents, and accumulated a volume of assets so large it sometimes left him a little embarrassed. But as Gracie had always pointed out, they may have had a leg up on education, but the rest of it they’d earned themselves.
And now, with a grandbaby on the way, they finally had the total package.
Why then would a too small house on a too small lot hold such power over him?
Maybe because he could still picture five-year-old Ava flying across the grass to greet him when he returned from work each evening, and launching herself confidently into his open arms. It was their daily ritual. He would scoop her up and she would tuck her small head beneath his chin and announce, “Daddy’s here.”
How is it, with two softly spoken words, a child could steal your whole heart over and over again?
He’d taught his boys how to throw a football on the small slope of this front lawn. And on hot summer nights, they’d wrestled and chased fireflies and played tag until Gracie had firmly issued the final call for bedtime.
The memories brought a smile to his lips, a lightness to his mood. How could it all be so long ago?
He was going to be sixty-one soon.
He didn’t feel as old as his birth certificate insisted he was. Occasionally his bones or his lower back would behave that age, but not his mind. Not his spirit. Not his capacity to love.
He felt alive and vibrant and relevant.
His thoughts turned to all of the late nights he’d spent downtown working hard to grow his law practice. For the stretch of years leading up to making partner in the firm, Gracie had often functioned as a single parent. It was the sacrifice such achievement required.
The fact that they’d made the decision together hadn’t erased the hardships each one had separately faced.
He may have missed bundles of little moments in the everyday lives of his children, but he had twisted himself into knots to make it to their big moments. Recitals and games and school plays.
Usually he’d show up late, but he was always there. Always.
Even so, those lost times in between, they haunted him. Markers that included his oldest son, Trace, having his first real date on a Thursday after school. And Ava, second grade, hosting a fancy afternoon tea party for the neighborhood girls. Then there was five-year-old Locke, up on a chair, gluing black construction paper on the windows of his bedroom to create a secret bat cave for his two favorite guys, James Bond and The Fonz.
It was tough, but Kettle had reached a point in his life where he was slowly letting go of that angst. With his son and daughter-in-law’s baby on the way, Kettle believed he had finally come to understand the manner in which life rewards the deep, hard sacrifices of parenting: through grandchildren.
In two months’ time, his magical, mystical, achingly poignant second chance would arrive.
Kettle wanted all of it, every moment, and was even looking forward to the day his grandchild became a hormone-ruled, conflict-seeking teenager.
He’d been working most of the time when his own children had been cutting a path toward adulthood. They’d let their emotions, their tantrums and angst, loose on their mom, on Gracie, day after day, but wouldn’t reveal a drop of it when Kettle was around.
The double standard had upset Gracie, hurt her deeply, even though the kids had told her they were afraid that if they acted out in front of their father he might stop coming home one day.
Their fears weren’t without basis; divorce had been happening all over the neighborhood. With depressing regularity, Trace, Ava, and Locke would come home from school upset, filled with new reports of parents splitting up.
They had been worried that, like a cough or the flu, their own father would catch it and disappear, too.
He would never have known any of this, never known their fears or how difficult the children could be, if his wife hadn’t shared it all with him. Gracie reassured him repeatedly that it was all a normal part of kids transitioning into adulthood. She assured him that it was as painful for the children as it was for the parents.
Kettle carried his guilt around like a backpack until the night Gracie informed him the kids were taking their frustrations and fears out on her because they trusted her to never leave them.
This explanation, succinctly delivered to Kettle one night as he and Gracie prepared for bed, had cut him to the core. Why would his children fear that he would abandon his family? Didn’t they understand that his actions, his professional choices, were about giving them opportunities in the future?
They were still children at the time and couldn’t yet understand the layered, competing priorities of an adult life. For a time, he had let their fears dim his outlook on the value of the sacrifices he was making in the name of his family.
Gracie was always truthful with him even when the truth wounded him. When they were first married, just after a big argument, she had explained that she would never hold anything back from him. She believed that lies, no matter how sweetly told, broke couples apart. She had kissed his lips and assured him that he deserved the respect of truthfulness from her, on every subject.
He had loved her all the more for it.
Well, except for those times when Gracie was pushing him to take a step that he wasn’t financially or emotionally ready to embrace. During those times, he found her candor a source of never-ending irritation. And, in the spirit of truthfulness, had told her so.
One of those periods began shortly after their tenth wedding anniversary and lasted for several years. What had caused it? The pressing need for a bigger house.
From the first words, Kettle had refused to discuss it. He simply couldn’t. Instead, he had deferred, delayed, ignored and argued.
He believed that the memories they had made inside the walls of that old house were the foundation of their life together. Changing homes opened up their peaceful world to the unpredictable whims of risk.
As an attorney, his work day was often spent trying to sort out the expensive, emotional, destructive messes his clients had gotten themselves into by failing to calculate, anticipate or respect the far-reaching powers of risk.
Why then would he, Kettle, consciously, willingly, expose his family to any more of the great unknown than he absolutely had to? It would imprudent and irresponsible.
That’s how he saw it, anyway.
More importantly, they’d brought their children home from the hospital to this small house. All three had learned to walk here, talk here. They’d hosted birthday parties here, and had crammed the whole extended family around tables set closely together for Thanksgiving dinners.
They’d celebrated Christmas mornings in the miniature living room and Fourth of July's in the cramped back yard. He and Gracie had made love passionately in this small house. She had decorated the place on a budget—if you wanted to call no money a budget—and somehow managed to do it with style. They’d scrimped and saved to buy new appliances for the tired kitchen, and held off on renovations and new cars for as long as possible.
For all his blustering and posturing, it all came down to one fact. In this house, Kettle was forever young. Strong, fearless, determined. His body had been lean and muscular here; his hopes for the future irrepressible; his desire for his wife unquenchable.
How could his smart, intuitive spouse not understand, not sense the problem?
To leave this home behind would be to accept that he was no longer the same man who had first walked through this front door with his wife in his arms. To move away would be to acknowledge that his youth no longer belonged to him, that now it belonged to the house.
Whether he had wanted it or not, the cycle of life had continued, and his youth had been passed into the hands of his children. Even now, his own child was preparing to continue the cycle and pass his own youth on to the next generation.
Sometimes, late at night, Kettle would lie in bed with Gracie and talk about what their lives would be like with a grandchild in it. He'd had been waiting, hoping, for a dozen years for the first one to make his way into this world.
Now that it was finally happening, it hardly seemed real.
Until, that is, he would see his daughter-in-law, Layla, and her growing belly. He couldn’t do enough for her. He followed her around with the loyalty of an old hound, always asking her if she was hot or cold, hungry or thirsty, if she needed to sit or stand.
It was real; this grandchild, this life, this age. So much of the long road that had once stretched before him now stretched behind him.
There is no fairness in time, only in humans. He knew that now.
Kettle sighed as he squeezed Gracie’s trembling hand. He turned to gaze at her profile as she sat quietly, staring out the window through watery eyes.
He thought the same thing about her now he had thought all those decades ago, the first time his senior eyes had rested on her freshman face: she was timeless. How right he had been. Gracie’s beauty had flowed with her through the years, softening but never fading.
Still holding his wife’s hand, Kettle took his foot off the brake and slowly pulled away from the curb, leaving the old house and the old memories behind them, where they belonged.
As he did, tears rolled down his cheeks.
Read more about Kettle & Gracie Arden here.
Read other excerpts from Ava here and here.
Download a free short story, The Birthday, for Kindle, Nook, or Smashwords.
Download a free short story, Famous, for Smashwords. Coming soon to Kindle and Nook.
Copyright © 2012 by Ashley Barron. All rights reserved.
Below, is a chapter that takes place about halfway through the book, and focuses on Ava’s parents, Kettle and Gracie Arden. In the end, this chapter contained too much background for mid-point in the novel, and it didn’t match with the flow and tone of the story, so I removed it.
It’s hard to cut words from a story so close to one’s heart, and the thought of leaving 65,000 of them to languish in the dark of my cloud storage pained me. I’ve pulled a chapter out and decided to post it here on my blog.
For those readers who may find these types of pages interesting, especially as we ramp up to the launch of Ava, a romantic thriller, I’m happy to report there is plenty more material.
Enjoy!
From 'Ava'
On the way home from dealing with the burglary at Ava’s apartment, Kettle turned into the neighborhood a dozen streets early.
Sitting beside him in the front seat, Gracie knew where he was going; he was headed for their old house. As they came upon it, Kettle pulled to the curb.
The quaint brick beauty was very small. Despite the late hour, light from several windows and a fixture above the front door shone brightly in the crisp fall night.
The tiny shrubs and trees Kettle had installed with his own hands three and a half decades earlier had matured into a graceful landscape. Pots of amber-colored mums lined the stone walkway, gently drawing the eye up to the freshly painted wooden porch.
He couldn’t have been more pleased.
How different it looked now from the first time he and Gracie had set eyes on it back in the spring of their first year of marriage. With the due date for their first baby a scant month away, they’d bought the smallest house in the very best neighborhood they could afford.
After they’d politely but firmly declined any financial assistance from both set of parents, Gracie’s mom had expressed her disapproval by purchasing a gigantic antique Venetian chandelier as their housewarming gift. For years, it had dwarfed that small dining room, and it now hung in Gracie’s private study at the new house.
He smiled to himself. Twenty-five years later and he still thought of it as the "new" house.
But this one? This old house?
Kettle loved it the way a man always loves his first. He’d been a new husband here, a new father, a new lawyer.
As he sat in the stillness of the car, his wife beside him, a long strand of beloved memories rose up from the dusty corners of his mind.
Over the course of their marriage, he and Gracie had achieved all of the goals they’d set for themselves as a young couple. He was proud of the children they had brought into this world, proud of the adults they had become.
When the kids were little, Gracie had begun writing a popular children’s book series, and now a long-overdue Saturday morning cartoon was in development for next year. Though the success of his law practice was one for the history books, Kettle took as much pride in his wife’s achievements as he did his own.
Over the decades, they had traveled the globe, dined with presidents, and accumulated a volume of assets so large it sometimes left him a little embarrassed. But as Gracie had always pointed out, they may have had a leg up on education, but the rest of it they’d earned themselves.
And now, with a grandbaby on the way, they finally had the total package.
Why then would a too small house on a too small lot hold such power over him?
Maybe because he could still picture five-year-old Ava flying across the grass to greet him when he returned from work each evening, and launching herself confidently into his open arms. It was their daily ritual. He would scoop her up and she would tuck her small head beneath his chin and announce, “Daddy’s here.”
How is it, with two softly spoken words, a child could steal your whole heart over and over again?
He’d taught his boys how to throw a football on the small slope of this front lawn. And on hot summer nights, they’d wrestled and chased fireflies and played tag until Gracie had firmly issued the final call for bedtime.
The memories brought a smile to his lips, a lightness to his mood. How could it all be so long ago?
He was going to be sixty-one soon.
He didn’t feel as old as his birth certificate insisted he was. Occasionally his bones or his lower back would behave that age, but not his mind. Not his spirit. Not his capacity to love.
He felt alive and vibrant and relevant.
His thoughts turned to all of the late nights he’d spent downtown working hard to grow his law practice. For the stretch of years leading up to making partner in the firm, Gracie had often functioned as a single parent. It was the sacrifice such achievement required.
The fact that they’d made the decision together hadn’t erased the hardships each one had separately faced.
He may have missed bundles of little moments in the everyday lives of his children, but he had twisted himself into knots to make it to their big moments. Recitals and games and school plays.
Usually he’d show up late, but he was always there. Always.
Even so, those lost times in between, they haunted him. Markers that included his oldest son, Trace, having his first real date on a Thursday after school. And Ava, second grade, hosting a fancy afternoon tea party for the neighborhood girls. Then there was five-year-old Locke, up on a chair, gluing black construction paper on the windows of his bedroom to create a secret bat cave for his two favorite guys, James Bond and The Fonz.
It was tough, but Kettle had reached a point in his life where he was slowly letting go of that angst. With his son and daughter-in-law’s baby on the way, Kettle believed he had finally come to understand the manner in which life rewards the deep, hard sacrifices of parenting: through grandchildren.
In two months’ time, his magical, mystical, achingly poignant second chance would arrive.
Kettle wanted all of it, every moment, and was even looking forward to the day his grandchild became a hormone-ruled, conflict-seeking teenager.
He’d been working most of the time when his own children had been cutting a path toward adulthood. They’d let their emotions, their tantrums and angst, loose on their mom, on Gracie, day after day, but wouldn’t reveal a drop of it when Kettle was around.
The double standard had upset Gracie, hurt her deeply, even though the kids had told her they were afraid that if they acted out in front of their father he might stop coming home one day.
Their fears weren’t without basis; divorce had been happening all over the neighborhood. With depressing regularity, Trace, Ava, and Locke would come home from school upset, filled with new reports of parents splitting up.
They had been worried that, like a cough or the flu, their own father would catch it and disappear, too.
He would never have known any of this, never known their fears or how difficult the children could be, if his wife hadn’t shared it all with him. Gracie reassured him repeatedly that it was all a normal part of kids transitioning into adulthood. She assured him that it was as painful for the children as it was for the parents.
Kettle carried his guilt around like a backpack until the night Gracie informed him the kids were taking their frustrations and fears out on her because they trusted her to never leave them.
This explanation, succinctly delivered to Kettle one night as he and Gracie prepared for bed, had cut him to the core. Why would his children fear that he would abandon his family? Didn’t they understand that his actions, his professional choices, were about giving them opportunities in the future?
They were still children at the time and couldn’t yet understand the layered, competing priorities of an adult life. For a time, he had let their fears dim his outlook on the value of the sacrifices he was making in the name of his family.
Gracie was always truthful with him even when the truth wounded him. When they were first married, just after a big argument, she had explained that she would never hold anything back from him. She believed that lies, no matter how sweetly told, broke couples apart. She had kissed his lips and assured him that he deserved the respect of truthfulness from her, on every subject.
He had loved her all the more for it.
Well, except for those times when Gracie was pushing him to take a step that he wasn’t financially or emotionally ready to embrace. During those times, he found her candor a source of never-ending irritation. And, in the spirit of truthfulness, had told her so.
One of those periods began shortly after their tenth wedding anniversary and lasted for several years. What had caused it? The pressing need for a bigger house.
From the first words, Kettle had refused to discuss it. He simply couldn’t. Instead, he had deferred, delayed, ignored and argued.
He believed that the memories they had made inside the walls of that old house were the foundation of their life together. Changing homes opened up their peaceful world to the unpredictable whims of risk.
As an attorney, his work day was often spent trying to sort out the expensive, emotional, destructive messes his clients had gotten themselves into by failing to calculate, anticipate or respect the far-reaching powers of risk.
Why then would he, Kettle, consciously, willingly, expose his family to any more of the great unknown than he absolutely had to? It would imprudent and irresponsible.
That’s how he saw it, anyway.
More importantly, they’d brought their children home from the hospital to this small house. All three had learned to walk here, talk here. They’d hosted birthday parties here, and had crammed the whole extended family around tables set closely together for Thanksgiving dinners.
They’d celebrated Christmas mornings in the miniature living room and Fourth of July's in the cramped back yard. He and Gracie had made love passionately in this small house. She had decorated the place on a budget—if you wanted to call no money a budget—and somehow managed to do it with style. They’d scrimped and saved to buy new appliances for the tired kitchen, and held off on renovations and new cars for as long as possible.
For all his blustering and posturing, it all came down to one fact. In this house, Kettle was forever young. Strong, fearless, determined. His body had been lean and muscular here; his hopes for the future irrepressible; his desire for his wife unquenchable.
How could his smart, intuitive spouse not understand, not sense the problem?
To leave this home behind would be to accept that he was no longer the same man who had first walked through this front door with his wife in his arms. To move away would be to acknowledge that his youth no longer belonged to him, that now it belonged to the house.
Whether he had wanted it or not, the cycle of life had continued, and his youth had been passed into the hands of his children. Even now, his own child was preparing to continue the cycle and pass his own youth on to the next generation.
Sometimes, late at night, Kettle would lie in bed with Gracie and talk about what their lives would be like with a grandchild in it. He'd had been waiting, hoping, for a dozen years for the first one to make his way into this world.
Now that it was finally happening, it hardly seemed real.
Until, that is, he would see his daughter-in-law, Layla, and her growing belly. He couldn’t do enough for her. He followed her around with the loyalty of an old hound, always asking her if she was hot or cold, hungry or thirsty, if she needed to sit or stand.
It was real; this grandchild, this life, this age. So much of the long road that had once stretched before him now stretched behind him.
There is no fairness in time, only in humans. He knew that now.
Kettle sighed as he squeezed Gracie’s trembling hand. He turned to gaze at her profile as she sat quietly, staring out the window through watery eyes.
He thought the same thing about her now he had thought all those decades ago, the first time his senior eyes had rested on her freshman face: she was timeless. How right he had been. Gracie’s beauty had flowed with her through the years, softening but never fading.
Still holding his wife’s hand, Kettle took his foot off the brake and slowly pulled away from the curb, leaving the old house and the old memories behind them, where they belonged.
As he did, tears rolled down his cheeks.
————————————-
Read more about Kettle & Gracie Arden here.
Read other excerpts from Ava here and here.
Download a free short story, The Birthday, for Kindle, Nook, or Smashwords.
Download a free short story, Famous, for Smashwords. Coming soon to Kindle and Nook.
Copyright © 2012 by Ashley Barron. All rights reserved.
In Another Life
Yesterday morning, my alarm clock went off way too early considering I had been up way too late the night before. The song blaring at unwelcomed decibels from that object of torment was Katy Perry’s “The One That Got Away.”
Three words from that song have been stuck in my head for the last two days: “In another life…”
Isn’t that where it all begins for a novelist? With those magic words “What if…?”
It seems that since the moment my eyelids blinked apart yesterday morning, every thought that has entered my mind has been subjected to an “in another life” test.
I’m not talking about the past, about regrets or do-overs. Instead, my mind is captivated by the idea of a parallel universe, a place containing the same board, the same pieces, but freed from the order set by the realities of this universe.
The most beloved fiction writers of any genre have a gift for immersing themselves in another world, another life, and making it believable for all of us readers tagging along for the ride.
What touches them touches us. Good, bad, beautiful, ugly, harmful, helpful, necessary, avoidable, shattering, miraculous. In a good book, it’s all there.
And we soak up every drop.
Something that has surprised me about becoming a self-published author is the renewed energy of my creative mind. Almost daily, with my fingers on the keyboard, I find myself in unexpected places, living lives wholly unrelated to my own.
It’s surreal.
I’ve become so absorbed with my characters, my stories, that I’m not always entirely certain whether the life I’m living at any moment is in this universe or a parallel one.
The more I write, the more the two seem to overlap.
Since my little girl days, I’ve been a writer who comes alive at night. It’s my time. But now, since becoming a self-published author and a blogger, I’m finding ideas for whole new genres (to me, anyway) emerging from that mysterious place in the brain where original thoughts are born.
What’s interesting to note is that these new ideas prefer to reveal themselves at other times of the day.
Mornings seem to be about outlines, direction, concepts, polishing. Afternoons seem to be my preferred time for writing the first draft of a blog or short story. Nighttime still holds the key to unlocking my emotions and spilling them onto the pages of my work.
If any chapters in my short stories or novels rouse your heart or pull on your tears, you may be certain the words were written beneath the moon and the stars.
The question is, in which universe?
Three words from that song have been stuck in my head for the last two days: “In another life…”
Isn’t that where it all begins for a novelist? With those magic words “What if…?”
It seems that since the moment my eyelids blinked apart yesterday morning, every thought that has entered my mind has been subjected to an “in another life” test.
I’m not talking about the past, about regrets or do-overs. Instead, my mind is captivated by the idea of a parallel universe, a place containing the same board, the same pieces, but freed from the order set by the realities of this universe.
The most beloved fiction writers of any genre have a gift for immersing themselves in another world, another life, and making it believable for all of us readers tagging along for the ride.
What touches them touches us. Good, bad, beautiful, ugly, harmful, helpful, necessary, avoidable, shattering, miraculous. In a good book, it’s all there.
And we soak up every drop.
Something that has surprised me about becoming a self-published author is the renewed energy of my creative mind. Almost daily, with my fingers on the keyboard, I find myself in unexpected places, living lives wholly unrelated to my own.
It’s surreal.
I’ve become so absorbed with my characters, my stories, that I’m not always entirely certain whether the life I’m living at any moment is in this universe or a parallel one.
The more I write, the more the two seem to overlap.
Since my little girl days, I’ve been a writer who comes alive at night. It’s my time. But now, since becoming a self-published author and a blogger, I’m finding ideas for whole new genres (to me, anyway) emerging from that mysterious place in the brain where original thoughts are born.
What’s interesting to note is that these new ideas prefer to reveal themselves at other times of the day.
Mornings seem to be about outlines, direction, concepts, polishing. Afternoons seem to be my preferred time for writing the first draft of a blog or short story. Nighttime still holds the key to unlocking my emotions and spilling them onto the pages of my work.
If any chapters in my short stories or novels rouse your heart or pull on your tears, you may be certain the words were written beneath the moon and the stars.
The question is, in which universe?
Twitter, My Darling
A year ago, I knew nothing about you, Twitter. And now you are the darling of my social media world.
At first I was a little scared of you. Your reputation is one of unpredictable power, and I was worried, quite reasonably, that I would be lost in your endless seas.
And then there are those hash tags – your courtiers – proving to us, time and again, the reach of your reign.
“The other kids are doing it” is a phrase that has never worked with me, and I resisted learning anything about for you for a long, long time. Finally, the Godfather talked me through my fears and I gathered the courage to set my first footfall in your kingdom.
A handful of steps later, it was love. A business extraction of the emotion, naturally, but when a person enjoys his or her work, I do believe an element of love is woven through the day.
I’m pointing this out because I am a tad distressed with you, Twitter.
Some funny business has been going on since you swept through with system-wide changes about eight weeks ago. Maybe it was ten weeks ago.
Please know that what I am about to say, I say with love. What have done to yourself?
Twitter, whoever talked you into this latest round of upgrades did you a grand disservice.
The changes you made have turned your ingenious tool in a cumbersome, lopsided, hard to manage headache. You’re the top of the top. Your team has moved mountains to achieve this level of global success. Don’t sacrifice those gains, those achievements, to Pinterest, now at number three and, if momentum holds, positioned to pass you.
It is going to be tough to hold on to the territory and the followers you have carved out.
When I first understood your abilities, your lures, I thought “how did I resist you all this time?” Eight months into the joy ride, you put on the brakes. Hard.
For example, since the changes, you keep cutting me off when I’m responding to community members on my “Interactions” page. Does the new system not recognize that I’m responding to people who have reached out to me?
That’s not spam or self-aggrandizement. It’s called “community building.”
How can I have such a small number of replies allowed before I am locked out for hours at a time? You are making it literally impossible for me to ever catch up.
If you read my blog, Twitter, you know I do not use auto-follow. I like seeing who is out there in Twitterland, and reading bios, clicking on links to blogs and books, retweeting cool/interesting/relevant things they’ve said. You’re locking me out on retweets, too.
So. Unbelievably. Annoying.
Worse than either of those, frankly, is that prior to the changes you made about two months ago, I could move around on Twitter four times faster than I am able to now. That's a productivity loss of 75%!
I am self-published author, Twitter. You’ve probably noticed the surge in numbers we’ve added to your population. Please keep in mind that we are responsible for every component of creating, packaging and marketing our novels, short stories, and poems.
For us, efficiency is job one.
These days, when I reply to a tweet, you change the screen on me by scrolling to some other part of whatever list I’m interacting with after I click the send button. I have to search out where I was in the list every single time.
Man, does that get old.
Especially when I have hundreds of “Interactions” waiting for a reply.
By the way, whole days are dropping from my “Interactions” page. I can see some of the tweets in HootSuite, but none of them in my Twitter account. That seems extremely odd. It also makes it nearly impossible to community build.
In the Twitter community, acknowledgement of one another is very important. I appreciate it when others show me the courtesy of a reply, and I work hard to do the same. But if my “Interactions” disappear in twelve hour chunks, it becomes impossible for me to know who has reached out to me, much less respond to them.
The list of problems and inefficiencies that have arisen since the changes were installed on your system is longer than what I have written. If you would like to hear the rest, Twitter, I’d be thrilled to have the opportunity to share it with you.
Some people in my Twitter community have talked about problems with random follows or unfollows since the changes were made. I’m happy to tell you that I haven’t experienced that problem.
The only rational conclusions I can drawn about your sudden morph from Bugatti to Yugo are that either you don’t know these problems exist, which is why I’m writing this post, or you are intentionally driving Twitter users to the apps.
Perhaps you have a stake in every Twitter app that taps into your site and that is how you are planning to add new kick to your stride. Everyone knows there is big money to be found in them there hills. Good for you for looking for ways to grow your stake in the marketplace. You are a business, and businesses need new revenue streams, new capital to innovate and thrive.
But if the cost of those innovations is a permanent loss of your previous speed and agility, I can only wonder how many of us will be looking for a new star to rise.
You have created an amazing tool that gives each one of us the social media equivalent of a golf handicap. From a communications standpoint, it is a great equalizer in the best possible way.
You hold a lot of power in your hands, Twitter. Perhaps you’d be willing to consider putting some of it back in horsepower department.
At first I was a little scared of you. Your reputation is one of unpredictable power, and I was worried, quite reasonably, that I would be lost in your endless seas.
And then there are those hash tags – your courtiers – proving to us, time and again, the reach of your reign.
“The other kids are doing it” is a phrase that has never worked with me, and I resisted learning anything about for you for a long, long time. Finally, the Godfather talked me through my fears and I gathered the courage to set my first footfall in your kingdom.
A handful of steps later, it was love. A business extraction of the emotion, naturally, but when a person enjoys his or her work, I do believe an element of love is woven through the day.
I’m pointing this out because I am a tad distressed with you, Twitter.
Some funny business has been going on since you swept through with system-wide changes about eight weeks ago. Maybe it was ten weeks ago.
Please know that what I am about to say, I say with love. What have done to yourself?
Twitter, whoever talked you into this latest round of upgrades did you a grand disservice.
The changes you made have turned your ingenious tool in a cumbersome, lopsided, hard to manage headache. You’re the top of the top. Your team has moved mountains to achieve this level of global success. Don’t sacrifice those gains, those achievements, to Pinterest, now at number three and, if momentum holds, positioned to pass you.
It is going to be tough to hold on to the territory and the followers you have carved out.
When I first understood your abilities, your lures, I thought “how did I resist you all this time?” Eight months into the joy ride, you put on the brakes. Hard.
For example, since the changes, you keep cutting me off when I’m responding to community members on my “Interactions” page. Does the new system not recognize that I’m responding to people who have reached out to me?
That’s not spam or self-aggrandizement. It’s called “community building.”
How can I have such a small number of replies allowed before I am locked out for hours at a time? You are making it literally impossible for me to ever catch up.
If you read my blog, Twitter, you know I do not use auto-follow. I like seeing who is out there in Twitterland, and reading bios, clicking on links to blogs and books, retweeting cool/interesting/relevant things they’ve said. You’re locking me out on retweets, too.
So. Unbelievably. Annoying.
Worse than either of those, frankly, is that prior to the changes you made about two months ago, I could move around on Twitter four times faster than I am able to now. That's a productivity loss of 75%!
I am self-published author, Twitter. You’ve probably noticed the surge in numbers we’ve added to your population. Please keep in mind that we are responsible for every component of creating, packaging and marketing our novels, short stories, and poems.
For us, efficiency is job one.
These days, when I reply to a tweet, you change the screen on me by scrolling to some other part of whatever list I’m interacting with after I click the send button. I have to search out where I was in the list every single time.
Man, does that get old.
Especially when I have hundreds of “Interactions” waiting for a reply.
By the way, whole days are dropping from my “Interactions” page. I can see some of the tweets in HootSuite, but none of them in my Twitter account. That seems extremely odd. It also makes it nearly impossible to community build.
In the Twitter community, acknowledgement of one another is very important. I appreciate it when others show me the courtesy of a reply, and I work hard to do the same. But if my “Interactions” disappear in twelve hour chunks, it becomes impossible for me to know who has reached out to me, much less respond to them.
The list of problems and inefficiencies that have arisen since the changes were installed on your system is longer than what I have written. If you would like to hear the rest, Twitter, I’d be thrilled to have the opportunity to share it with you.
Some people in my Twitter community have talked about problems with random follows or unfollows since the changes were made. I’m happy to tell you that I haven’t experienced that problem.
The only rational conclusions I can drawn about your sudden morph from Bugatti to Yugo are that either you don’t know these problems exist, which is why I’m writing this post, or you are intentionally driving Twitter users to the apps.
Perhaps you have a stake in every Twitter app that taps into your site and that is how you are planning to add new kick to your stride. Everyone knows there is big money to be found in them there hills. Good for you for looking for ways to grow your stake in the marketplace. You are a business, and businesses need new revenue streams, new capital to innovate and thrive.
But if the cost of those innovations is a permanent loss of your previous speed and agility, I can only wonder how many of us will be looking for a new star to rise.
You have created an amazing tool that gives each one of us the social media equivalent of a golf handicap. From a communications standpoint, it is a great equalizer in the best possible way.
You hold a lot of power in your hands, Twitter. Perhaps you’d be willing to consider putting some of it back in horsepower department.
Blogging: Content
I did not do a good job preparing content for the launch of my blog.
Why?
I didn’t understand the big picture. I’d always thought of blog posts as impromptu works that channeled a writer’s stream of consciousness.
Wrong!
Well, in fairness, that could be the case if you don’t have any novels or products tied to your blog. But if you do, you will need to prepare.
Ashley, you say, I’ve already launched my blog. I can’t just stop what I'm doing and start over.
Yes, you can.
Every new post on your blog should be moving your other numbers up. By “numbers,” I am referring to social media followers, book sales and downloads, interactions with other bloggers, interview requests, guest posts, etc. Plus, the total number of “hits” your blog receives should be increasing every month.
If your blog doesn’t meet both of those requirements, if you are struggling to maintain your blog, and/or if your blog is receiving substantially less than a minimum of 5,000 “hits” a week, then consider taking a month to reset the starting pieces. If you follow this process carefully, and if you implement the full strategy, you will likely see a surge in "hits" on your blog and a rise in every other number.
I can’t promise success, obviously. What I can do is relay to you what has worked for me. Serious blogging is intense and requires a well-planned, often heavy, workload. I won’t pretend otherwise.
It took six months of trial and error with my blog to find the sweet spot. In this series, I’m sharing what I did, and what I learned, so that you can cut that time frame down to about a month.
If you are following the ideas contained in this series, in the order presented, then you already have established “core values” and “personal terms” for your blog. You’ve also established your “professional destination.” (Missed those parts? Click here.)
Today, the focus begins with writing the blurb for your blog.
Yes, like your novel, your blog has a blurb.
Here’s mine:
It seems simple enough, and yet it took me over a month to narrow down infinite possibilities to three concrete topics. As can you see by the order in which I originally listed them, I thought my main blogging subject would be my Priya series, followed by the ever-beautiful Washington, D.C., and then, finally, self-publishing.
Nine months into my blogging journey and nearly every post has been about self-publishing. I attribute this to my book, Ava, not yet being published, and to the fact that the rise of self-publishing is an endlessly fascinating subject.
The Priyas will be moving over to their own blog (and social media) in June. They don’t have much to pack; they simply aren’t the focus of this blog.
Keep that in mind as you narrow down the possibilities for your blurb. At some point, you may choose to spin off one or more elements into a standalone blog.
So, here’s the main question: Who are you trying reach with your blog?
And no, answering with “readers” doesn’t count. It’s too general. What type of readers? What are their interests? What are your interests?
I write novels and short stories about love. Happily, the new blog will contain a much stronger focus on my genre. This blog isn’t the place. It has evolved into its own story.
If you are self-published or indie-published, it becomes an ideal first category. Consider adding two more areas of focus to your blog’s blurb.
Are you a musician? Into sports? A painter or photographer? Do you bake? Garden? Build houses? Fix cars? Are you an inspired recycler? A bargain shopper? A world traveler? A parent? Engaged? Divorced? Do you have small business experience? Corporate experience? Maybe you’re a decorator or a cyclist. Maybe you’re a ghost hunter or a storm chaser. Do you work in retail or health care or education?
Your blog posts are conversations. In them, you are reaching out to the world at large with ideas, thoughts, and beliefs. Hashtags are a big part of this process, and we’ll be covering them in a future post. It’s not yet time.
Think about the topics that immediately draw your interest or make you smile. If you’re going to put the work into your blog, make certain its work you enjoy. Many times, you will be learning right alongside your readers.
I added Washington, D.C., to my list of posting topics because I love this city, and because it offers hundreds of locations that provided inspiration for places and events in the Priya series. It also provides blog material that can be drawn from its history, famous residents, embassies, and more.
Self-published author Gae-Lynn Woods recently launched her first blog. She chose a unique and helpful topic as her primary posting subject: taxes. Gae-Lynn is a CPA by trade, and she is using her knowledge and experience to provide tax information, advice, and guidance to other self-published authors through her blog.
It’s a smart choice and a unique niche. (Read an interview with Gae-Lynn Woods here.)
Think about your life experiences. How might you draw upon them to connect with the widest possible range of readers? Try to steer clear of hot button issues—we all know what they are—and look for common ground and uniting factors.
Once you have settled on three topics for your blog, break them down into smaller pieces and decide how you are going to incorporate them. For example, will you be conducting interviews of other authors or experts? Will you allow guest posts? Will you add your blog to the lists maintained by blog tour companies? Will you be using images on your blog? Will you be hosting excerpts from other authors? Will you be doing giveaways or promos for other authors?
I host interviews of authors and other professionals in the areas of publishing and small business. I also host excerpts for fellow self-published authors who are members of #TeaserTrain. I tweet news on behalf of fellow members of SelfPubEBooks and I post announcements about their new releases on my blog.
I don’t incorporate guest posts on my blog nor do I post book reviews. They aren’t my thing. I also do not run promos or giveaways for other authors. At some point I will, but those items are part of a much bigger picture.
Okay, about your blog…
To prepare content, start by interviewing yourself. No, I’m not kidding. Pick two or three existing interviews you’ve read, and answer the questions yourself. You can use these answers later as the basis for actual interviews. You may even find that the answers could become the “About Me” section of your blog. For example, here is a five-question interview I did on Cassandra Davis’ blog. When her book is self-published in April, I will be interviewing her for my blog.
The next step in prepping to launch or re-launch your blog is to do an interview with a character from one of your novels. I hadn’t even known about this idea until the day Stacy Eaton asked me to do one for her blog. As easy as it is for me to write as my Priya characters inside the novels, I found it surprisingly challenging to write as them (Ava, in this case) in a “real world” setting. Practicing this style of writing in advance would have cut down on the amount of time it took me to deliver the finished interview to Stacy.
Third, pick the sections of your book that you plan to use as excerpts or samples. It’s a good rule of thumb to target between 800 – 1,000 words for each one. If you really want to go the extra mile, and save on time later, write a one paragraph intro setting up the scene.
As a part of #TeaserTrain, author Sharon Buchbinder hosted a sample from my novel, Ava, on her blog. We both write romances, though different types, so I picked one of the racier parts of my novel for Sharon’s blog and hoped her readers might find it interesting. Here is what I chose. In return, I hosted a sample from Sharon's novel, Desire and Deception.
When you join groups, and there are many to choose from, you will likely be interacting with blogs and writers of genres that differ somewhat or greatly from your own. The excerpt I chose for Sharon’s blog is not the one I would choose for a scifi writer’s blog, or horror, mystery, etc. I would try to match the sample with some of the interest of that blog’s main focus. This is why it is good to pull out several options now. You don’t want to interrupt your momentum later with a task you could easily check off the list today.
Don’t shift gears if you don’t have to – it wastes time and energy.
Overall, I would say that the process of blogging is evolving right alongside the process of self-publishing. Triberr, for example, just announced a new feature that lets you exchange blog content with other bloggers. Read more about it here.
If you are planning to do author interviews, think through your format and write out a list of possible questions. These will evolve over time, but I do think it is helpful to keep at least half of them static as you move forward.
When considering which of your fellow authors to interview, pay attention to their social media. Do they support other writers and authors or is every tweet about their own work? Look for authors who reciprocate with marketing opportunities on their own blogs.
When an author agrees to be interviewed on your blog, he or she is giving you an opportunity to add a new brick to the foundation of your future success. I buy a novel from every author I interview for my blog. It is the first step in saying thank you. I also buy a novel from every author who hosts me on his or her blog. The return on the investment is a thousand-fold, and I am grateful for the opportunities they provide.
When you host an author on your blog, you are giving that author exposure to a new set of readers, and this is a highly valuable commodity. And free!
You might be the proud author of a relatively new or unknown blog, one with a small number of “hits” at the time the interview is conducted, but it is entirely feasible for you to be over a million hits (cumulative) in a matter of months. Go for interviews with authors at all stages of success, from beginning to peak. It’s energizing.
I conduct all interviews by email, and I used to schedule a particular day for the interview to be posted before I would send the questions to the author. I don’t do that anymore. Now, I send the questions with the understanding that I’ll post them within two days of receiving them back from the author, whenever that is.
I’ve found that I get better answers, and longer and more interesting paragraphs, when I don’t add the pressure of time. This has worked well for me. It might not work for everyone.
Send out at least ten author interviews at the beginning of your content prep month. When they come back in, get them programmed into your blog in advance. You will get a feel for how long it takes you to load and link, which will help with time management planning later on. Also, think through your tags and categories in advance, then be consistent going forward.
You want to add as many different links inside the posted interview as is reasonable. Every time your blog links to another place on the web, you enhance your search engine rankings. It is also helpful to encourage self-published or indie-published authors to provide links, themselves. I usually try to send some along to save the blog host the time it would take to search them out.
One thing I’ve noticed with regard to interviews is that, the more successful the author, the less likely he or she is to ask for changes to your format. Successful authors will send what you've asked, sometimes even a little more, and trust you to do what's right with it. They are on to the next interview, guest post, editing session, or book signing long before the post goes live on your blog.
Some authors will alter what you send to them—reformat or rephrase—while others will ask that you change around the order of the information on the page.
Don't be that author.
Aside from cases where I missed the obvious (a book cover or author photo), or where a link doesn’t work or a picture doesn’t load, I don’t spend much time fussing over appearances. It's the content that counts.
Remember: function before form. I’m a writer not a graphic designer. Unfortunately, I’m not an editor, either. Sometimes I misspell the author’s Twitter handle, or something similar, when I’m typing in the details. It happens. I apologize, fix it, and move on.
When it comes to interviews, don’t be shy about reaching out to a person or company that you feel will add value to your readers’ experience. You don’t need a preexisting connection to pick up the phone and make a call to a potential interviewee. Reach out. Ask. If they say no, be polite and move on to another option.
On my blog, the Sean Biederman interview is an example of reaching out this way. He’s with The Concept Farm, a New York City hybrid advertising agency, production company, digital development studio and entertainment development group.
I picked them because they produce the fantastic book trailers for James Patterson. More and more, self-published authors are creating book trailers, and I thought it would be fun to gather advice from the pros.
Prior to calling the main number for The Concept Farm, I wrote a short script explaining why I was calling and what I wanted. I always do this when I’m calling someplace new and I need to project confidence from the first word. Otherwise, if I get nervous and I don’t have a script, I might stumble over my words and lose the opportunity I seek.
As it turns out, The Concept Farm was very supportive. You can read the interview here and watch the related post featuring book trailers of self-published authors here.
The final step in preparing content is the hardest: write ten blog posts.
You will need each and every one of them. Writing these blog posts will accomplish many goals at once. By the end of the tenth post, your writing style for your blog will become clear. You will also write them much faster, and with more interesting content, than you did at the beginning. This matters, especially for the long-term success of your blog.
No matter what you plan or outline at the beginning, some of the posts will be lengthy and some will be short. Try to vary the subjects, but keep the focus connected to one of the three topics you picked for your blog.
These ten posts become the first deposits in your “Saving for Success” account. Put them away, know they are there, and only use them in cases of emergency or vacation. Do not use them on days you are feeling too lazy or too distracted to write. Use them on days you have a 102-degree fever and can’t get out of bed.
Prize them, for they add great value to your long-term marketing success.
Speaking of success, figure out your posting schedule before you begin blogging. Unless you’ve built up quite a stash in your "Saving for Success" account, start slowly. I would recommend a minimum of two posts each week: one interview/guest post/hosted excerpt and one original blog post by you. If you have more to add in a particular week, either post it or bank it.
But don’t add anything if you’re not going to market it.
How can people read your blog if they don’t know it exists? Do not waste opportunities. Do not undervalue your time and your talent. Help readers find your blog. Use the social media tools in your marketing arsenal, and use them to their fullest potential. They will serve you well, and are, in fact, the next topic in this series.
Until then, let’s recap this post:
1. Prepare for the launch of your blog, a process that will take about thirty days. If you already have a blog, decide if you want to put it on hold while you gear up for a re-launch.
2. Write the blurb for your blog.
3. Decide what kinds of content your blog will feature.
4. Interview yourself and interview your characters.
5. Prepare, confirm and send out author interviews.
6. Write ten blog posts. Yes, TEN.
7. Reach out to someone unexpected and request an interview for your blog. Choose someone your readers would find value-added, and who would enhance information in one of your three core topics for your blog.
Related Posts:
Blogging: The Series
Blogging: Getting Started
Blogging: Twitter & The Hashtag
Blogging: Community
More Posts About Self-Publishing:
Comma Chameleon
Too Much Information
Deep Midnight
All content copyrighted © 2012 by Ashley Barron. All rights reserved.
Why?
I didn’t understand the big picture. I’d always thought of blog posts as impromptu works that channeled a writer’s stream of consciousness.
Wrong!
Well, in fairness, that could be the case if you don’t have any novels or products tied to your blog. But if you do, you will need to prepare.
Ashley, you say, I’ve already launched my blog. I can’t just stop what I'm doing and start over.
Yes, you can.
Every new post on your blog should be moving your other numbers up. By “numbers,” I am referring to social media followers, book sales and downloads, interactions with other bloggers, interview requests, guest posts, etc. Plus, the total number of “hits” your blog receives should be increasing every month.
If your blog doesn’t meet both of those requirements, if you are struggling to maintain your blog, and/or if your blog is receiving substantially less than a minimum of 5,000 “hits” a week, then consider taking a month to reset the starting pieces. If you follow this process carefully, and if you implement the full strategy, you will likely see a surge in "hits" on your blog and a rise in every other number.
I can’t promise success, obviously. What I can do is relay to you what has worked for me. Serious blogging is intense and requires a well-planned, often heavy, workload. I won’t pretend otherwise.
It took six months of trial and error with my blog to find the sweet spot. In this series, I’m sharing what I did, and what I learned, so that you can cut that time frame down to about a month.
If you are following the ideas contained in this series, in the order presented, then you already have established “core values” and “personal terms” for your blog. You’ve also established your “professional destination.” (Missed those parts? Click here.)
Today, the focus begins with writing the blurb for your blog.
Yes, like your novel, your blog has a blurb.
Here’s mine:
“A Priya in Washington unites three of my favorite subjects: The Priyas (a secret society formed twenty years ago), Washington, D.C. (the most beautiful small town ever mislabeled a city), and navigating the challenges of self-publishing an ebook (otherwise known as launching a small business). Where it all leads is anybody’s guess. Come be part of the journey. We’ll find out together.”
It seems simple enough, and yet it took me over a month to narrow down infinite possibilities to three concrete topics. As can you see by the order in which I originally listed them, I thought my main blogging subject would be my Priya series, followed by the ever-beautiful Washington, D.C., and then, finally, self-publishing.
Nine months into my blogging journey and nearly every post has been about self-publishing. I attribute this to my book, Ava, not yet being published, and to the fact that the rise of self-publishing is an endlessly fascinating subject.
The Priyas will be moving over to their own blog (and social media) in June. They don’t have much to pack; they simply aren’t the focus of this blog.
Keep that in mind as you narrow down the possibilities for your blurb. At some point, you may choose to spin off one or more elements into a standalone blog.
So, here’s the main question: Who are you trying reach with your blog?
And no, answering with “readers” doesn’t count. It’s too general. What type of readers? What are their interests? What are your interests?
I write novels and short stories about love. Happily, the new blog will contain a much stronger focus on my genre. This blog isn’t the place. It has evolved into its own story.
If you are self-published or indie-published, it becomes an ideal first category. Consider adding two more areas of focus to your blog’s blurb.
Are you a musician? Into sports? A painter or photographer? Do you bake? Garden? Build houses? Fix cars? Are you an inspired recycler? A bargain shopper? A world traveler? A parent? Engaged? Divorced? Do you have small business experience? Corporate experience? Maybe you’re a decorator or a cyclist. Maybe you’re a ghost hunter or a storm chaser. Do you work in retail or health care or education?
Your blog posts are conversations. In them, you are reaching out to the world at large with ideas, thoughts, and beliefs. Hashtags are a big part of this process, and we’ll be covering them in a future post. It’s not yet time.
Think about the topics that immediately draw your interest or make you smile. If you’re going to put the work into your blog, make certain its work you enjoy. Many times, you will be learning right alongside your readers.
I added Washington, D.C., to my list of posting topics because I love this city, and because it offers hundreds of locations that provided inspiration for places and events in the Priya series. It also provides blog material that can be drawn from its history, famous residents, embassies, and more.
Self-published author Gae-Lynn Woods recently launched her first blog. She chose a unique and helpful topic as her primary posting subject: taxes. Gae-Lynn is a CPA by trade, and she is using her knowledge and experience to provide tax information, advice, and guidance to other self-published authors through her blog.
It’s a smart choice and a unique niche. (Read an interview with Gae-Lynn Woods here.)
Think about your life experiences. How might you draw upon them to connect with the widest possible range of readers? Try to steer clear of hot button issues—we all know what they are—and look for common ground and uniting factors.
Once you have settled on three topics for your blog, break them down into smaller pieces and decide how you are going to incorporate them. For example, will you be conducting interviews of other authors or experts? Will you allow guest posts? Will you add your blog to the lists maintained by blog tour companies? Will you be using images on your blog? Will you be hosting excerpts from other authors? Will you be doing giveaways or promos for other authors?
I host interviews of authors and other professionals in the areas of publishing and small business. I also host excerpts for fellow self-published authors who are members of #TeaserTrain. I tweet news on behalf of fellow members of SelfPubEBooks and I post announcements about their new releases on my blog.
I don’t incorporate guest posts on my blog nor do I post book reviews. They aren’t my thing. I also do not run promos or giveaways for other authors. At some point I will, but those items are part of a much bigger picture.
Okay, about your blog…
To prepare content, start by interviewing yourself. No, I’m not kidding. Pick two or three existing interviews you’ve read, and answer the questions yourself. You can use these answers later as the basis for actual interviews. You may even find that the answers could become the “About Me” section of your blog. For example, here is a five-question interview I did on Cassandra Davis’ blog. When her book is self-published in April, I will be interviewing her for my blog.
The next step in prepping to launch or re-launch your blog is to do an interview with a character from one of your novels. I hadn’t even known about this idea until the day Stacy Eaton asked me to do one for her blog. As easy as it is for me to write as my Priya characters inside the novels, I found it surprisingly challenging to write as them (Ava, in this case) in a “real world” setting. Practicing this style of writing in advance would have cut down on the amount of time it took me to deliver the finished interview to Stacy.
Third, pick the sections of your book that you plan to use as excerpts or samples. It’s a good rule of thumb to target between 800 – 1,000 words for each one. If you really want to go the extra mile, and save on time later, write a one paragraph intro setting up the scene.
As a part of #TeaserTrain, author Sharon Buchbinder hosted a sample from my novel, Ava, on her blog. We both write romances, though different types, so I picked one of the racier parts of my novel for Sharon’s blog and hoped her readers might find it interesting. Here is what I chose. In return, I hosted a sample from Sharon's novel, Desire and Deception.
When you join groups, and there are many to choose from, you will likely be interacting with blogs and writers of genres that differ somewhat or greatly from your own. The excerpt I chose for Sharon’s blog is not the one I would choose for a scifi writer’s blog, or horror, mystery, etc. I would try to match the sample with some of the interest of that blog’s main focus. This is why it is good to pull out several options now. You don’t want to interrupt your momentum later with a task you could easily check off the list today.
Don’t shift gears if you don’t have to – it wastes time and energy.
Overall, I would say that the process of blogging is evolving right alongside the process of self-publishing. Triberr, for example, just announced a new feature that lets you exchange blog content with other bloggers. Read more about it here.
If you are planning to do author interviews, think through your format and write out a list of possible questions. These will evolve over time, but I do think it is helpful to keep at least half of them static as you move forward.
When considering which of your fellow authors to interview, pay attention to their social media. Do they support other writers and authors or is every tweet about their own work? Look for authors who reciprocate with marketing opportunities on their own blogs.
When an author agrees to be interviewed on your blog, he or she is giving you an opportunity to add a new brick to the foundation of your future success. I buy a novel from every author I interview for my blog. It is the first step in saying thank you. I also buy a novel from every author who hosts me on his or her blog. The return on the investment is a thousand-fold, and I am grateful for the opportunities they provide.
When you host an author on your blog, you are giving that author exposure to a new set of readers, and this is a highly valuable commodity. And free!
You might be the proud author of a relatively new or unknown blog, one with a small number of “hits” at the time the interview is conducted, but it is entirely feasible for you to be over a million hits (cumulative) in a matter of months. Go for interviews with authors at all stages of success, from beginning to peak. It’s energizing.
I conduct all interviews by email, and I used to schedule a particular day for the interview to be posted before I would send the questions to the author. I don’t do that anymore. Now, I send the questions with the understanding that I’ll post them within two days of receiving them back from the author, whenever that is.
I’ve found that I get better answers, and longer and more interesting paragraphs, when I don’t add the pressure of time. This has worked well for me. It might not work for everyone.
Send out at least ten author interviews at the beginning of your content prep month. When they come back in, get them programmed into your blog in advance. You will get a feel for how long it takes you to load and link, which will help with time management planning later on. Also, think through your tags and categories in advance, then be consistent going forward.
You want to add as many different links inside the posted interview as is reasonable. Every time your blog links to another place on the web, you enhance your search engine rankings. It is also helpful to encourage self-published or indie-published authors to provide links, themselves. I usually try to send some along to save the blog host the time it would take to search them out.
One thing I’ve noticed with regard to interviews is that, the more successful the author, the less likely he or she is to ask for changes to your format. Successful authors will send what you've asked, sometimes even a little more, and trust you to do what's right with it. They are on to the next interview, guest post, editing session, or book signing long before the post goes live on your blog.
Some authors will alter what you send to them—reformat or rephrase—while others will ask that you change around the order of the information on the page.
Don't be that author.
Aside from cases where I missed the obvious (a book cover or author photo), or where a link doesn’t work or a picture doesn’t load, I don’t spend much time fussing over appearances. It's the content that counts.
Remember: function before form. I’m a writer not a graphic designer. Unfortunately, I’m not an editor, either. Sometimes I misspell the author’s Twitter handle, or something similar, when I’m typing in the details. It happens. I apologize, fix it, and move on.
When it comes to interviews, don’t be shy about reaching out to a person or company that you feel will add value to your readers’ experience. You don’t need a preexisting connection to pick up the phone and make a call to a potential interviewee. Reach out. Ask. If they say no, be polite and move on to another option.
On my blog, the Sean Biederman interview is an example of reaching out this way. He’s with The Concept Farm, a New York City hybrid advertising agency, production company, digital development studio and entertainment development group.
I picked them because they produce the fantastic book trailers for James Patterson. More and more, self-published authors are creating book trailers, and I thought it would be fun to gather advice from the pros.
Prior to calling the main number for The Concept Farm, I wrote a short script explaining why I was calling and what I wanted. I always do this when I’m calling someplace new and I need to project confidence from the first word. Otherwise, if I get nervous and I don’t have a script, I might stumble over my words and lose the opportunity I seek.
As it turns out, The Concept Farm was very supportive. You can read the interview here and watch the related post featuring book trailers of self-published authors here.
The final step in preparing content is the hardest: write ten blog posts.
You will need each and every one of them. Writing these blog posts will accomplish many goals at once. By the end of the tenth post, your writing style for your blog will become clear. You will also write them much faster, and with more interesting content, than you did at the beginning. This matters, especially for the long-term success of your blog.
No matter what you plan or outline at the beginning, some of the posts will be lengthy and some will be short. Try to vary the subjects, but keep the focus connected to one of the three topics you picked for your blog.
These ten posts become the first deposits in your “Saving for Success” account. Put them away, know they are there, and only use them in cases of emergency or vacation. Do not use them on days you are feeling too lazy or too distracted to write. Use them on days you have a 102-degree fever and can’t get out of bed.
Prize them, for they add great value to your long-term marketing success.
Speaking of success, figure out your posting schedule before you begin blogging. Unless you’ve built up quite a stash in your "Saving for Success" account, start slowly. I would recommend a minimum of two posts each week: one interview/guest post/hosted excerpt and one original blog post by you. If you have more to add in a particular week, either post it or bank it.
But don’t add anything if you’re not going to market it.
How can people read your blog if they don’t know it exists? Do not waste opportunities. Do not undervalue your time and your talent. Help readers find your blog. Use the social media tools in your marketing arsenal, and use them to their fullest potential. They will serve you well, and are, in fact, the next topic in this series.
Until then, let’s recap this post:
1. Prepare for the launch of your blog, a process that will take about thirty days. If you already have a blog, decide if you want to put it on hold while you gear up for a re-launch.
2. Write the blurb for your blog.
3. Decide what kinds of content your blog will feature.
4. Interview yourself and interview your characters.
5. Prepare, confirm and send out author interviews.
6. Write ten blog posts. Yes, TEN.
7. Reach out to someone unexpected and request an interview for your blog. Choose someone your readers would find value-added, and who would enhance information in one of your three core topics for your blog.
Related Posts:
Blogging: The Series
Blogging: Getting Started
Blogging: Twitter & The Hashtag
Blogging: Community
More Posts About Self-Publishing:
Comma Chameleon
Too Much Information
Deep Midnight
All content copyrighted © 2012 by Ashley Barron. All rights reserved.
The Lucky 7 Meme
Thanks to Teresa Cypher for tagging me for the Lucky 7 Meme. This is fun!
Teresa’s Bio: “One life is just too short... I am married to Dave, have 3 great children and their wonderful spouses, 1 adorable granddaughter, a bunch of wonderful friends...the ground never stops shifting beneath our feet..." (Read More)
Twitter: @Teresa_Willow
Facebook: www.facebook.com/teresa.cypher
Blogs: http://dreamersloversandstarvoyagers.blogspot.com
http://cypherbuss.wordpress.com/
Read Teresa’s own seven sentence Lucky 7 Meme excerpt here.
Just in case seven really is a lucky number, I’ve decided to add an extra dose to my post by including seven other authors who have recently been tagged with the Lucky 7 Meme.
@PeachesLedwidge
http://conceivewriting.blogspot.com/2012/03/lucky-7-meme-award.html
@BE_Sanderson
http://writingspectacle.blogspot.com/2012/03/lucky-7-meme.html
@DiannaLGunn
http://diannaswritingden.com/2012/03/26/lucky-7-meme/
@PennyEhrenkranz
http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/2012/03/lucky-7-meme-award.html
@RchelFunkHeller
http://rachelfunkheller.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/lucky-7-meme-11-questions-a-day-of-weirdness/
@LynNerdKelley
http://lynnkelleyrandomactsofwriting.blogspot.com/2012/03/lucky-7-meme-may-duh-odds-be-ever-in.html
@cluculzwriter
http://cluculzwriter.blogspot.com/2012/03/lucky-7-meme-is-fun.html
For writer and authors tagged by the Lucky 7 Meme, here's how it works:
1. Go to page 77 of your current WIP (work in progress)
2. Go to line seven
3. Copy down the next seven lines or sentences as written and post them on your blog or website
4. Tag seven other authors
5. Let them know they've been tagged
I (mostly) followed the instructions and went to page 77 of my novel, Ava, which hopefully qualifies as a work in progress since I haven’t yet released it. Here are the lines starting seven sentences down on page seventy-seven:
“Thank goodness you did. It hadn’t occurred to me to pack signal flairs in case of emergency. I might have needed them.”
Kader passed an eye over the large leather purse on her side of the booth. “You’re still carrying those giant bags, I see. If purses that size become a trend in this city, there will be no room left for the humans.”
“You know as well as I do that Washington is not a city,” Ava said in a crisp tone. “A city is a sprawling metropolis where even the most outrageous personalities simply blend in with the skyline. Washington is a small town with large buildings.”
“Yes,” he agreed, as he watched her face closely. “It’s coming back to me now. All of it.”
To the following seven authors, I say, “Tag! You’re it!”
Erin Kern
Twitter: @erinkern04
Blog: http://www.erinleighkern.blogspot.com/
Carmen DeSousa
Twitter: @Author_Carmen
Blog: http://www.carmendesousa.com/
Micheal Rivers
Twitter: @Micheal_Rivers
Blog: http://michealrivers.com/blog/
Patricia Paris
Twitter: @PatriciaParis1
Blog: http://patriciaeparis.com/wordpress/?p=183
John Paul Davis
Twitter: @unknown_templar
Blog: http://theunknowntemplar.com/section590599.html
L. L. Muir
Twitter: @LLMuir
Blog: http://www.writersblockbuster.blogspot.com/
Melissa Maygrove
Twitter: @MelissaMaygrove
Blog: http://melissamaygrove.blogspot.com/
I’m looking forward to reading your Lucky 7 Meme excerpts!
Blogging: Getting Started
A blog provides nearly limitless creative writing outlets and networking opportunities. It also requires a lot of work.
Being organized, knowing your goals, and staying within the range of topics you have chosen for your blog will minimize headaches, doubts and missteps along the way.
While there are many different ideas about what makes a blog interesting, there is only one sure path to making a blog successful. It requires hard work, focus, persistence, and enjoyment—because if you're not having fun, everyone will know it.
The first rule is this: write everything down. Access points, login IDs, passwords, secret question answers. Costs, billing cycles, host contact information. Mission statements, core values, guidelines, posting schedules. Short cuts, notes, general processes.
Your blog is a business. You are investing your time, brainpower, energy, and money in pursuit of a bigger return than you would get if you invested those things elsewhere. Be clear about what it is you want in return, and write it (all) down.
Do you want higher book sales? Maybe respect, authority, friendship or influence within the industry? How about awards or a book deal or a weekly syndicated column? Are guest spots on radio and television at the top of your list? Something else?
Know the answer—your answer—as "what you want in return" is now the destination on your professional map. Be specific. Bring your goal picture into focus. The clearer the detail, the greater the odds that you will achieve some or all of it.
Suppose I ask you where you are going on your next vacation, and you reply, “The beach.” I ask which one and you shrug it off, saying, “Doesn’t really matter. A beach is a beach.”
Oh, it matters.
The rocky coast of Maine, the pink sands of Bermuda, and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean are about as dissimilar as three beaches can be. They are in different places with different ways of getting there. And the costs, environments, and cultures? All different.
A blog is a tool, a means to an end, a rung on the ladder. It is not the destination. A blog, especially when combined with social media, is always working on your behalf, even when you are writing, editing, or simply enjoying the other facets of your life.
I started writing this blog series with the intention of covering each step of the blogging process in chronological order. As it turns out, the chronological order of developing a brand (a.k.a. blogging) is surprisingly subjective – most especially for a non-linear thinker like me.
I guess that is my way of saying this series is going to be longer than I had anticipated. Fair warning.
Back on the launch date in June 2011, the name of my blog was A Priya In Washington. That lasted until I realized I had unintentionally boxed myself into a limited space. Along the way to branding the Priyas (the main characters in my upcoming series), I ended up realizing that I first needed to brand myself as a writer.
Why? For starters, the only published work I have out there right now, the Love + Family series, has nothing to do with the Priyas. Neither do my upcoming standalone novels or many other items on my schedule of writing-related projects.
Plus, it took me about a month of blogging to realize that a lot of what I wanted to share with fellow writers and authors relates to the business side of self-publishing.
Contrary to the experience of writing the outline and the first books in the series—which I did over a reasonably intense two-year period—I find I’m not always in a Priya state of mind these days.
I changed the name of my blog from A Priya In Washington to Ashley Barron, and I would have switched over to the domain name ashleybarron.com but another woman beat me to it by a good number of years.
As I’ve said before, I came late to blogging.
I also wasn’t thinking of the total package; rather, I had approached each area – the Priya series, Love + Family, the standalone novels, etc – as its own business entity. Definitely an oversight on my part. They should all be elements of one master business plan.
Why? From both the marketing and funding perspective, you need to understand when and how your present and future projects will intersect. Are you writing, editing or marketing right now? Which is the priority? Why? When does the priority change? What factors prompt or affect change?
In other words, you need to plan ahead. It’s not written in stone, this plan, so don’t think the beginning will look anything like the end. To get started, you need to choose a direction.
After that, there are many small details that will define your blog’s big picture. One of those small items that I struggle with is whether or not to display an email address. There seem to be two distinct schools of thought on the matter. The first states that you should be easy to contact at all times, by all methods. The second states that social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc) provides plenty of ways to direct connect with one another, thus personal emails should be distributed on a case-by-case basis.
I’m in the second category, and here are my reasons. Unsolicited email still has to be answered. Despite all of the tools I use, there are days when I simply run out of time and am unable to make one complete pass through my checklist. I have a tendency to pull many new and interesting people and opportunities into my circle of time, and only then sort out the “whens and hows” of adding them to my blog.
Email should be the last filter between you and a growing task list, not the first.
When picking a layout and color scheme for your blog, save the visual theatrics for your website. Your blog should be a straightforward writing tool in which you use words to connect with potential readers and fans. It is intended to invite, to communicate, to persuade visitors to come back again. Don’t make the lettering hard to read or the background color an eye-buster. Certainly, widgets, links, and ads are normal on blogs, but keep the real content easy to identify and even easier to read.
Speaking of links, they matter. One of my favorite “go to” IT brains advised me early on to include links in everything I do. He explained that links are an important tool for moving up your search engine rankings, and that the more times a person clicks from one of your links to another one of your links, the faster you rise in the search engines.
I followed his advice and have incorporated links in several ways. For example, on the top right side of my blog, I added “direct connects” to my Amazon page, Barnes & Noble page, Smashwords page, my loveplusfamily.com website, my Twitter account, Facebook account, and Google Plus account.
These links are in a priority spot on my blog. I find it aggravating to visit another writer’s blog and not see links to his or her other accounts. If I’m on your blog, it’s because I’m interested in finding out more about you, or I’m thinking about buying your book, or I read your book and I want to tell the world it is amazing.
Help me to do those things. Put your links where I can easily find them.
Joining social media sites will help to move you up in the rankings, too. The bigger sites all have SEO experts on the payroll and have built-in triggers to raise your profile. Use this to your advantage, especially if you are at the beginning of your journey and haven’t yet published anything.
If you haven’t checked to see where your rankings are in the world of SEO, take a minute to open Google, type in your name and see which of your accounts comes up first. My blog and my Twitter come up on the first search page, and are mixed in with the social media links for women with whom I share a name.
Apparently, there is a bikini-clad Ashley Barron, an actress Ashley Barron, a high school athlete Ashley Barron, and an artist Ashley Barron. It could be fun to interview them for the blog one day, but for now…back to business.
Many businesses create core values to function as “in the spirit of” guidelines versus the “hard-line rules” found in a company handbook. Take the foundation points of core values and use them to create core principles for your blog. When I visit your blog, what will I be certain to find there? What can I depend on? What will I not find there?
This last question is equally important when it comes to establishing your brand.
Define your personal terms, and be specific about what you will or will not include in your blog. The use of curse words and sexual terminology is an obvious place to start. Make a list of the usual suspects and decide if none, some or all will find a home on your blog. Remember, your personal terms should apply to any guest posts, author interviews, etc, that you plan to host in the future.
Go through the process again with other complicated areas like politics, graphic violence, adult scenarios, etc. You can always change or amend your personal terms later in the process, but it is important to establish a baseline of what you will be communicating on your blog, and how you will be communicating it.
If you find yourself hesitating about a word or topic, keep it out until you are certain one way or the other. Follow the same process for family members, friends, personal photos and stories, etc. Remember: If you start spilling beans that aren't yours to share, so too might your family and friends at some future date. Especially if you become famous! Keep it simple. If a family member asks to be excluded in some or all forms, honor the request.
As a self or indie-published writer, your blog is your primary branding tool, and what you add to it will impact your novels and other published works.
Be wise.
A quick summary of this post:
1. Write everything down. Make sure some else has access to that information. Life is unpredictable. Things happen.
2. Define your core values as a blogger. When I searched the words “core values,” Zappos came up as top of the list. Read their core values here.
3. Know your personal terms. If your books are gritty, readers will expect to find some grit on your blog. Maybe not so much if your market is children’s books. Blogs are powerful tools, and occasionally they can be unintentionally misused. Stay true to your personal terms, always.
4. Pick your professional destination. Yes, it’s a dream at this point, but all successful people started with a dream and nothing more. Luck is the meeting of opportunity and preparation. Don’t miss out because you aren’t prepared. See step one.
Related Posts:
Blogging: The Series
Blogging: Content
Blogging: Twitter & The Hashtag
Blogging: Community
More Posts About Self-Publishing:
Fifteen And Life
Spice Girl
Happily Ever After
All content copyrighted © 2012 by Ashley Barron. All rights reserved.
Being organized, knowing your goals, and staying within the range of topics you have chosen for your blog will minimize headaches, doubts and missteps along the way.
While there are many different ideas about what makes a blog interesting, there is only one sure path to making a blog successful. It requires hard work, focus, persistence, and enjoyment—because if you're not having fun, everyone will know it.
The first rule is this: write everything down. Access points, login IDs, passwords, secret question answers. Costs, billing cycles, host contact information. Mission statements, core values, guidelines, posting schedules. Short cuts, notes, general processes.
Your blog is a business. You are investing your time, brainpower, energy, and money in pursuit of a bigger return than you would get if you invested those things elsewhere. Be clear about what it is you want in return, and write it (all) down.
Do you want higher book sales? Maybe respect, authority, friendship or influence within the industry? How about awards or a book deal or a weekly syndicated column? Are guest spots on radio and television at the top of your list? Something else?
Know the answer—your answer—as "what you want in return" is now the destination on your professional map. Be specific. Bring your goal picture into focus. The clearer the detail, the greater the odds that you will achieve some or all of it.
Suppose I ask you where you are going on your next vacation, and you reply, “The beach.” I ask which one and you shrug it off, saying, “Doesn’t really matter. A beach is a beach.”
Oh, it matters.
The rocky coast of Maine, the pink sands of Bermuda, and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean are about as dissimilar as three beaches can be. They are in different places with different ways of getting there. And the costs, environments, and cultures? All different.
A blog is a tool, a means to an end, a rung on the ladder. It is not the destination. A blog, especially when combined with social media, is always working on your behalf, even when you are writing, editing, or simply enjoying the other facets of your life.
I started writing this blog series with the intention of covering each step of the blogging process in chronological order. As it turns out, the chronological order of developing a brand (a.k.a. blogging) is surprisingly subjective – most especially for a non-linear thinker like me.
I guess that is my way of saying this series is going to be longer than I had anticipated. Fair warning.
Back on the launch date in June 2011, the name of my blog was A Priya In Washington. That lasted until I realized I had unintentionally boxed myself into a limited space. Along the way to branding the Priyas (the main characters in my upcoming series), I ended up realizing that I first needed to brand myself as a writer.
Why? For starters, the only published work I have out there right now, the Love + Family series, has nothing to do with the Priyas. Neither do my upcoming standalone novels or many other items on my schedule of writing-related projects.
Plus, it took me about a month of blogging to realize that a lot of what I wanted to share with fellow writers and authors relates to the business side of self-publishing.
Contrary to the experience of writing the outline and the first books in the series—which I did over a reasonably intense two-year period—I find I’m not always in a Priya state of mind these days.
I changed the name of my blog from A Priya In Washington to Ashley Barron, and I would have switched over to the domain name ashleybarron.com but another woman beat me to it by a good number of years.
As I’ve said before, I came late to blogging.
I also wasn’t thinking of the total package; rather, I had approached each area – the Priya series, Love + Family, the standalone novels, etc – as its own business entity. Definitely an oversight on my part. They should all be elements of one master business plan.
Why? From both the marketing and funding perspective, you need to understand when and how your present and future projects will intersect. Are you writing, editing or marketing right now? Which is the priority? Why? When does the priority change? What factors prompt or affect change?
In other words, you need to plan ahead. It’s not written in stone, this plan, so don’t think the beginning will look anything like the end. To get started, you need to choose a direction.
After that, there are many small details that will define your blog’s big picture. One of those small items that I struggle with is whether or not to display an email address. There seem to be two distinct schools of thought on the matter. The first states that you should be easy to contact at all times, by all methods. The second states that social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc) provides plenty of ways to direct connect with one another, thus personal emails should be distributed on a case-by-case basis.
I’m in the second category, and here are my reasons. Unsolicited email still has to be answered. Despite all of the tools I use, there are days when I simply run out of time and am unable to make one complete pass through my checklist. I have a tendency to pull many new and interesting people and opportunities into my circle of time, and only then sort out the “whens and hows” of adding them to my blog.
Email should be the last filter between you and a growing task list, not the first.
When picking a layout and color scheme for your blog, save the visual theatrics for your website. Your blog should be a straightforward writing tool in which you use words to connect with potential readers and fans. It is intended to invite, to communicate, to persuade visitors to come back again. Don’t make the lettering hard to read or the background color an eye-buster. Certainly, widgets, links, and ads are normal on blogs, but keep the real content easy to identify and even easier to read.
Speaking of links, they matter. One of my favorite “go to” IT brains advised me early on to include links in everything I do. He explained that links are an important tool for moving up your search engine rankings, and that the more times a person clicks from one of your links to another one of your links, the faster you rise in the search engines.
I followed his advice and have incorporated links in several ways. For example, on the top right side of my blog, I added “direct connects” to my Amazon page, Barnes & Noble page, Smashwords page, my loveplusfamily.com website, my Twitter account, Facebook account, and Google Plus account.
These links are in a priority spot on my blog. I find it aggravating to visit another writer’s blog and not see links to his or her other accounts. If I’m on your blog, it’s because I’m interested in finding out more about you, or I’m thinking about buying your book, or I read your book and I want to tell the world it is amazing.
Help me to do those things. Put your links where I can easily find them.
Joining social media sites will help to move you up in the rankings, too. The bigger sites all have SEO experts on the payroll and have built-in triggers to raise your profile. Use this to your advantage, especially if you are at the beginning of your journey and haven’t yet published anything.
If you haven’t checked to see where your rankings are in the world of SEO, take a minute to open Google, type in your name and see which of your accounts comes up first. My blog and my Twitter come up on the first search page, and are mixed in with the social media links for women with whom I share a name.
Apparently, there is a bikini-clad Ashley Barron, an actress Ashley Barron, a high school athlete Ashley Barron, and an artist Ashley Barron. It could be fun to interview them for the blog one day, but for now…back to business.
Many businesses create core values to function as “in the spirit of” guidelines versus the “hard-line rules” found in a company handbook. Take the foundation points of core values and use them to create core principles for your blog. When I visit your blog, what will I be certain to find there? What can I depend on? What will I not find there?
This last question is equally important when it comes to establishing your brand.
Define your personal terms, and be specific about what you will or will not include in your blog. The use of curse words and sexual terminology is an obvious place to start. Make a list of the usual suspects and decide if none, some or all will find a home on your blog. Remember, your personal terms should apply to any guest posts, author interviews, etc, that you plan to host in the future.
Go through the process again with other complicated areas like politics, graphic violence, adult scenarios, etc. You can always change or amend your personal terms later in the process, but it is important to establish a baseline of what you will be communicating on your blog, and how you will be communicating it.
If you find yourself hesitating about a word or topic, keep it out until you are certain one way or the other. Follow the same process for family members, friends, personal photos and stories, etc. Remember: If you start spilling beans that aren't yours to share, so too might your family and friends at some future date. Especially if you become famous! Keep it simple. If a family member asks to be excluded in some or all forms, honor the request.
As a self or indie-published writer, your blog is your primary branding tool, and what you add to it will impact your novels and other published works.
Be wise.
A quick summary of this post:
1. Write everything down. Make sure some else has access to that information. Life is unpredictable. Things happen.
2. Define your core values as a blogger. When I searched the words “core values,” Zappos came up as top of the list. Read their core values here.
3. Know your personal terms. If your books are gritty, readers will expect to find some grit on your blog. Maybe not so much if your market is children’s books. Blogs are powerful tools, and occasionally they can be unintentionally misused. Stay true to your personal terms, always.
4. Pick your professional destination. Yes, it’s a dream at this point, but all successful people started with a dream and nothing more. Luck is the meeting of opportunity and preparation. Don’t miss out because you aren’t prepared. See step one.
Related Posts:
Blogging: The Series
Blogging: Content
Blogging: Twitter & The Hashtag
Blogging: Community
More Posts About Self-Publishing:
Fifteen And Life
Spice Girl
Happily Ever After
All content copyrighted © 2012 by Ashley Barron. All rights reserved.
Blogging: The Series
My blog officially launched on June 19, 2011. By the end of that month, eleven days and two posts later, I had received a total of 172 hits from sixteen people. The odds are extremely strong that I am related (by blood or love) to every single one of those readers.
Before that, a year ago, I didn’t understand the critical importance of a blog, most especially for a self-published author. Convinced that blogs were a losing proposition – a time eater and a drain on mental resources with no readily apparent cost benefit or income source – I had no plans to start one.
What changed? Last May, I self-published Love + Family, Volume One. I did it to test out the process of self-publishing, from the technical logistics to the marketing realities.
In hindsight, I certainly am thrilled that I put my Priya novel, Ava, on the back burner and moved forward with the short stories. I simply had too much to learn.
And WOW did I learn! Mostly, it was in the category of “Things I Did Wrong.”
Within weeks, the dreamer in me had been flattened by the realist businesswoman who inhabits the other side of my brain. The conclusion I came to? At launch time, it’s all about the runway.
...the what??
The size of a runway is the first factor which determines the types of planes that can land at a particular airport. Apparently, the biggest of them all, the Airbus A380, created all sorts of problems when it launched in 2007, as only a handful of airports had the requisite facilities to accommodate that record-breaking marvel of engineering. If the other major airports wanted to be a part of the new future, as defined by the A380, they either had to expand or miss out.
Sounds a little like traditional publishing. Yes? If so, I want to be an A380 of self-published authors. Kidding! Sort of.
What I don’t want to be is a four-passenger aircraft that lands somewhere no one can spell, much less find, even with directions and a map.
Yet, that’s precisely what I was: the Cessna of self-published authors.
To stay with the analogy, it was obvious that a bigger plane (more people involved) would open the door to a bigger airport (more opportunities).
And so how did I go about enlarging my plane? Though social media.
I didn’t yet understand how all the pieces fit together – I didn’t even start using a Twitter account until July 2011 – but I sensed a blog was the right place to begin the building process.
To prepare, I combed the internet for information on proper blogging techniques, tips on getting started, organization checklists, a “hits” scale showing what “doing well” meant in blogging terms, etc.
Ultimately, what I found was enough to get me started. But you know how the saying goes: “If I knew then what I know now…”
And there you have it, the main reason I’ve decided to create a special series of posts about my steps and missteps along the way to becoming a blogger.
My “hits” per month have grown exponentially since I began my blog and I believe those results come down to three key factors: I developed a plan, I kept to the plan, and I actively sought ways to improve the plan.
I want to write this guide while I can still remember, with perfect clarity, how proud I was the first time my total number of “hits” crossed the hundred mark in a single day. Add some zeros and you’ll have an idea of where I am now.
Evolution changes perspectives, changes people.
If you decide to blog, it will change you and it will change your writing. As far as I can tell, this is a good thing. Communication; it’s the beginning and the end for writers of books and writers of blogs.
As of this moment, I’ve prepared an outline, broken it down into segments, and fleshed out the main principles. Before publishing the first installment, I would like to make sure that I’m covering the aspects you want to read about. The list of possibilities is long.
Are you thinking of starting a blog? What are your biggest concerns? Which parts do you think will be hard and which do you think will be easy?
Do you already have a blog? What are you using it for? How is your content development coming along? How long does it take you to write a post? Are your reader numbers growing every month? What blogging information have you looked for but weren’t able to find?
I appreciate hearing from you, and am looking forward to learning about your goals, ideas, and concerns with regard to becoming a blogger.
The Series Continues:
Blogging: Getting Started
Blogging: Content
Blogging: Twitter & The Hashtag
Blogging: Community
More Posts About Self-Publishing:
New York Times Or Bust
Nice To Meet You
The Cool Factor
All content copyrighted © 2012 by Ashley Barron. All rights reserved.
Before that, a year ago, I didn’t understand the critical importance of a blog, most especially for a self-published author. Convinced that blogs were a losing proposition – a time eater and a drain on mental resources with no readily apparent cost benefit or income source – I had no plans to start one.
What changed? Last May, I self-published Love + Family, Volume One. I did it to test out the process of self-publishing, from the technical logistics to the marketing realities.
In hindsight, I certainly am thrilled that I put my Priya novel, Ava, on the back burner and moved forward with the short stories. I simply had too much to learn.
And WOW did I learn! Mostly, it was in the category of “Things I Did Wrong.”
Within weeks, the dreamer in me had been flattened by the realist businesswoman who inhabits the other side of my brain. The conclusion I came to? At launch time, it’s all about the runway.
...the what??
The size of a runway is the first factor which determines the types of planes that can land at a particular airport. Apparently, the biggest of them all, the Airbus A380, created all sorts of problems when it launched in 2007, as only a handful of airports had the requisite facilities to accommodate that record-breaking marvel of engineering. If the other major airports wanted to be a part of the new future, as defined by the A380, they either had to expand or miss out.
Sounds a little like traditional publishing. Yes? If so, I want to be an A380 of self-published authors. Kidding! Sort of.
What I don’t want to be is a four-passenger aircraft that lands somewhere no one can spell, much less find, even with directions and a map.
Yet, that’s precisely what I was: the Cessna of self-published authors.
To stay with the analogy, it was obvious that a bigger plane (more people involved) would open the door to a bigger airport (more opportunities).
And so how did I go about enlarging my plane? Though social media.
I didn’t yet understand how all the pieces fit together – I didn’t even start using a Twitter account until July 2011 – but I sensed a blog was the right place to begin the building process.
To prepare, I combed the internet for information on proper blogging techniques, tips on getting started, organization checklists, a “hits” scale showing what “doing well” meant in blogging terms, etc.
Ultimately, what I found was enough to get me started. But you know how the saying goes: “If I knew then what I know now…”
And there you have it, the main reason I’ve decided to create a special series of posts about my steps and missteps along the way to becoming a blogger.
My “hits” per month have grown exponentially since I began my blog and I believe those results come down to three key factors: I developed a plan, I kept to the plan, and I actively sought ways to improve the plan.
I want to write this guide while I can still remember, with perfect clarity, how proud I was the first time my total number of “hits” crossed the hundred mark in a single day. Add some zeros and you’ll have an idea of where I am now.
Evolution changes perspectives, changes people.
If you decide to blog, it will change you and it will change your writing. As far as I can tell, this is a good thing. Communication; it’s the beginning and the end for writers of books and writers of blogs.
As of this moment, I’ve prepared an outline, broken it down into segments, and fleshed out the main principles. Before publishing the first installment, I would like to make sure that I’m covering the aspects you want to read about. The list of possibilities is long.
Are you thinking of starting a blog? What are your biggest concerns? Which parts do you think will be hard and which do you think will be easy?
Do you already have a blog? What are you using it for? How is your content development coming along? How long does it take you to write a post? Are your reader numbers growing every month? What blogging information have you looked for but weren’t able to find?
I appreciate hearing from you, and am looking forward to learning about your goals, ideas, and concerns with regard to becoming a blogger.
The Series Continues:
Blogging: Getting Started
Blogging: Content
Blogging: Twitter & The Hashtag
Blogging: Community
More Posts About Self-Publishing:
New York Times Or Bust
Nice To Meet You
The Cool Factor
All content copyrighted © 2012 by Ashley Barron. All rights reserved.
The Cassandra Davis Interview - Five Questions
Author Interview: Ashley Barron
by Cassandra on 03/14/12
Ashley: Thanks for having me here today, Cassandra! I appreciate the opportunity to discuss my experiences within the self-publishing industry, and to get to know your readers and fans.
1. You live in Washington D.C. Can you name a few of your favorite bookstores or writing "haunts" in the capital?
I generally go to places like Politics & Prose specifically to attend book signings. This is Washington, D.C., after all, and many people here have written books on the ever-popular subject of politics. Kramerbooks & Afterwards is fun for lunch with friends, especially those who are serious readers. It's amazing the twists and turns a…
Here is the full interview with Cassandra Davis.
by Cassandra on 03/14/12
Ashley: Thanks for having me here today, Cassandra! I appreciate the opportunity to discuss my experiences within the self-publishing industry, and to get to know your readers and fans.
1. You live in Washington D.C. Can you name a few of your favorite bookstores or writing "haunts" in the capital?
I generally go to places like Politics & Prose specifically to attend book signings. This is Washington, D.C., after all, and many people here have written books on the ever-popular subject of politics. Kramerbooks & Afterwards is fun for lunch with friends, especially those who are serious readers. It's amazing the twists and turns a…
Here is the full interview with Cassandra Davis.
Spanx Me, NaNoWriMo!
Forget “March Madness.” Instead, make it “March Marketing Madness.”
As part of all this basketball craziness, I recently filled out my bracket for the family pool. I’m not doing well; I think even my sister-in-law’s grandmother is ahead of me. Still, there is value in participating in creative activities outside of one’s normal comfort zone, and staring at all those match-ups got me thinking about business.
In “March Marketing Madness,” the sports teams are replaced by companies. The purpose of the competition is to pair them up with other businesses or organizations to develop a brand new marketing initiative that combines each one’s products and/or services.
The only requirement is that the new marketing initiative both involves and benefits self-published and indie-published writers. In other words, it becomes a national brainstorming session on how to find new and creative partnerships for marketing our books.
Official brainstorming sessions could be held at all the Starbucks' nationwide, and CBS Sports could supply a tweaked version of their bracket model as the official contest form.
Why am I suggesting this? Simple. One of the most challenging areas for the self-published author is marketing. It’s a different skill set from writing and can create ongoing obstacles, especially for those writers who may not be comfortable with the outgoing style and non-stop pace of social media marketing.
One of the reasons I like to watch interviews with people actively engaged in starting up or running a business is to learn from their marketing experiences. What have they tried? Where have they failed? What do they count as their biggest success?
As far as I’m concerned, Shark Tank is “must see TV” for small and micro-business entrepreneurs, which includes most authors. One of the areas in which we self-published authors tend to face a challenge is in understanding how to effectively pitch the best parts of our books to potential buyers.
Yes, I’m talking about the blurb.
Sometimes, the parts we the authors find most interesting or valuable aren't at all related to what the readers might highlight as the most compelling aspects of our novels. (I also think it would be helpful for Amazon to expand beyond the information categories they currently display on a book’s page, but that’s a post for another day.)
Fortunately, positive and informative reviews help to fill any marketing gaps left by the authors, which is why, of course, reviews are so critical to us and to our success.
I think ABC should spin off a “junior” edition of Shark Tank and run it on ABC Family – or on a YouTube channel – for all those business-minded teens and early twenties out there. I would like to point out that this suggestion is not completely out of left field, as Shark Tank has very high ratings with the under-18 crowd.
How invigorating!
The best entrepreneurial minded programming I ever regularly watched, however, was Donny Deutsch’s old show, The Big Idea, on CNBC. It was aimed at the small business audience and was brilliant in its simplicity. Until…it became popular and they changed the format and lost their core audience and it was cancelled. A genuine shame.
What’s my point about all these small business and entrepreneurial-minded shows? It’s this: successful entrepreneurs harness the power of grassroots marketing. Also known as word-of-mouth marketing, it is the most reliable, most affordable, most secure, most coveted method of gaining new customers. (Or in our case: readers.)
Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, made the rounds on the business shows this past week. She’s on the cover of Forbes, and is the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire. Equally as impressive, she did it without selling a single share of her company.
In one of the interviews, she talked about how her father would encourage her to fail on a regular basis. In fact, the topic “what have you failed at this week” was normal dinnertime conversation in their house during her teenage years.
Mr. Blakely redefined the purpose of risk and recalibrated the impact of failure in his children’s lives. By encouraging them to experience failure, to understand it, one small action at a time, and while they were still very young, he turned the business world’s biggest stumbling block into a building block for his children.
Well done.
If, as a business person, you can overcome your fear of failure, you will face zero “manufactured” obstacles on the path to success. You will have a better understanding of risk values and will possess far more hands-on experience than your peers.
Personally, I learned that one the hard way.
Another topic Sara Blakely emphasized in the interview was that she had spent zero marketing dollars while turning Spanx into a household name.
I think a touch of semantics is at play here.
Creating a quality product is your first marketing expense and, arguably, the most important. Social media is your second marketing expense, and it is one I would rank equal with the quality of the product. While Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, and all the others are free to join, they are most certainly not free to use.
What am I talking about? Time. It equals money.
How much time does it take to build up a network, a base, using one of these accounts? If you’re a company, you are paying the salaries of the people who run your “free” social media (and your blog and website).
I checked the Spanx page on Facebook and it has 117,294 likes. On Twitter, Spanx has 14,203 followers. A lot of time and care went into building those numbers and those communities of fans.
So aside from being an exemplary business model, what does Spanx have to do with self-published and indie-published authors?
Everything...potentially.
KDP Select is a hotly debated new tool for building brand awareness. An author gives away his or her product for free in return for free marketing from global powerhouse, Amazon.
The goal in giving away your work at no cost to the reader is to convert those “I tried it for free” customers into buyers of your other current and/or future works. KDP Select is considered free marketing, unless you count the cost of writing the book, creating the cover, and turning the whole thing into an e-format.
No, not free; not exactly.
Those who are into KDP Select are really into it. Those who are against it are really against it. There doesn’t seem to be much middle ground.
Something that will help the debate going forward, and that will increase the amount of “free” marketing KDP Select offers, is competition. Right now, Amazon is the only company actively engaged in directly harnessing the marketing power of self-published and indie-published authors.
Which company will be the next to figure out ways to use their own marketing campaigns to tap into the momentum and social media reach of the self-published authors?
I nominate Spanx.
With $250 million in annual sales, and an average price point of, say, thirty dollars, how many products do you think they’ve sold? How many customers do you think they have? (Besides me, that is.) How many of those customers purchase novels?
Oprah famously gave Sara Blakely an opportunity to take Spanx to the next level. I have to wonder if Oprah realized, at the time, that Sara would eventually join her as one of only three self-made female billionaires in America.
And now… "Spanx Me, NaNoWriMo!" The first match-up in “March Marketing Madness.”
Here's how it would work:
Spanx hosts a short story competition for self-published and indie-published writers. The one main requirement is that a plot line involving a Spanx product must be included in the short story. In addition to the shapewear that made them famous, the company now sells legwear, apparel, swimwear, and Spanx for men. Those categories provide a lot of options for the creative minds in our community.
Spanx teams up with NaNoWriMo, a 501(c) 3, who will actually run the competition. To my way of thinking, this is a natural pairing. The powerhouse marketing ability and deep consumer reach of Spanx combines with NaNoWriMo’s technical abilities and deep reach into the writing community.
The idea is to keep the entries under 2,000 words. I’m seeing stories that are light and fun, and a competition that is open to all genres and both genders. I also see a lot of new word-of-mouth marketing territory being covered.
Alongside each story submitted are links to the author’s website, blog, and social media. All of this cross-linking will move up everyone’s rankings in the search engines, and will provide a special incentive for the authors who enter the competition.
Once the entry date closes, let the voting begin. During this period, post samples of some of the stories on the Spanx blog, even if some of the stories (I’m thinking SciFi and Paranormal writers here) poke a little fun at the various and unexpected uses of the brand’s merchandise.
Blast out those press releases and get Sara Blakely camera ready for all those interviews announcing that the top five winners will be revealed on the Spanx website on X day at Noon Eastern time.
I hope that Spanx is prepared to handle all that web traffic. Of course, if it isn’t, it would make for a great headline: “Readers Overwhelm Spanx Website! Amazon Concerned.”
Take the top fifty stories, create an e-book anthology, and sell it at online e-book retailers to raise money for literacy programs connected to NaNoWriMo.
The Spanx brand has now established itself as a leader in the fight for global literacy. NaNoWriMo has attracted new corporate sponsors to help provide funding for education programs for young writers. Self-published and indie-published authors, now recognized as social media marketing powerhouses, are already brainstorming for next year’s "March Marketing Madness" competition.
I’d call that a win-win-win.
As part of all this basketball craziness, I recently filled out my bracket for the family pool. I’m not doing well; I think even my sister-in-law’s grandmother is ahead of me. Still, there is value in participating in creative activities outside of one’s normal comfort zone, and staring at all those match-ups got me thinking about business.
In “March Marketing Madness,” the sports teams are replaced by companies. The purpose of the competition is to pair them up with other businesses or organizations to develop a brand new marketing initiative that combines each one’s products and/or services.
The only requirement is that the new marketing initiative both involves and benefits self-published and indie-published writers. In other words, it becomes a national brainstorming session on how to find new and creative partnerships for marketing our books.
Official brainstorming sessions could be held at all the Starbucks' nationwide, and CBS Sports could supply a tweaked version of their bracket model as the official contest form.
Why am I suggesting this? Simple. One of the most challenging areas for the self-published author is marketing. It’s a different skill set from writing and can create ongoing obstacles, especially for those writers who may not be comfortable with the outgoing style and non-stop pace of social media marketing.
One of the reasons I like to watch interviews with people actively engaged in starting up or running a business is to learn from their marketing experiences. What have they tried? Where have they failed? What do they count as their biggest success?
As far as I’m concerned, Shark Tank is “must see TV” for small and micro-business entrepreneurs, which includes most authors. One of the areas in which we self-published authors tend to face a challenge is in understanding how to effectively pitch the best parts of our books to potential buyers.
Yes, I’m talking about the blurb.
Sometimes, the parts we the authors find most interesting or valuable aren't at all related to what the readers might highlight as the most compelling aspects of our novels. (I also think it would be helpful for Amazon to expand beyond the information categories they currently display on a book’s page, but that’s a post for another day.)
Fortunately, positive and informative reviews help to fill any marketing gaps left by the authors, which is why, of course, reviews are so critical to us and to our success.
I think ABC should spin off a “junior” edition of Shark Tank and run it on ABC Family – or on a YouTube channel – for all those business-minded teens and early twenties out there. I would like to point out that this suggestion is not completely out of left field, as Shark Tank has very high ratings with the under-18 crowd.
How invigorating!
The best entrepreneurial minded programming I ever regularly watched, however, was Donny Deutsch’s old show, The Big Idea, on CNBC. It was aimed at the small business audience and was brilliant in its simplicity. Until…it became popular and they changed the format and lost their core audience and it was cancelled. A genuine shame.
What’s my point about all these small business and entrepreneurial-minded shows? It’s this: successful entrepreneurs harness the power of grassroots marketing. Also known as word-of-mouth marketing, it is the most reliable, most affordable, most secure, most coveted method of gaining new customers. (Or in our case: readers.)
Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, made the rounds on the business shows this past week. She’s on the cover of Forbes, and is the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire. Equally as impressive, she did it without selling a single share of her company.
In one of the interviews, she talked about how her father would encourage her to fail on a regular basis. In fact, the topic “what have you failed at this week” was normal dinnertime conversation in their house during her teenage years.
Mr. Blakely redefined the purpose of risk and recalibrated the impact of failure in his children’s lives. By encouraging them to experience failure, to understand it, one small action at a time, and while they were still very young, he turned the business world’s biggest stumbling block into a building block for his children.
Well done.
If, as a business person, you can overcome your fear of failure, you will face zero “manufactured” obstacles on the path to success. You will have a better understanding of risk values and will possess far more hands-on experience than your peers.
Personally, I learned that one the hard way.
Another topic Sara Blakely emphasized in the interview was that she had spent zero marketing dollars while turning Spanx into a household name.
I think a touch of semantics is at play here.
Creating a quality product is your first marketing expense and, arguably, the most important. Social media is your second marketing expense, and it is one I would rank equal with the quality of the product. While Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, and all the others are free to join, they are most certainly not free to use.
What am I talking about? Time. It equals money.
How much time does it take to build up a network, a base, using one of these accounts? If you’re a company, you are paying the salaries of the people who run your “free” social media (and your blog and website).
I checked the Spanx page on Facebook and it has 117,294 likes. On Twitter, Spanx has 14,203 followers. A lot of time and care went into building those numbers and those communities of fans.
So aside from being an exemplary business model, what does Spanx have to do with self-published and indie-published authors?
Everything...potentially.
KDP Select is a hotly debated new tool for building brand awareness. An author gives away his or her product for free in return for free marketing from global powerhouse, Amazon.
The goal in giving away your work at no cost to the reader is to convert those “I tried it for free” customers into buyers of your other current and/or future works. KDP Select is considered free marketing, unless you count the cost of writing the book, creating the cover, and turning the whole thing into an e-format.
No, not free; not exactly.
Those who are into KDP Select are really into it. Those who are against it are really against it. There doesn’t seem to be much middle ground.
Something that will help the debate going forward, and that will increase the amount of “free” marketing KDP Select offers, is competition. Right now, Amazon is the only company actively engaged in directly harnessing the marketing power of self-published and indie-published authors.
Which company will be the next to figure out ways to use their own marketing campaigns to tap into the momentum and social media reach of the self-published authors?
I nominate Spanx.
With $250 million in annual sales, and an average price point of, say, thirty dollars, how many products do you think they’ve sold? How many customers do you think they have? (Besides me, that is.) How many of those customers purchase novels?
Oprah famously gave Sara Blakely an opportunity to take Spanx to the next level. I have to wonder if Oprah realized, at the time, that Sara would eventually join her as one of only three self-made female billionaires in America.
And now… "Spanx Me, NaNoWriMo!" The first match-up in “March Marketing Madness.”
Here's how it would work:
Spanx hosts a short story competition for self-published and indie-published writers. The one main requirement is that a plot line involving a Spanx product must be included in the short story. In addition to the shapewear that made them famous, the company now sells legwear, apparel, swimwear, and Spanx for men. Those categories provide a lot of options for the creative minds in our community.
Spanx teams up with NaNoWriMo, a 501(c) 3, who will actually run the competition. To my way of thinking, this is a natural pairing. The powerhouse marketing ability and deep consumer reach of Spanx combines with NaNoWriMo’s technical abilities and deep reach into the writing community.
The idea is to keep the entries under 2,000 words. I’m seeing stories that are light and fun, and a competition that is open to all genres and both genders. I also see a lot of new word-of-mouth marketing territory being covered.
Alongside each story submitted are links to the author’s website, blog, and social media. All of this cross-linking will move up everyone’s rankings in the search engines, and will provide a special incentive for the authors who enter the competition.
Once the entry date closes, let the voting begin. During this period, post samples of some of the stories on the Spanx blog, even if some of the stories (I’m thinking SciFi and Paranormal writers here) poke a little fun at the various and unexpected uses of the brand’s merchandise.
Blast out those press releases and get Sara Blakely camera ready for all those interviews announcing that the top five winners will be revealed on the Spanx website on X day at Noon Eastern time.
I hope that Spanx is prepared to handle all that web traffic. Of course, if it isn’t, it would make for a great headline: “Readers Overwhelm Spanx Website! Amazon Concerned.”
Take the top fifty stories, create an e-book anthology, and sell it at online e-book retailers to raise money for literacy programs connected to NaNoWriMo.
The Spanx brand has now established itself as a leader in the fight for global literacy. NaNoWriMo has attracted new corporate sponsors to help provide funding for education programs for young writers. Self-published and indie-published authors, now recognized as social media marketing powerhouses, are already brainstorming for next year’s "March Marketing Madness" competition.
I’d call that a win-win-win.
#TeaserTrain Sample: Sharon Buchbinder's " Desire and Deception"
DESIRE AND DECEPTION is an RT Book Reviews Nominee for Best Erotic Fiction Book of 2011. Available for purchase at Amazon Kindle, Nook, and Red Sage
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Snap, Crackle and Popping Blog
Twitter: @sbuchbinder
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sharon.buchbinder.romanceauthor
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DESIRE AND DECEPTION EXCERPT (PG-13) Posted December 8th
By Sharon Buchbinder
Dan’s forearm corded as he cast his fishing line. Brow furrowed under his lucky Ravens fishing cap, he aimed his baited hook under the waxy leaves.
After all this time, was Dan really hers?
He turned his head, raised his sunglasses, winked at her, and blew her a kiss. Her breath caught in her throat and a host of butterflies flapped around in her stomach.
Of course he was hers. They were on their honeymoon. What could possibly go wrong?
“You better be thinking about something other than your job.”
Sarah laughed. “I am not thinking about work.”
“No, you obsess about it.”
“And you don’t?”
He held the fishing pole with one hand like a jousting lance and cocked his head. “A vascular surgeon has to obsess. The smallest of slip-ups can kill a patient.”
“If I improve one kid’s life with my work, then it makes it all worthwhile.”
“True. But no one dies if you don’t teach a class, go to a committee meeting, or publish a paper.”
“If I don’t make the third year tenure review cut, my career at BMU will die.”
He frowned and flapped his hand at her. “Pffft. Not only is Bobbi your boss, she’s your friend. She put you on her grant. Your tenure and promotion are a slam dunk.”
Easy for him to say.
“If I don’t get a paper published in the Journal of Child Abuse Prevention, I’m out on the curb.” Sarah should have gone to see Bobbi when her boss texted her at end of the Women in Science Conference on Sanibel three days ago. But Bobbi knew they planned to go across the water to Punta Gorda for their honeymoon. Sarah chewed on her lower lip. Typical Bobbi. Waiting until the very last minute of the conference to say she needed to talk in private, away from the other attendees.
Sarah patted her pants pockets. She’d left her cell at home. She closed her eyes. What did Bobbi text? “Investigating a faculty member. Need your help. Trust no one. Tell no one.” Though the air was hot and humid, Sarah shivered with an unexpected chill and crossed her arms to battle sudden goose bumps. Dan was right. She had to stop obsessing about work.
She blinked and watched as two huge turkey vultures looped in eccentric circles and dove into the dense mangroves.
"Buzzards in paradise?" Sarah asked, not realizing she’d spoken aloud.
“Bet they’re after a wild pig that got stuck in the mangroves and died,” the fishing captain said.
Sarah wrinkled her nose. “How would a pig get in there? Can you walk across the mangrove roots?”
Captain Fred made a perfect cast, removed his cap to scratch his shining scalp, and considered the question. A retired firefighter, only his balding head didn’t boast a Florida fisherman’s permanent tan.
“I tried it once. Didn’t get very far. Banged up my knees pretty good, but pigs don’t know that.”
Dan hooked a mangrove branch and his bait fish dangled over the water.
Sarah teased, “Hey, Bushmaster, you trying to teach the snook to jump?”
“Captain Fred told me they can leap three feet in the air.” A flash of silver popped out of the water. “See?”
She poked his arm. “That’s mullet.”
“Bickering so soon?” The captain smiled. “You guys should be making love, not fighting.”
Sarah stifled a giggle, but Dan was less successful at controlling his laughter. Captain Fred blushed up to the tips of his ears.
“We don’t fight. We have discussions.”
“Loud ones.” Sarah laughed. “Followed by great make up—umm—sessions.” She began to reel in her line. Dan leaned over and gave her a salty kiss. Momentarily distracted by the touch of his tongue on her bottom lip, she was startled by a sudden heavy tug. She laughed and called out,
“Here fishy, fishy, fishy.” She pulled hard on unyielding weight. “I think I caught a mangrove root.”
“Keep the tip of your pole up,” Captain Fred yelled from the front of the twenty-two foot Ranger.
Twenty minutes later, her shoulders and arms ached, cork and metal rod slipped in her hands, and sun block-soaked sweat stung her eyes. She stopped, wiped her brow, and looked over her shoulder at Dan. “Want to reel for a while?”
“It’s not your fish if you don’t get it to the boat,” the Captain warned.
Right about then not a huge selling point in Sarah’s mind.
Grunting at the effort, she pulled back on the pole as hard as she could. Finally, her catch broke the surface of the water. Eyes still burning, she stepped back to pull it closer to the boat—and saw a bloated corpse in a neon orange bikini.
Author Interview: Stephanie Alexander
The interview series with members of my Twitter community continues with author Stephanie Alexander. Enjoy!
Author Stephanie Alexander
Bio: Stephanie Alexander grew up in the suburbs of Washington, DC, the oldest of three children. Drawing, writing stories, and harassing her parents for a pony consumed much of her childhood. After graduating from high school in 1995 she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the College of Charleston, South Carolina. She returned to Washington, DC, where she followed a long-time fascination with sociopolitical structures and women’s issues to a Master of Arts in Sociology from the American University. She spent several years as a Policy Associate at the International Center for Research on Women, a think-tank focused on women’s health and economic advancement.
Stephanie embraced full-time motherhood after the birth of the first of her three children in 2003. After six wonderful years buried in diapers and picture books she returned to her childhood passion and wrote her own fairytale. Her family put down permanent southern roots in Charleston in 2011.
Website: www.thecrackedslipper.com
Blog: blog.thecrackedslipper.com
Twitter ID: @crackedslipper
Facebook: Facebook.com/TheCrackedSlipper
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/13506622-the-cracked-slipper
Q: Welcome, Stephanie! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
SA: My book, The Cracked Slipper, is cross genre: Women's Fiction/Fantasy. I chose to write this book because I wanted to combine my two loves...Historical Women's Fiction and Fantasy. I think there's definitely a market for a "book club friendly" fantasy novel.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie-published, or a combination?
SA: The Cracked Slipper is my first novel! My publishing route has been a combination of traditional and indie-publishing. I have a fabulous agent, Rebecca Friedman of Hill Nadell Literary Agency. She's guiding me through the indie-publishing route while she submits The Cracked Slipper to publishing houses. I have the best of both worlds...I'm really lucky!
Q: How did you come up with the story line and title for 'The Cracked Slipper'?
SA: I came up with the idea for The Cracked Slipper while driving my two daughters to ballet. We were listening to the Cinderella story on the radio, and they were enthralled with the happily-ever-after ending. My thought was, "Yeah, right. She probably died in childbirth!"
I have a Master's Degree in Sociology, and I wanted to place fairytale marriage within the constrains of women's lives in patriarchal, pre-industrial societies. The title, The Cracked Slipper, is a metaphor for the illusion of a life of unending, perfect bliss!
Q: I very much enjoyed your blog post, What Math Taught Me About Writing. What would you say to those writers who are at the very beginning of their journey, and are already struggling against the "this is too hard" mindset?
SA: I'd say just get started. It's like going for a long run. When you stand on the porch and you're tired and it seems too hot or too cold, the run feels impossible. The longer you stand there, the harder it is to get moving. Once you go a few blocks, things loosen up and you just might start enjoying yourself. No time like the present!
Q: Do you sell copies of your novels, or other works, directly from your website?
SA: Not now. I'm on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? Do you have a Facebook Fan Page?
SA: I utilize both Twitter and Facebook. Twitter in particular has been amazing. So many fabulous writers and readers! I'm on Twitter pretty much every day...probably thirty minutes in total.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc?
SA: Yes. I outsourced pretty much everything!
I have three young children, and I can only do so much if I want to actually write anything! I have done all my own social networking, however, and I've really enjoyed it. I also work hard to make book club connections. I really believe in the value of book clubs in promoting women's fiction.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
SA: No. I have beta readers and lots of writing friends, but I don't have a specific crit group.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
SA: No...don't think I will. I think that devalues the effort we put into our writing.
Q: How long did it take for your first book to go from an idea to a published work?
SA: About two and a half years.
Q: Tell us about your path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
SA: I think like anyone, I assumed it would go much faster than it has. From re-writes, to querying, to being on submission, the publishing industry can be sooooo slooooow. That's why I'm thrilled indie is an option for us these days!
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self/indie published community?
SA: Craft relationships via social networking— DO NOT just spam the reading/writing world with Tweets about your book. And of course, please please please take the time to learn the craft before putting your work out there!
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
SA: Yes! So many. Check out my list for some fabulous Tweeps.
Q: Do you have (or are planning to make) any audio books?
SA: Not at this time.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
SA: Not yet! Would be fun...
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
SA: Yes. I am a proud plotter. Of course, I veer way off course from the original plan by the end, but I need to know the major plot points so I can work toward them.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
SA: Not really. I have had to go back and make major edits to one manuscript while working on the first draft of another. It's not fun, because it throws your train of thought right off the rails.
Q: Do you use specialty software?
SA: Nope!
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
SA: Anne Hite, author of Ghost on Black Mountain, called The Cracked Slipper "hauntingly beautiful." When my agent, Rebecca, said to me, "You are a great writer," it was probably the most validating moment of my writing life.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
SA: I have to say covers suck me in! Also, I tend toward certain genres...sometimes I think I should branch out...but I never do.
Thanks for being here today, Stephanie! We appreciate your visit and hope you'll come back and share updates with us later in the year.
*****
Purchase Links
Amazon
Nook
Smashwords
Author Stephanie AlexanderBio: Stephanie Alexander grew up in the suburbs of Washington, DC, the oldest of three children. Drawing, writing stories, and harassing her parents for a pony consumed much of her childhood. After graduating from high school in 1995 she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the College of Charleston, South Carolina. She returned to Washington, DC, where she followed a long-time fascination with sociopolitical structures and women’s issues to a Master of Arts in Sociology from the American University. She spent several years as a Policy Associate at the International Center for Research on Women, a think-tank focused on women’s health and economic advancement.
Stephanie embraced full-time motherhood after the birth of the first of her three children in 2003. After six wonderful years buried in diapers and picture books she returned to her childhood passion and wrote her own fairytale. Her family put down permanent southern roots in Charleston in 2011.
Website: www.thecrackedslipper.com
Blog: blog.thecrackedslipper.com
Twitter ID: @crackedslipper
Facebook: Facebook.com/TheCrackedSlipper
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/13506622-the-cracked-slipper
Q: Welcome, Stephanie! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
SA: My book, The Cracked Slipper, is cross genre: Women's Fiction/Fantasy. I chose to write this book because I wanted to combine my two loves...Historical Women's Fiction and Fantasy. I think there's definitely a market for a "book club friendly" fantasy novel.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie-published, or a combination?
SA: The Cracked Slipper is my first novel! My publishing route has been a combination of traditional and indie-publishing. I have a fabulous agent, Rebecca Friedman of Hill Nadell Literary Agency. She's guiding me through the indie-publishing route while she submits The Cracked Slipper to publishing houses. I have the best of both worlds...I'm really lucky!
Q: How did you come up with the story line and title for 'The Cracked Slipper'?
SA: I came up with the idea for The Cracked Slipper while driving my two daughters to ballet. We were listening to the Cinderella story on the radio, and they were enthralled with the happily-ever-after ending. My thought was, "Yeah, right. She probably died in childbirth!"
I have a Master's Degree in Sociology, and I wanted to place fairytale marriage within the constrains of women's lives in patriarchal, pre-industrial societies. The title, The Cracked Slipper, is a metaphor for the illusion of a life of unending, perfect bliss!
Q: I very much enjoyed your blog post, What Math Taught Me About Writing. What would you say to those writers who are at the very beginning of their journey, and are already struggling against the "this is too hard" mindset?
SA: I'd say just get started. It's like going for a long run. When you stand on the porch and you're tired and it seems too hot or too cold, the run feels impossible. The longer you stand there, the harder it is to get moving. Once you go a few blocks, things loosen up and you just might start enjoying yourself. No time like the present!
Q: Do you sell copies of your novels, or other works, directly from your website?
SA: Not now. I'm on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? Do you have a Facebook Fan Page?
SA: I utilize both Twitter and Facebook. Twitter in particular has been amazing. So many fabulous writers and readers! I'm on Twitter pretty much every day...probably thirty minutes in total.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc?
SA: Yes. I outsourced pretty much everything!
I have three young children, and I can only do so much if I want to actually write anything! I have done all my own social networking, however, and I've really enjoyed it. I also work hard to make book club connections. I really believe in the value of book clubs in promoting women's fiction. Q: Do you work with a writing group?
SA: No. I have beta readers and lots of writing friends, but I don't have a specific crit group.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
SA: No...don't think I will. I think that devalues the effort we put into our writing.
Q: How long did it take for your first book to go from an idea to a published work?
SA: About two and a half years.
Q: Tell us about your path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
SA: I think like anyone, I assumed it would go much faster than it has. From re-writes, to querying, to being on submission, the publishing industry can be sooooo slooooow. That's why I'm thrilled indie is an option for us these days!
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self/indie published community?
SA: Craft relationships via social networking— DO NOT just spam the reading/writing world with Tweets about your book. And of course, please please please take the time to learn the craft before putting your work out there!
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
SA: Yes! So many. Check out my list for some fabulous Tweeps.
Q: Do you have (or are planning to make) any audio books?
SA: Not at this time.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
SA: Not yet! Would be fun...
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
SA: Yes. I am a proud plotter. Of course, I veer way off course from the original plan by the end, but I need to know the major plot points so I can work toward them.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
SA: Not really. I have had to go back and make major edits to one manuscript while working on the first draft of another. It's not fun, because it throws your train of thought right off the rails.
Q: Do you use specialty software?
SA: Nope!
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
SA: Anne Hite, author of Ghost on Black Mountain, called The Cracked Slipper "hauntingly beautiful." When my agent, Rebecca, said to me, "You are a great writer," it was probably the most validating moment of my writing life.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
SA: I have to say covers suck me in! Also, I tend toward certain genres...sometimes I think I should branch out...but I never do.
Thanks for being here today, Stephanie! We appreciate your visit and hope you'll come back and share updates with us later in the year.
*****
Purchase Links
Amazon
Nook
Smashwords
Book Signings At Starbucks
In a recent post, I suggested that Google and Barnes & Noble team up to open NOOK Apps Stores. If ever there was a win-win… Anyway, now it is time to look beyond the obvious.
It’s time to look at pairing up Starbucks and the self-published author.
And who will join these two together? Amazon. Naturally.
A few months back, I read that Starbucks would begin selling beer and wine in their stores after a certain hour of the day. Their stated goal was to drive more evening traffic into their stores.
I am a long-term customer of Starbucks and, frankly, I wasn’t too impressed by the decision.
There is something sacrosanct about the Starbucks model; I was concerned that this move would cause it to lose its charm.
Perhaps, in reality, my hesitation to support the idea came down to the fact that I couldn’t envision myself saying to my friends, “Let’s go have a glass of wine at Starbucks.”
Then again…
Minutes ago, I read a press release that just might have changed my mind. Here are the opening lines:
A major company – one NOT named Amazon, mind you – is listening to the marketplace and innovating!
Oh, happy day.
The press release goes on to state: “As chief digital officer, Brotman…will also lead the company’s in-store digital and entertainment teams...”
In-store digital and entertainment teams.
Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
Amazon partners with Starbucks to provide the content for, what I am guessing will be, Starbucks’ new in-store screens. Amazon has direct access to all the content Starbucks would ever need to fill those screens – and all the sales data to fill those stores, too.
What books are the Starbucks customers in, say, zip code 20007 reading? What are they listening to? What products are they buying?
Amazon knows.
Pair that with Starbucks’ knowledge about their customer base, and you have a business alliance that is able to match products and target customers down to the hour of the day, and day of the week.
There are infinite ways to link these two corporate giants together; primarily, because they are not competitors.
In an ironic twist, Starbucks could be a gateway for future literary giants. At night, why not use their space to host book signings for self-published and indie-published authors?
Starbucks can host a competition on their website for authors to win a "literary evening" at one of the stores in their metro area. And now that Starbucks has (for the sake of discussion) partnered with Amazon, they can define one of the author eligibility criteria as " having a book or books enrolled in the KDP Select program."
Side note: I figure I might get a few comments about the "KDP Select program" idea, but the fact is Amazon is out in front of everyone. They know how to make market forces work in their favor. Nothing is stopping Amazon’s competitors from coming up with marketing and sales options that are so compelling authors don’t want to limit their prospects by enrolling their books in KDP Select. I certainly hope to see some of those ideas, and soon.
Back to creating literary hubs in each Starbucks community…
Pick a regular night for the book signings, every Tuesday, for example, and pick winners weekly. Make sure you schedule more than one signing to happen at the same location on the same night to increase the amount of prospective attendees.
Voting for winners of the book signings will shoot up the traffic on your website. How do I know this? Self-published authors are the most motivated marketers around.
Hey! Suddenly, I can see myself at Starbucks every week, engaged in conversation with other literary-minded locals, collecting author autographs on my Kindle, and sipping on a glass of red wine. Imagine that...
Whatever you do decide, Starbucks, please don’t wait too long. A day is a week is a month is a year in the world of technology.
Kudos to you, Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks. And kudos to the management team that has your confidence – and your ear. Your announcement today should instill fear in all those businesses that haven’t yet thought of you as competition.
They will.
It’s time to look at pairing up Starbucks and the self-published author.
And who will join these two together? Amazon. Naturally.
A few months back, I read that Starbucks would begin selling beer and wine in their stores after a certain hour of the day. Their stated goal was to drive more evening traffic into their stores.
I am a long-term customer of Starbucks and, frankly, I wasn’t too impressed by the decision.
There is something sacrosanct about the Starbucks model; I was concerned that this move would cause it to lose its charm.
Perhaps, in reality, my hesitation to support the idea came down to the fact that I couldn’t envision myself saying to my friends, “Let’s go have a glass of wine at Starbucks.”
Then again…
Minutes ago, I read a press release that just might have changed my mind. Here are the opening lines:
“Starbucks Coffee Co. is beefing up its digital and information technology leadership team with the promotion of two senior officers, the company said Friday.
Adam Brotman, previously senior vice president of Starbucks Digital Ventures, will take on the expanded role of chief digital officer, reporting to chief executive Howard Schultz.
Curt Garner, who most recently was Starbucks’ senior vice president of business technology, has been named chief information officer.”
A major company – one NOT named Amazon, mind you – is listening to the marketplace and innovating!
Oh, happy day.
The press release goes on to state: “As chief digital officer, Brotman…will also lead the company’s in-store digital and entertainment teams...”
In-store digital and entertainment teams.
Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
Amazon partners with Starbucks to provide the content for, what I am guessing will be, Starbucks’ new in-store screens. Amazon has direct access to all the content Starbucks would ever need to fill those screens – and all the sales data to fill those stores, too.
What books are the Starbucks customers in, say, zip code 20007 reading? What are they listening to? What products are they buying?
Amazon knows.
Pair that with Starbucks’ knowledge about their customer base, and you have a business alliance that is able to match products and target customers down to the hour of the day, and day of the week.
There are infinite ways to link these two corporate giants together; primarily, because they are not competitors.
In an ironic twist, Starbucks could be a gateway for future literary giants. At night, why not use their space to host book signings for self-published and indie-published authors?
Starbucks can host a competition on their website for authors to win a "literary evening" at one of the stores in their metro area. And now that Starbucks has (for the sake of discussion) partnered with Amazon, they can define one of the author eligibility criteria as " having a book or books enrolled in the KDP Select program."
Side note: I figure I might get a few comments about the "KDP Select program" idea, but the fact is Amazon is out in front of everyone. They know how to make market forces work in their favor. Nothing is stopping Amazon’s competitors from coming up with marketing and sales options that are so compelling authors don’t want to limit their prospects by enrolling their books in KDP Select. I certainly hope to see some of those ideas, and soon.
Back to creating literary hubs in each Starbucks community…
Pick a regular night for the book signings, every Tuesday, for example, and pick winners weekly. Make sure you schedule more than one signing to happen at the same location on the same night to increase the amount of prospective attendees.
Voting for winners of the book signings will shoot up the traffic on your website. How do I know this? Self-published authors are the most motivated marketers around.
Hey! Suddenly, I can see myself at Starbucks every week, engaged in conversation with other literary-minded locals, collecting author autographs on my Kindle, and sipping on a glass of red wine. Imagine that...
Whatever you do decide, Starbucks, please don’t wait too long. A day is a week is a month is a year in the world of technology.
Kudos to you, Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks. And kudos to the management team that has your confidence – and your ear. Your announcement today should instill fear in all those businesses that haven’t yet thought of you as competition.
They will.
New York Times Or Bust
For many authors, writing a book that sells enough copies to earn a place on the New York Times Best Seller’s List is often considered the highest honor the media can bestow upon a wildly grateful writer.
Count me in.
That said, I’ve never actually consulted the New York Times Best Sellers List prior to making a book purchase. But I have given a book more consideration if those words were printed on the cover. Even though I don’t go looking for the information, I still pay attention when the information finds me.
To show you what a different experience Amazon is for me as a reader, I didn’t even know until today that they have a New York Times Best Sellers List posted on their site. As I scrolled through it, I briefly wondered how books are chosen for the list. Here is what I found:
Okay, so the list has weighted values. What competition doesn’t?
Interestingly, Stanford University reported that a spot on the list has every positive effect for little-known authors and no measurable effect at all for the established ones.
That’s probably not a surprise.
Still, I do wonder what craving we are satisfying by obtaining a spot on that, or any, list. Perhaps those cravings are holdovers from earlier times in our lives.
I am reminded of when I was in elementary school and my papers would receive gold stars. They never really meant that much to me, those stars, until a fuss had been made at home; until they went up on the fridge, crammed into a too small space bordered by my mother’s latest favorite quotes, various invitations, some forgotten lists, and the other gold-starred school papers that belonged to my brothers.
It didn’t matter that it could barely be seen amidst all the competing paper activity. I knew it was there—and it was public. As a kid, the refrigerator door was my New York Times Best Sellers List.
These days, I spend a lot of time browsing book-related sites, blog, tweets, and Facebook posts on the web. It seems as if everything has been built on the “five-star” platform.
As J.A. Konrath pointed out in a blog post, “If you've ever given a one-star review to anything, you're probably an idiot.” Whenever I see a one-star review, it says to me that whoever wrote the review has a personal agenda against the author or against some aspect of the novel’s storyline.
I generally skip those reviews.
Receiving two stars is definitely crushing for a book. You figure the reviewer gave the author one star for writing the book and one star as credit for whatever marketing aspect convinced the reviewer to buy the book in the first place. For me, a two-star review equals an impossibly boring story.
I have the type of personality that looks for the good, the likable, in everything – books, people, design, cuisine, art. I don’t always find it, but I do always look.
My point in saying this is that I’ve come across very few novels I would rate as two stars. In fact, the one book front and center in my mind right now is a traditionally published novel carrying the name of an author I’ve long read, but who most certainly didn’t write the books recently being sold under her name.
Yes, I would know the difference; I’ve spent many fine hours with more than a dozen of her previous novels.
Talk about duplicitous. I haven’t bought a book of hers since.
Here’s a side note to famous authors: When you tire of writing the books we eagerly gobble up the minute they hit the shelves, please retire. Being listed as co-author could be acceptable, too – at least then we’re not expecting your magic on the page, and can decide if we want to take a chance on the real writer of the novel. Another idea would be to start your own imprint of books that are endorsed by you but are not pretending to be your creation.
It’s too disappointing otherwise.
But then, publishing is a business. The math says you'll lose old fans like me, but you’ll pick up new fans who’ll never know the quality you are capable of as a writer. A wash?
Okay, back to the stars.
To me, three stars says, “I didn’t lose anything by reading this but I didn’t necessarily gain anything either. It has some enjoyable spots, and it fills the time reasonably well.” These are always the most interesting reviews to me because the person is showing they spent their money on the book, read it, then took the time to post a review. But I often wonder what the post “Warning: Ordinary” means, exactly?
In my experience, ordinary is a highly subjective word, and using it underscores my belief that the reader review process is in need of new dimensions.
A four-star review is practically perfect, to my way of thinking. It seems to say, “Yep, this was seriously good reading and I’m coming back for more!” It also gives the author room for improvement, growth, new ideas, even a course change if the mood strikes.
Five stars can be hard to live up to. It instantly flips the question a potential reader might ask, from, “What will I like about this book” to “What will I dislike about this book?”
To effectively communicate, authors and readers need an established structure to help find one another, and the existing system is a good start. In the future, I hope to see review structures expand beyond stars. I don’t yet know what this structure would look like, but the best analogy coming to mind is one that may surprise you: counter tops.
In my opinion, the most beautiful granite and marble counter tops have a consistent background color, and thick, deep veins of another color running through them. Ye olde standby, Wiki, describes it this way: “The resulting marble rock is typically composed of an interlocking mosaic of carbonate crystals.”
An interlocking mosaic. A story within a story.
This is the area in which self/indie published fiction excels. This is the magic of a gifted writer. This is dimension the current review system doesn't capture.
Ashley, you say, that’s what the text portion of the review is for – explaining the “why” behind the number of stars.
Right. I know. It just that…movies consistently get reviewed and awarded on many different levels: story, acting, cinematography, editing, sound, etc. Why not books?
Plus, this is the age of database standardizations. Many of our self/indie published authors may be choosing to make their books available in other languages, and this type of comprehensive ratings system will be easily translated and shared.
Anyway, it gives Amazon a dozen new Top 100 lists with which to entice new readers.
Ultimately, though, I don’t pick a book because I think it will be perfect. I pick a book because I think it will carry me away for a few hours to someplace I’ve never before been.
In some stories, the magic vein, the five-star dimension, will be in the descriptions of the landscape, or in the construction of the protagonist’s annoyingly loveable flaws, or in the heart-stopping action sequence that took your sleep and didn’t return it for two days.
Someday, perhaps we’ll have a more comprehensive means of sharing the magic veins in each book. Until then, it’s New York Times or bust.
Count me in.
That said, I’ve never actually consulted the New York Times Best Sellers List prior to making a book purchase. But I have given a book more consideration if those words were printed on the cover. Even though I don’t go looking for the information, I still pay attention when the information finds me.
To show you what a different experience Amazon is for me as a reader, I didn’t even know until today that they have a New York Times Best Sellers List posted on their site. As I scrolled through it, I briefly wondered how books are chosen for the list. Here is what I found:
“The list is composed by the editors of the "News Surveys" department, not by The New York Times Book Review department, where it is published. It is based on weekly sales reports obtained from selected samples of independent and chain bookstores and wholesalers throughout the United States.
The exact methodology used in creating the list is classified as a trade secret. Book Review staff editor Gregory Cowles explained the method "is a secret both to protect our product and to make sure people can't try to rig the system. Even in the Book Review itself, we don't know (the news surveys department's) precise methods.”
Okay, so the list has weighted values. What competition doesn’t?
Interestingly, Stanford University reported that a spot on the list has every positive effect for little-known authors and no measurable effect at all for the established ones.
That’s probably not a surprise.
Still, I do wonder what craving we are satisfying by obtaining a spot on that, or any, list. Perhaps those cravings are holdovers from earlier times in our lives.
I am reminded of when I was in elementary school and my papers would receive gold stars. They never really meant that much to me, those stars, until a fuss had been made at home; until they went up on the fridge, crammed into a too small space bordered by my mother’s latest favorite quotes, various invitations, some forgotten lists, and the other gold-starred school papers that belonged to my brothers.
It didn’t matter that it could barely be seen amidst all the competing paper activity. I knew it was there—and it was public. As a kid, the refrigerator door was my New York Times Best Sellers List.
These days, I spend a lot of time browsing book-related sites, blog, tweets, and Facebook posts on the web. It seems as if everything has been built on the “five-star” platform.
As J.A. Konrath pointed out in a blog post, “If you've ever given a one-star review to anything, you're probably an idiot.” Whenever I see a one-star review, it says to me that whoever wrote the review has a personal agenda against the author or against some aspect of the novel’s storyline.
I generally skip those reviews.
Receiving two stars is definitely crushing for a book. You figure the reviewer gave the author one star for writing the book and one star as credit for whatever marketing aspect convinced the reviewer to buy the book in the first place. For me, a two-star review equals an impossibly boring story.
I have the type of personality that looks for the good, the likable, in everything – books, people, design, cuisine, art. I don’t always find it, but I do always look.
My point in saying this is that I’ve come across very few novels I would rate as two stars. In fact, the one book front and center in my mind right now is a traditionally published novel carrying the name of an author I’ve long read, but who most certainly didn’t write the books recently being sold under her name.
Yes, I would know the difference; I’ve spent many fine hours with more than a dozen of her previous novels.
Talk about duplicitous. I haven’t bought a book of hers since.
Here’s a side note to famous authors: When you tire of writing the books we eagerly gobble up the minute they hit the shelves, please retire. Being listed as co-author could be acceptable, too – at least then we’re not expecting your magic on the page, and can decide if we want to take a chance on the real writer of the novel. Another idea would be to start your own imprint of books that are endorsed by you but are not pretending to be your creation.
It’s too disappointing otherwise.
But then, publishing is a business. The math says you'll lose old fans like me, but you’ll pick up new fans who’ll never know the quality you are capable of as a writer. A wash?
Okay, back to the stars.
To me, three stars says, “I didn’t lose anything by reading this but I didn’t necessarily gain anything either. It has some enjoyable spots, and it fills the time reasonably well.” These are always the most interesting reviews to me because the person is showing they spent their money on the book, read it, then took the time to post a review. But I often wonder what the post “Warning: Ordinary” means, exactly?
In my experience, ordinary is a highly subjective word, and using it underscores my belief that the reader review process is in need of new dimensions.
A four-star review is practically perfect, to my way of thinking. It seems to say, “Yep, this was seriously good reading and I’m coming back for more!” It also gives the author room for improvement, growth, new ideas, even a course change if the mood strikes.
Five stars can be hard to live up to. It instantly flips the question a potential reader might ask, from, “What will I like about this book” to “What will I dislike about this book?”
To effectively communicate, authors and readers need an established structure to help find one another, and the existing system is a good start. In the future, I hope to see review structures expand beyond stars. I don’t yet know what this structure would look like, but the best analogy coming to mind is one that may surprise you: counter tops.
In my opinion, the most beautiful granite and marble counter tops have a consistent background color, and thick, deep veins of another color running through them. Ye olde standby, Wiki, describes it this way: “The resulting marble rock is typically composed of an interlocking mosaic of carbonate crystals.”
An interlocking mosaic. A story within a story.
This is the area in which self/indie published fiction excels. This is the magic of a gifted writer. This is dimension the current review system doesn't capture.
Ashley, you say, that’s what the text portion of the review is for – explaining the “why” behind the number of stars.
Right. I know. It just that…movies consistently get reviewed and awarded on many different levels: story, acting, cinematography, editing, sound, etc. Why not books?
Plus, this is the age of database standardizations. Many of our self/indie published authors may be choosing to make their books available in other languages, and this type of comprehensive ratings system will be easily translated and shared.
Anyway, it gives Amazon a dozen new Top 100 lists with which to entice new readers.
Ultimately, though, I don’t pick a book because I think it will be perfect. I pick a book because I think it will carry me away for a few hours to someplace I’ve never before been.
In some stories, the magic vein, the five-star dimension, will be in the descriptions of the landscape, or in the construction of the protagonist’s annoyingly loveable flaws, or in the heart-stopping action sequence that took your sleep and didn’t return it for two days.
Someday, perhaps we’ll have a more comprehensive means of sharing the magic veins in each book. Until then, it’s New York Times or bust.
Author Interview: John Abramowitz
The interview series with members of my Twitter community continues with author John Abramowitz. Enjoy!
Author John Abramowitz
Bio: I'm a long, tall Texan (sorry, Lyle Lovett) born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. I got my formal education in the Midwest, and consider Iowa my second home state. I now live in Austin, Texas, where I'm working as a lawyer during the day, writing books in the evenings, dating someone far more creatively brilliant than I am, and sleeping very little as a result of all of those things. In my nearly-nonexistent free time, I follow the news and play video games.
Blog: onthebird.blogspot.com
Twitter: @onthebird
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OnTheBird
Google+: As myself
Q: What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
Abramowitz: That's a tough question, because I do a lot of genre-mixing in my stories. But I would say that I'm a fantasy writer first and foremost. I chose fantasy because I think that, with fantasy, you have more opportunity than maybe any other genre to love the story you're telling, because literally anything is possible. You can mix gritty, serious themes with wacky, outlandish touches and make the reader believe it. I mean, really (SPOILER ALERT), what other genre would let you write about a capital murder trial and have one of the characters turn someone into a frog in the middle of the book?
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie published, or a combination?
Abramowitz: I've published two books and a short story. So far, they're all indie-published through my imprint, On The Bird Publishing. I'm not saying that I'll never go the traditional route, but I'm having an awful lot fun doing it myself.
Q: Your novel "Atticus for the Undead" is very creative. How much did your real-life experience as a practicing attorney influence your plot, settings, and characters?
Abramowitz: Well, obviously I've never defended a mage or a vampire (that I know of). And none of the places I've worked for have ever been funded by anonymous billionaires. And I've never first-chaired a murder trial (I don't even practice criminal defense).
Having said that, the influences are there. First of all, a lot of the case law discussed in the book is real case law that I learned about either in law school, while studying for the bar, or while practicing (yes, as far as I know, sex offenders really do have guardianship rights in this state!). And I do use the book to give vent to one of my biggest issues with the legal profession in general. Namely, it prides itself on doing good works, on making a positive contribution to our society, and yet some of the areas of law that have the most potential to do real good in people's lives, are areas that lawyers are actively discouraged from working in.
I remember at one point I handled a Social Security disability case as a favor to a friend of mine. I was unemployed at the time, and so when I applied for jobs after that, I thought, "Hey, now I've handled a hearing all by myself! This will look great on my resume!" But more-experienced lawyers advised me not to put it on my resume because it might actively discourage firms from hiring me, because Social Security law is so lowly regarded in the profession. The same goes for foreclosure defense, apparently.
Basically, the system is set up so that the amount of prestige a legal field has depends on how lucrative it is. Well, the problem there is obvious — then there's no incentive to work in areas that help poor people, who are often the ones who need lawyers the most. So Hunter's frustration with that is my frustration.
Q: If the movie version of Atticus for the Undead was being cast right now, who would be your first choice for the lead, Hunter Gamble?
Abramowitz: I think I'd go with Enver Gjokaj. He's not incredibly well known, but he played Victor on Joss Whedon's Dollhouse and I was so impressed with his acting talent.
And after watching Once Upon A Time, I'd do some serious lobbying to get Robert Carlyle (a.k.a. Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold) cast as Weldon Gamble, Hunter's father.
So if either of those gentlemen are reading this, and want to make a few phone calls to a movie studio or two...
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? What about Facebook and other social media?
Abramowitz: Oh, hours and hours. And it's all devoted to advertising. Yup. I never procrastinate or waste time. Nope nope, not me!
(In seriousness, in the evenings, if I’m not writing or hanging out with the girlfriend, I’m usually at least passively logged on to Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.)
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc.?
Abramowitz: I've outsourced editing. There's a saying that "the lawyer is a fool who has himself for a client." Well, the same goes for an author who has himself for an editor. Of course I often re-read my own recent writing and look for ways to improve it, but I make sure to have several outside voices to help with both content editing and technical editing.
I also outsource cover design, because I'm a wretched artist. No one would buy my books if I did my own covers.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
Abramowitz: Yes, the one I made myself. They're the original 'On The Bird' group, and I give them a credit in the 'Acknowledgments' section of every book. It started as a group of my creatively-talented friends from college, but as I’ve gone on through law school and into the world beyond, it’s expanded. I may join up with some other writing groups, but these people understand what I'm trying to do with my stories. They know my authorial heart. So I trust them to help me make the book I want to write better, not to try to make it their book.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
Abramowitz: Not yet, simply because I couldn't afford to. Having said that, stay tuned....
Q: How long did it take for your first book to go from an idea to a published work?
Abramowitz: I think I had the idea for Weaver over Memorial Day weekend 2011, and the book published in early August, so, about 2.5 months. On the other hand, I'm now entering the fourth month of working on the sequel.
Q: Tell us about your path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
Abramowitz: Well, I'd been making serial short fiction and running RPGs for years. And then I noticed that for several weeks in a row, the episode plots on one of my favorite shows were very similar to things I'd just done in the serial I was working on at the time. So I thought, "Huh, maybe I can play in the big leagues."
As everyone knows, the economy is awful, so I figured I had nothing to lose.
As far as whether I knew what I was getting into, yes and no. I knew what the writing process entailed — long hours, lots of hair-pulling, lots of re-writes, etc. What I didn't know at the time was just how hard it was to get your name out there as an unknown indie author. I started with the idea that I'd tell my friends about my books, they'd like them and tell their friends, who'd tell their friends, and so on. Turns out, that's not enough.
I put up a blog and a Facebook page and such, but it took me a while to get into Twitter and I had no idea what Goodreads was. That was a mistake. I also should have done more research about book review blogs and sent Weaver to a bunch of them right off the bat.
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self/indie published community?
Abramowitz: First and foremost, write good books. Second of all, get rid of your sense of pride/shame. Once you finish writing, you're going to be writing to a lot of blogs to set up your blog tours or ask for reviews. Some of them will say no. Some of them won't even answer. That's normal. Don't get discouraged.
Don't be afraid to talk to random people on Facebook or Twitter and ask them if they'll read or review your book. Offer them free copies in exchange — that way, it doesn't feel like you're doing a sales pitch to someone you've never met. That can turn people off.
Always be searching for articles or blog posts to leave comments on. Twitter is a good place to find those. I left a comment a few days ago on a blog post about whether our criminal justice laws would apply to the vampires from Buffy. I swear, I've gotten more blog hits from that lately than anywhere else.
And lastly — make friends with other indie authors. We're your best support network.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
Abramowitz: There are lots, actually. Lindsay Buroker was incredibly helpful to me at the start of my writing career, and she writes awesome steampunk novels. One of the first authors who agreed to read Atticus and has been very helpful to me in promoting it is Angela Scott, author of the upcoming Zombie West series. Also Christine Butler. There are so many!
Q: Do you have a blog? Would you like to share a link or two to some of your favorite posts?
Abramowitz: I certainly do have a blog! Some of my favorite posts include my Indie Author's Pledge of Quality and Dancing With The Stars, which is about my favorite part of being in indie writer.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
Abramowitz: I did one for Atticus. Two pieces of advice: 1.) take the number of websites you think you'll need for the amount of publicity you want, and add two. Better yet, add four. Especially as a beginner, there's no such thing as too big a blog tour, only too small. 2.) While they're helpful and necessary, don't look at blog tours as a guarantee of sales.
Q: Have you participated in Amazon's KDP Select program?
Abramowitz: Not yet. And if you think that answer leaves wiggle room, you're right.
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
Abramowitz: Sort of. Probably my biggest flaw as a storyteller is that I'm in such a rush to get to all the great ideas in my head that I often leave minor matters like believability behind, as well as audience sympathy for the characters. So I come up with the broad strokes of a novel (or a series) at the outset, and then write it chapter-by-chapter. After each chapter, I have my trusty team of beta readers review what I've written and give me detailed feedback on whether I'm hitting the desired emotional notes, whether the characters feel believable, and things like that. If they're not, then the chapter gets re-written.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
Abramowitz: I'm sometimes tempted to (like right now) but usually not. I'm a lawyer in the day job, and there are only so many hours in the day, so I usually don't have time.
Q: Do you use specialty software?
Abramowitz: Nope. Plain old MS Word for me.
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
Abramowitz: Oh, that's a tough one. As a new author still building a readership base, every kind thing that gets said about my work is incredibly meaningful. But one thing that was certainly very meaningful, and that appears on my blog, is the person who said that "If you do not think that self-published writers are worth the effort, try John Abramowitz first before you decide. He will change your mind."
Since I'm on something of a one-man quest to change the general stereotypes and opinions about self-publishers, that was a big sign to me that I'm succeeding, at least a little bit.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
Abramowitz: Originality and appeal of the premise. Whether I've enjoyed previous work by that author. Things my friends have told me about the book. And, since I now know a large number of both indie and traditionally-published authors, if I know and like the author as a person, sometimes I'll buy and try their book just to help them out.
Thanks for being here today, John! We hope you'll come back and visit with us again.
*****
Purchase links:
Weaver:
On Amazon
On Smashwords
On Barnes & Noble
The Antlerbury Tales:
On Amazon
On Smashwords
On Barnes & Noble
Atticus for the Undead:
On Amazon
On Smashwords
On Barnes & Noble
Author John AbramowitzBio: I'm a long, tall Texan (sorry, Lyle Lovett) born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. I got my formal education in the Midwest, and consider Iowa my second home state. I now live in Austin, Texas, where I'm working as a lawyer during the day, writing books in the evenings, dating someone far more creatively brilliant than I am, and sleeping very little as a result of all of those things. In my nearly-nonexistent free time, I follow the news and play video games.
Blog: onthebird.blogspot.com
Twitter: @onthebird
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OnTheBird
Google+: As myself
Q: What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
Abramowitz: That's a tough question, because I do a lot of genre-mixing in my stories. But I would say that I'm a fantasy writer first and foremost. I chose fantasy because I think that, with fantasy, you have more opportunity than maybe any other genre to love the story you're telling, because literally anything is possible. You can mix gritty, serious themes with wacky, outlandish touches and make the reader believe it. I mean, really (SPOILER ALERT), what other genre would let you write about a capital murder trial and have one of the characters turn someone into a frog in the middle of the book?
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie published, or a combination?
Abramowitz: I've published two books and a short story. So far, they're all indie-published through my imprint, On The Bird Publishing. I'm not saying that I'll never go the traditional route, but I'm having an awful lot fun doing it myself.
Q: Your novel "Atticus for the Undead" is very creative. How much did your real-life experience as a practicing attorney influence your plot, settings, and characters?
Abramowitz: Well, obviously I've never defended a mage or a vampire (that I know of). And none of the places I've worked for have ever been funded by anonymous billionaires. And I've never first-chaired a murder trial (I don't even practice criminal defense).
Having said that, the influences are there. First of all, a lot of the case law discussed in the book is real case law that I learned about either in law school, while studying for the bar, or while practicing (yes, as far as I know, sex offenders really do have guardianship rights in this state!). And I do use the book to give vent to one of my biggest issues with the legal profession in general. Namely, it prides itself on doing good works, on making a positive contribution to our society, and yet some of the areas of law that have the most potential to do real good in people's lives, are areas that lawyers are actively discouraged from working in.
I remember at one point I handled a Social Security disability case as a favor to a friend of mine. I was unemployed at the time, and so when I applied for jobs after that, I thought, "Hey, now I've handled a hearing all by myself! This will look great on my resume!" But more-experienced lawyers advised me not to put it on my resume because it might actively discourage firms from hiring me, because Social Security law is so lowly regarded in the profession. The same goes for foreclosure defense, apparently.
Basically, the system is set up so that the amount of prestige a legal field has depends on how lucrative it is. Well, the problem there is obvious — then there's no incentive to work in areas that help poor people, who are often the ones who need lawyers the most. So Hunter's frustration with that is my frustration.
Q: If the movie version of Atticus for the Undead was being cast right now, who would be your first choice for the lead, Hunter Gamble?
Abramowitz: I think I'd go with Enver Gjokaj. He's not incredibly well known, but he played Victor on Joss Whedon's Dollhouse and I was so impressed with his acting talent.
And after watching Once Upon A Time, I'd do some serious lobbying to get Robert Carlyle (a.k.a. Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold) cast as Weldon Gamble, Hunter's father.
So if either of those gentlemen are reading this, and want to make a few phone calls to a movie studio or two...
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? What about Facebook and other social media?
Abramowitz: Oh, hours and hours. And it's all devoted to advertising. Yup. I never procrastinate or waste time. Nope nope, not me!
(In seriousness, in the evenings, if I’m not writing or hanging out with the girlfriend, I’m usually at least passively logged on to Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.)
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc.?
Abramowitz: I've outsourced editing. There's a saying that "the lawyer is a fool who has himself for a client." Well, the same goes for an author who has himself for an editor. Of course I often re-read my own recent writing and look for ways to improve it, but I make sure to have several outside voices to help with both content editing and technical editing.
I also outsource cover design, because I'm a wretched artist. No one would buy my books if I did my own covers.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
Abramowitz: Yes, the one I made myself. They're the original 'On The Bird' group, and I give them a credit in the 'Acknowledgments' section of every book. It started as a group of my creatively-talented friends from college, but as I’ve gone on through law school and into the world beyond, it’s expanded. I may join up with some other writing groups, but these people understand what I'm trying to do with my stories. They know my authorial heart. So I trust them to help me make the book I want to write better, not to try to make it their book.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
Abramowitz: Not yet, simply because I couldn't afford to. Having said that, stay tuned....
Q: How long did it take for your first book to go from an idea to a published work?
Abramowitz: I think I had the idea for Weaver over Memorial Day weekend 2011, and the book published in early August, so, about 2.5 months. On the other hand, I'm now entering the fourth month of working on the sequel.
Q: Tell us about your path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
Abramowitz: Well, I'd been making serial short fiction and running RPGs for years. And then I noticed that for several weeks in a row, the episode plots on one of my favorite shows were very similar to things I'd just done in the serial I was working on at the time. So I thought, "Huh, maybe I can play in the big leagues."
As everyone knows, the economy is awful, so I figured I had nothing to lose.
As far as whether I knew what I was getting into, yes and no. I knew what the writing process entailed — long hours, lots of hair-pulling, lots of re-writes, etc. What I didn't know at the time was just how hard it was to get your name out there as an unknown indie author. I started with the idea that I'd tell my friends about my books, they'd like them and tell their friends, who'd tell their friends, and so on. Turns out, that's not enough.
I put up a blog and a Facebook page and such, but it took me a while to get into Twitter and I had no idea what Goodreads was. That was a mistake. I also should have done more research about book review blogs and sent Weaver to a bunch of them right off the bat.
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self/indie published community?
Abramowitz: First and foremost, write good books. Second of all, get rid of your sense of pride/shame. Once you finish writing, you're going to be writing to a lot of blogs to set up your blog tours or ask for reviews. Some of them will say no. Some of them won't even answer. That's normal. Don't get discouraged.
Don't be afraid to talk to random people on Facebook or Twitter and ask them if they'll read or review your book. Offer them free copies in exchange — that way, it doesn't feel like you're doing a sales pitch to someone you've never met. That can turn people off.
Always be searching for articles or blog posts to leave comments on. Twitter is a good place to find those. I left a comment a few days ago on a blog post about whether our criminal justice laws would apply to the vampires from Buffy. I swear, I've gotten more blog hits from that lately than anywhere else.
And lastly — make friends with other indie authors. We're your best support network.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
Abramowitz: There are lots, actually. Lindsay Buroker was incredibly helpful to me at the start of my writing career, and she writes awesome steampunk novels. One of the first authors who agreed to read Atticus and has been very helpful to me in promoting it is Angela Scott, author of the upcoming Zombie West series. Also Christine Butler. There are so many!
Q: Do you have a blog? Would you like to share a link or two to some of your favorite posts?
Abramowitz: I certainly do have a blog! Some of my favorite posts include my Indie Author's Pledge of Quality and Dancing With The Stars, which is about my favorite part of being in indie writer.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
Abramowitz: I did one for Atticus. Two pieces of advice: 1.) take the number of websites you think you'll need for the amount of publicity you want, and add two. Better yet, add four. Especially as a beginner, there's no such thing as too big a blog tour, only too small. 2.) While they're helpful and necessary, don't look at blog tours as a guarantee of sales.
Q: Have you participated in Amazon's KDP Select program?
Abramowitz: Not yet. And if you think that answer leaves wiggle room, you're right.
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
Abramowitz: Sort of. Probably my biggest flaw as a storyteller is that I'm in such a rush to get to all the great ideas in my head that I often leave minor matters like believability behind, as well as audience sympathy for the characters. So I come up with the broad strokes of a novel (or a series) at the outset, and then write it chapter-by-chapter. After each chapter, I have my trusty team of beta readers review what I've written and give me detailed feedback on whether I'm hitting the desired emotional notes, whether the characters feel believable, and things like that. If they're not, then the chapter gets re-written.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
Abramowitz: I'm sometimes tempted to (like right now) but usually not. I'm a lawyer in the day job, and there are only so many hours in the day, so I usually don't have time.
Q: Do you use specialty software?
Abramowitz: Nope. Plain old MS Word for me.
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
Abramowitz: Oh, that's a tough one. As a new author still building a readership base, every kind thing that gets said about my work is incredibly meaningful. But one thing that was certainly very meaningful, and that appears on my blog, is the person who said that "If you do not think that self-published writers are worth the effort, try John Abramowitz first before you decide. He will change your mind."
Since I'm on something of a one-man quest to change the general stereotypes and opinions about self-publishers, that was a big sign to me that I'm succeeding, at least a little bit.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
Abramowitz: Originality and appeal of the premise. Whether I've enjoyed previous work by that author. Things my friends have told me about the book. And, since I now know a large number of both indie and traditionally-published authors, if I know and like the author as a person, sometimes I'll buy and try their book just to help them out.
Thanks for being here today, John! We hope you'll come back and visit with us again.
*****
Purchase links:
Weaver:
On Amazon
On Smashwords
On Barnes & Noble
The Antlerbury Tales:
On Amazon
On Smashwords
On Barnes & Noble
Atticus for the Undead:
On Amazon
On Smashwords
On Barnes & Noble
Author Interview: Dale Amidei
The interview series with members of my Twitter community continues with author Dale Amidei. Enjoy!
Author Dale Amidei
Bio: I live and write in the beautiful Texas Hill Country near San Antonio. I am a Christian, an American, a husband, son, brother, and friend. My characters are realistically portrayed as caught between heaven and earth, not always what they should be, nor what they used to be. In this way they are like all of us, on a journey forward.
Website: http://www.daleamidei.com/
Blog: http://daleamidei.wordpress.com/
Twitter ID: @DaleAmidei
Facebook: Dale Amidei
Goodreads: Dale Amidei
Books Trailer: the prerelease trailer for AOTC
Q: Welcome, Dale! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
Amidei: I write the type of book I have always enjoyed reading: a thought-provoking, exciting adventure with characters that stand out as much as any real-world personalities I have known. The Anvil of the Craftsman lists as contemporary fiction and as a political thriller. I refer to it as “Edgy Christian” fiction. It is my mission to present traditional values and faith in the context of a mainstream novel. I realistically portray characters and settings, and it is at times an ugly world.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie published, or a combination?
Amidei: My first novel, AOTC, was released in December 2011. It was self-published, and I have no plans to pursue traditional publishing.
Q: Your writing has been described this way: "His fiction defines the inner spiritual processes that he believes occur naturally in all human beings. It features faith-based themes set in the real world, which is occasionally profane or violent." How did you choose the setting for your novel 'The Anvil of the Craftsman'? How complicated a journey was it, based on the themes of faith and of violence, to bring the story to a close?
Amidei: The novel was inspired by actual events in Iraq, namely the movement later called "The Anbar Awakening". It led to my reflection on the changes in mindset that must have driven those events. The storyline started to bud, and soon became a blister in my mind that needed to be addressed.
I did make a great effort to strike a balance between the adventure and the message when I was writing AOTC. In the end, a person of faith needs to comport him or herself as such. I am very pleased at how the storyline developed. I have said that if graced to write but a single novel I would be glad to have it be this one.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? What about Facebook and other social media?
Amidei: I love Twitter because, particularly when using hash tags, it is such a great way to meet and interact with others. I am on between writing sessions, catching up and connecting. I spend time daily on Facebook also, but to a lesser extent. Goodreads I do not visit often enough. I am in a writing phase. Once the sequel to AOTC (The Britteridge Heresy) and a third work-in-progress publish, I will put more effort into promotion. For now, I need to pound words.
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote you turn to on tough writing days?
Amidei: I try to meet in mind Paul’s admonition that we do all things to the Glory of God. In secular work, I try to remember the goals Kipling set forth in his mighty poem “If”.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc?
Amidei: A ruthless grammarian, who is my Single Candle Press editress, mercilessly edits my writing. I have a technical and graphics manipulation background that allows me to handle the technical requirements of the electronic and paperback formatting myself. Likewise, I am my own webmaster. When the time arrives, I will handle my own marketing as well.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
Amidei: No. I do have a network of beta readers that I trust to give me honest feedback. I could not have brought AOTC to the level that it achieved without them.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
Amidei: I accept the reality that I may in the future have to give away my work in promotion or else have it languish in obscurity. As a fan of Ayn Rand’s economics if not her theology it irks me. Producing my first novel cost me an entire year of free time. I actually would not want to know the count of hours the writing, re-writing, editing and formatting consumed. I believe it is a work that will leave its reader changed once digested, and that quality is worth paying more than pocket change to access.
Q: How long did it take for your first book to go from an idea to a published work?
Amidei: Months as an idea. Once I started the project it took three months to reach the end of the first draft and another seven in editing and revision. Two more months were spent formatting and beta reading. I learned a great deal about the state of publishing in 2011—more than any single subject in the same period for many years.
Q: Tell us about your path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
Amidei: I did not. I have written as a hobby since shortly after I learned to read, and I read novels for forty years before I set out to produce my own. I had no idea what I was getting into.
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self/indie published community?
Amidei: Lower your expectations and extend your imagined timeline. There is a very long road ahead if you choose to pursue it. If your goal is excellence, take the time required to produce the desired result. No one will be happy if you rush any aspect of what you intend to do.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
Amidei: Too many to list. Rob Guthrie and his posse at RABMAD are a good place to start. Rob delights in interacting with fellow authors, and he is a pleasure to know. The #writing #amwriting #indieauthor and #selfpublishing hash tags on Twitter will find you many more
Q: Do you have a blog? Would you share a link or two for some of your favorite posts?
Amidei: I blog at daleamidei.wordpress.com when my muse demands it. Recently we said goodbye to a dear friend in our beloved G. Gordon Kitty. His obituary, I felt, paid appropriate tribute to such a fine animal.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
Amidei: I have not. My advice to anyone online is to behave and avoid ticking anyone off. That is bad karma as well as shortsighted. If it appears in print it is permanent, and forever can be a long time.
Q: Have you participated in Amazon's KDP Select program?
Amidei: I have not. After resisting, I am seriously considering it because of the results I have seen reported by others. I do not like the exclusivity. Amazon’s model, though, may prove to be the most effective means of an unknown author gaining a readership. I will decide once I have three titles, two of which I am now working on concurrently, ready to market.
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
Amidei: Absolutely. One has to know his destination or the trip is not a journey but a wandering.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
Amidei: I am currently working on a first draft of my third title and editing my second novel.
Q: Do you use specialty software?
Amidei: I use Serenity Software’s Editor plug-in for Microsoft Word. I also review the manuscript in SpheNet’s text to speech reader, which seems to be an excellent method of proofreading.
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
Amidei: One of my readers gave me the impression that AOTC set her mind toward spiritual considerations to which she had previously paid little attention. The thought that my novel might have already resulted in eternal dividends is humbling. It was the best feeling to date.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
Amidei: I need to be convinced that it is worth my time. It needs to offer me the chance to grow or new ideas to encounter. It has to entertain or enlighten. The opinions of others offered in reviews are critical to all of that.
Thank you, Dale, for sharing your publishing experiences with us. We wish you continued success, and hope you'll come back and share updates with us in the summer!
Thanks for having me, and for everything you are doing for authors on Twitter, Ashley. You are inspiring to watch.
*****
Purchase Links
Amazon: AOTC at Amazon
Nook: AOTC at Barnes and Noble
Smashwords: N/A until direct uploads are available later this year
Author Dale AmideiBio: I live and write in the beautiful Texas Hill Country near San Antonio. I am a Christian, an American, a husband, son, brother, and friend. My characters are realistically portrayed as caught between heaven and earth, not always what they should be, nor what they used to be. In this way they are like all of us, on a journey forward.
Website: http://www.daleamidei.com/
Blog: http://daleamidei.wordpress.com/
Twitter ID: @DaleAmidei
Facebook: Dale Amidei
Goodreads: Dale Amidei
Books Trailer: the prerelease trailer for AOTC
Q: Welcome, Dale! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
Amidei: I write the type of book I have always enjoyed reading: a thought-provoking, exciting adventure with characters that stand out as much as any real-world personalities I have known. The Anvil of the Craftsman lists as contemporary fiction and as a political thriller. I refer to it as “Edgy Christian” fiction. It is my mission to present traditional values and faith in the context of a mainstream novel. I realistically portray characters and settings, and it is at times an ugly world.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie published, or a combination?
Amidei: My first novel, AOTC, was released in December 2011. It was self-published, and I have no plans to pursue traditional publishing.
Q: Your writing has been described this way: "His fiction defines the inner spiritual processes that he believes occur naturally in all human beings. It features faith-based themes set in the real world, which is occasionally profane or violent." How did you choose the setting for your novel 'The Anvil of the Craftsman'? How complicated a journey was it, based on the themes of faith and of violence, to bring the story to a close?
Amidei: The novel was inspired by actual events in Iraq, namely the movement later called "The Anbar Awakening". It led to my reflection on the changes in mindset that must have driven those events. The storyline started to bud, and soon became a blister in my mind that needed to be addressed.
I did make a great effort to strike a balance between the adventure and the message when I was writing AOTC. In the end, a person of faith needs to comport him or herself as such. I am very pleased at how the storyline developed. I have said that if graced to write but a single novel I would be glad to have it be this one.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? What about Facebook and other social media?
Amidei: I love Twitter because, particularly when using hash tags, it is such a great way to meet and interact with others. I am on between writing sessions, catching up and connecting. I spend time daily on Facebook also, but to a lesser extent. Goodreads I do not visit often enough. I am in a writing phase. Once the sequel to AOTC (The Britteridge Heresy) and a third work-in-progress publish, I will put more effort into promotion. For now, I need to pound words.
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote you turn to on tough writing days?
Amidei: I try to meet in mind Paul’s admonition that we do all things to the Glory of God. In secular work, I try to remember the goals Kipling set forth in his mighty poem “If”.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc?
Amidei: A ruthless grammarian, who is my Single Candle Press editress, mercilessly edits my writing. I have a technical and graphics manipulation background that allows me to handle the technical requirements of the electronic and paperback formatting myself. Likewise, I am my own webmaster. When the time arrives, I will handle my own marketing as well.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
Amidei: No. I do have a network of beta readers that I trust to give me honest feedback. I could not have brought AOTC to the level that it achieved without them.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
Amidei: I accept the reality that I may in the future have to give away my work in promotion or else have it languish in obscurity. As a fan of Ayn Rand’s economics if not her theology it irks me. Producing my first novel cost me an entire year of free time. I actually would not want to know the count of hours the writing, re-writing, editing and formatting consumed. I believe it is a work that will leave its reader changed once digested, and that quality is worth paying more than pocket change to access.
Q: How long did it take for your first book to go from an idea to a published work?
Amidei: Months as an idea. Once I started the project it took three months to reach the end of the first draft and another seven in editing and revision. Two more months were spent formatting and beta reading. I learned a great deal about the state of publishing in 2011—more than any single subject in the same period for many years.
Q: Tell us about your path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
Amidei: I did not. I have written as a hobby since shortly after I learned to read, and I read novels for forty years before I set out to produce my own. I had no idea what I was getting into.
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self/indie published community?
Amidei: Lower your expectations and extend your imagined timeline. There is a very long road ahead if you choose to pursue it. If your goal is excellence, take the time required to produce the desired result. No one will be happy if you rush any aspect of what you intend to do.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
Amidei: Too many to list. Rob Guthrie and his posse at RABMAD are a good place to start. Rob delights in interacting with fellow authors, and he is a pleasure to know. The #writing #amwriting #indieauthor and #selfpublishing hash tags on Twitter will find you many more
Q: Do you have a blog? Would you share a link or two for some of your favorite posts?
Amidei: I blog at daleamidei.wordpress.com when my muse demands it. Recently we said goodbye to a dear friend in our beloved G. Gordon Kitty. His obituary, I felt, paid appropriate tribute to such a fine animal.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
Amidei: I have not. My advice to anyone online is to behave and avoid ticking anyone off. That is bad karma as well as shortsighted. If it appears in print it is permanent, and forever can be a long time.
Q: Have you participated in Amazon's KDP Select program?
Amidei: I have not. After resisting, I am seriously considering it because of the results I have seen reported by others. I do not like the exclusivity. Amazon’s model, though, may prove to be the most effective means of an unknown author gaining a readership. I will decide once I have three titles, two of which I am now working on concurrently, ready to market.
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
Amidei: Absolutely. One has to know his destination or the trip is not a journey but a wandering.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
Amidei: I am currently working on a first draft of my third title and editing my second novel.
Q: Do you use specialty software?
Amidei: I use Serenity Software’s Editor plug-in for Microsoft Word. I also review the manuscript in SpheNet’s text to speech reader, which seems to be an excellent method of proofreading.
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
Amidei: One of my readers gave me the impression that AOTC set her mind toward spiritual considerations to which she had previously paid little attention. The thought that my novel might have already resulted in eternal dividends is humbling. It was the best feeling to date.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
Amidei: I need to be convinced that it is worth my time. It needs to offer me the chance to grow or new ideas to encounter. It has to entertain or enlighten. The opinions of others offered in reviews are critical to all of that.
Thank you, Dale, for sharing your publishing experiences with us. We wish you continued success, and hope you'll come back and share updates with us in the summer!
Thanks for having me, and for everything you are doing for authors on Twitter, Ashley. You are inspiring to watch.
*****
Purchase Links
Amazon: AOTC at Amazon
Nook: AOTC at Barnes and Noble
Smashwords: N/A until direct uploads are available later this year
Author Interview: Carl Purdon
The interview series with members of my Twitter community continues with author Carl Purdon. Enjoy!
Author Carl Purdon
Bio: Carl Purdon lives in Pontotoc, Mississippi with his wife and two of their four children. Pontotoc is halfway between Tupelo, which is the birthplace of Elvis, and Oxford, which was the home of William Faulkner. Since he can’t sing, he writes. Since he’s not an expert on anything in particular, he writes fiction. In February he released his debut novel, The Night Train, and has been pinching himself ever since.
Website: http://carlpurdon.com
Blog: http://carlpurdon.com
Twitter ID: @CarlPurdon
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carl.purdon
Google+: https://plus.google.com/111294047512325782835/posts
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5194463.Carl_Purdon
Q: Welcome, Carl! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
Purdon: To be perfectly honest with you, I don’t know how to define my genre. When forced to do so, I usually say contemporary fiction.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie published, or a combination?
Purdon: My debut novel, The Night Train, was published a few weeks ago as an Amazon e-book.
Q: You recently published your first novel - congratulations! - and blogged about your decision to redo the book cover. Now that you've been through one complete publishing cycle, what other areas of self-publishing would you recommend that debut authors seriously consider outsourcing?
Purdon: Editing. As much as you think you can find your own typos, you can’t. After initially publishing, I probably uploaded corrections over a dozen times when my readers pointed them out to me. It was a very humbling experience and one I hope not to repeat.
Q: There has long been a certain mystique about the 'Southern writer.' As a Southern writer yourself, which authors, past or present, have greatly influenced your style, your voice?
Purdon: I’ve never really thought about it. A while back a reader compared me to Pat Conroy, which was a great compliment. Another reader told me reading my stuff reminded them of the classics, which was an even greater compliment because I love reading classics. I struggled with style and voice throughout the first half dozen drafts of The Night Train, trying to get it right. Only when I stopped trying and just started writing what I wanted to say did it turn out like I wanted it to be.
Q: Have you participated in Amazon's KDP Select program? Do you have any pointers for those authors who are thinking about enrolling a novel of their own?
Purdon: Yes, The Night Train is currently in the KDP Select program. It was a tough decision, but I highly recommend it to authors who are unknown. Take advantage of the free promo feature of KDP Select to get your novel in the hands of readers who might not otherwise read it. Remember, getting readers is much more important than making money when you’re trying to get your writing career off the ground.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? What about Facebook and other social media?
Purdon: Too much and not enough. Twitter and Facebook can be addictive, but they are both important, especially Twitter, in building and maintaining your platform. I sometimes spend too much time on social media when I should be writing. On the flip side, I wish I had more time to devote to connecting with readers and other writers.
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote you turn to on tough writing days?
Purdon: Abraham Lincoln once said, “Those not skinning can hold a leg.” I love that quote. What it means is, if you can’t do it yourself, at least do what you can to help those who are doing.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc?
Purdon: I outsourced my cover design to www.digitaldonna.com and was very pleased with her work. I would like to outsource my web design when I can afford it. I’ve considered outsourcing some marketing but haven’t looked into it seriously yet.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
Purdon: No. I’m a loner.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
Purdon: Yes, short stories. You have to do something to gain readership other than writing and putting it on Amazon for sale. If people like your short stories they will be more likely to buy your novel. I’ve never looked at it as giving something away. It’s an investment in yourself.
Q: How long did it take for your first book to go from an idea to a published work?
Purdon: Years. I first wrote The Night Train about six or seven years ago. When I finished it, I wasn’t very happy with it so I put it aside and wrote another full-length novel. I wasn’t very happy with it, either, but I could see my progress. One morning I woke up with The Night Train in my head and felt like I needed to take it in a new direction. I dusted it off and deleted about half the manuscript right off the bat. When I started writing again, everything just fell into place.
Q: Tell us about your path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
Purdon: No. I thought my natural talent and ability would let me sail through to a marketable work in one pass, two at the most. Reality was a tough pill to swallow.
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self/indie published community?
Purdon: Start building your platform as soon as possible. Don’t wait until you have a book to publish to start laying the groundwork with social media. Don’t think your family and personal friends are going to rush out and buy your book and take it to the top of the charts. And if possible, have at least four or five people read it first to weed out the typos.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
Purdon: Yes, Ashley Barron @dcPriya. Believe me when I say that I’m not sucking up to the host. Your author interviews and blog posts are an endless source of good advice and inspiration. Your dedication to helping other writers is second to none. I would also highly recommend joining #StoryCraft every Sunday at 5 PM (CST).
Q: Do you have (or are planning to make) any audio books?
Purdon: No. It’s never crossed my mind.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
Purdon: I’m not even sure what a blog tour is or how one would go about doing it.
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
Purdon: Before starting The Night Train, I carried a chair, paper, and pen down the hill to the lake behind my house and wrote a full outline. When I came back up the hill I completely ignored it. I haven’t attempted one since.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
Purdon: Not exactly. I sometimes pause and write a short story, or a poem. I may set one manuscript aside and work on another (I have four or five partially completed manuscripts), but I tend to focus on one at a time.
Q: Do you use specialty software?
Purdon: yWriter5. It’s a free download and has helped me keep organized. It lets me keep my characters and locations a click away, and lets me divide my manuscript into chapters and scenes. It allows me to back up to my FTP site with a single click, and it exports nicely into RTF so I can import into Calibre to format my e-Book. I do all my writing in Word (by clicking on a scene and telling it to open with the default RTF editor), so I get the full features of the word processor I’ve used for years.
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
Purdon: I wrote a short story called A Bag of Snickers and put it on my website. It’s a Halloween story. Last Halloween my niece, who is an eighth grade reading teacher, called me and said she had read it and that it made her cry. On Halloween day, she bought a few bags of miniature Snickers and her class ate the candy while she read my story to them. It’s hard for me to put into words what that meant to me. It will be hard to top.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
Purdon: In the old days I browsed the shelves of my local bookstore until a title caught my eye. As I pulled it out I took notice of the cover. After that I read the blurbs on the cover and, if still interested, would read the first page. These days I send a sample to my Kindle and if I like it I buy it.
Thank you, Carl, for sharing your publishing experiences with us. We wish you continued success, and hope you'll come back and share updates with us in the summer!
*****
Purchase Links
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00785YND0
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/CarlPurdon
CarlPurdon
Author Carl PurdonBio: Carl Purdon lives in Pontotoc, Mississippi with his wife and two of their four children. Pontotoc is halfway between Tupelo, which is the birthplace of Elvis, and Oxford, which was the home of William Faulkner. Since he can’t sing, he writes. Since he’s not an expert on anything in particular, he writes fiction. In February he released his debut novel, The Night Train, and has been pinching himself ever since.
Website: http://carlpurdon.com
Blog: http://carlpurdon.com
Twitter ID: @CarlPurdon
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carl.purdon
Google+: https://plus.google.com/111294047512325782835/posts
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5194463.Carl_Purdon
Q: Welcome, Carl! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
Purdon: To be perfectly honest with you, I don’t know how to define my genre. When forced to do so, I usually say contemporary fiction.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie published, or a combination?
Purdon: My debut novel, The Night Train, was published a few weeks ago as an Amazon e-book.
Q: You recently published your first novel - congratulations! - and blogged about your decision to redo the book cover. Now that you've been through one complete publishing cycle, what other areas of self-publishing would you recommend that debut authors seriously consider outsourcing?
Purdon: Editing. As much as you think you can find your own typos, you can’t. After initially publishing, I probably uploaded corrections over a dozen times when my readers pointed them out to me. It was a very humbling experience and one I hope not to repeat.
Q: There has long been a certain mystique about the 'Southern writer.' As a Southern writer yourself, which authors, past or present, have greatly influenced your style, your voice?
Purdon: I’ve never really thought about it. A while back a reader compared me to Pat Conroy, which was a great compliment. Another reader told me reading my stuff reminded them of the classics, which was an even greater compliment because I love reading classics. I struggled with style and voice throughout the first half dozen drafts of The Night Train, trying to get it right. Only when I stopped trying and just started writing what I wanted to say did it turn out like I wanted it to be.
Q: Have you participated in Amazon's KDP Select program? Do you have any pointers for those authors who are thinking about enrolling a novel of their own?
Purdon: Yes, The Night Train is currently in the KDP Select program. It was a tough decision, but I highly recommend it to authors who are unknown. Take advantage of the free promo feature of KDP Select to get your novel in the hands of readers who might not otherwise read it. Remember, getting readers is much more important than making money when you’re trying to get your writing career off the ground.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? What about Facebook and other social media?
Purdon: Too much and not enough. Twitter and Facebook can be addictive, but they are both important, especially Twitter, in building and maintaining your platform. I sometimes spend too much time on social media when I should be writing. On the flip side, I wish I had more time to devote to connecting with readers and other writers.
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote you turn to on tough writing days?
Purdon: Abraham Lincoln once said, “Those not skinning can hold a leg.” I love that quote. What it means is, if you can’t do it yourself, at least do what you can to help those who are doing.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc?
Purdon: I outsourced my cover design to www.digitaldonna.com and was very pleased with her work. I would like to outsource my web design when I can afford it. I’ve considered outsourcing some marketing but haven’t looked into it seriously yet.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
Purdon: No. I’m a loner.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
Purdon: Yes, short stories. You have to do something to gain readership other than writing and putting it on Amazon for sale. If people like your short stories they will be more likely to buy your novel. I’ve never looked at it as giving something away. It’s an investment in yourself.
Q: How long did it take for your first book to go from an idea to a published work?
Purdon: Years. I first wrote The Night Train about six or seven years ago. When I finished it, I wasn’t very happy with it so I put it aside and wrote another full-length novel. I wasn’t very happy with it, either, but I could see my progress. One morning I woke up with The Night Train in my head and felt like I needed to take it in a new direction. I dusted it off and deleted about half the manuscript right off the bat. When I started writing again, everything just fell into place.
Q: Tell us about your path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
Purdon: No. I thought my natural talent and ability would let me sail through to a marketable work in one pass, two at the most. Reality was a tough pill to swallow.
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self/indie published community?
Purdon: Start building your platform as soon as possible. Don’t wait until you have a book to publish to start laying the groundwork with social media. Don’t think your family and personal friends are going to rush out and buy your book and take it to the top of the charts. And if possible, have at least four or five people read it first to weed out the typos.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
Purdon: Yes, Ashley Barron @dcPriya. Believe me when I say that I’m not sucking up to the host. Your author interviews and blog posts are an endless source of good advice and inspiration. Your dedication to helping other writers is second to none. I would also highly recommend joining #StoryCraft every Sunday at 5 PM (CST).
Q: Do you have (or are planning to make) any audio books?
Purdon: No. It’s never crossed my mind.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
Purdon: I’m not even sure what a blog tour is or how one would go about doing it.
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
Purdon: Before starting The Night Train, I carried a chair, paper, and pen down the hill to the lake behind my house and wrote a full outline. When I came back up the hill I completely ignored it. I haven’t attempted one since.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
Purdon: Not exactly. I sometimes pause and write a short story, or a poem. I may set one manuscript aside and work on another (I have four or five partially completed manuscripts), but I tend to focus on one at a time.
Q: Do you use specialty software?
Purdon: yWriter5. It’s a free download and has helped me keep organized. It lets me keep my characters and locations a click away, and lets me divide my manuscript into chapters and scenes. It allows me to back up to my FTP site with a single click, and it exports nicely into RTF so I can import into Calibre to format my e-Book. I do all my writing in Word (by clicking on a scene and telling it to open with the default RTF editor), so I get the full features of the word processor I’ve used for years.
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
Purdon: I wrote a short story called A Bag of Snickers and put it on my website. It’s a Halloween story. Last Halloween my niece, who is an eighth grade reading teacher, called me and said she had read it and that it made her cry. On Halloween day, she bought a few bags of miniature Snickers and her class ate the candy while she read my story to them. It’s hard for me to put into words what that meant to me. It will be hard to top.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
Purdon: In the old days I browsed the shelves of my local bookstore until a title caught my eye. As I pulled it out I took notice of the cover. After that I read the blurbs on the cover and, if still interested, would read the first page. These days I send a sample to my Kindle and if I like it I buy it.
Thank you, Carl, for sharing your publishing experiences with us. We wish you continued success, and hope you'll come back and share updates with us in the summer!
*****
Purchase Links
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00785YND0
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/CarlPurdon
CarlPurdon
La Estrella / The Star
One of the interesting aspects of Twitter is how easy it is to connect with fellow authors around the world.
While the act of physically traveling to another country is a luxury not all of our citizens are able to experience, I do feel that, in some small way, Twitter and other social media offers a practice voyage – a travel, of sorts – to faraway lands and unfamiliar cultures.
Perhaps, the impact of social media is along the lines of those early photographers; those brave souls who ventured to places that (still) defy imagination in order to broaden our understanding of the world and her inhabitants.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”
- Mark Twain
A few months back, when I was putting together the blog about book trailers and the companion interview with PR Exec Sean Biederman, a Spanish author reached out to me to contribute her book trailer to the post.
Her name is Isabel Hierro. Her YA novel ‘The Star’ is now published in twenty Spanish-speaking countries and in 2012 will be published in Brazil (Portuguese). She is not self or indie published, and her novel is neither written in English nor available in the US…yet.
But her book trailer? Astoundingly good. No translation needed.
This afternoon, I received an email from Isabel that included the first chapter of La Estrella / The Star in English. She is hoping to bring the novel to the US soon, and would appreciate hearing from YA fans about the translated chapter.
Download the first chapter of the novel: La Estrella / The Star
How to reach Isabel Hierro:
Web: http://www.bookTheStar.com
Blog (only in Spanish): http://www.librolaestrella.com/blog
Praises (only in Spanish): http://www.librolaestrella.com/handicho
Book-trailer: http://youtu.be/lM1iZeYnnEk
Spanish cover Making of: http://youtu.be/AS9UQhc6uHk
Nice To Meet You
I am behind on my Twitter communications.
...wait. What am I saying? I am behind on everything.
Anyway, here I am, going through page after page of Twitter, looking for new friends, one bio at a time. I tried one of the highly recommended auto-follower programs for about two days six months ago, but I did not enjoy it.
For me, the purpose of Twitter is to develop a community of “sometimes like-minded and sometimes not” people whose tweets, blogs, Facebook posts, and other social media I find interesting. There is so much to learn and, to my way of thinking, diversity is the first step in creating a balanced world.
Auto-follow does not help me to accomplish that goal. It’s impersonal; and I don’t like impersonal. I’ll leave that to the spammers, numbers hunters, and SEO folks.
If I’m following you on Twitter, there is a 90% chance that I have been on your website or blog. If you are a writer, there is an equally strong chance that I have read one of your guest posts or excerpts.
After all, getting to know you is the reason I came to Twitter in the first place. A good laugh is always just a click away, and new information shines likes sequins on Dolly Parton’s dresses. (Speaking of amazing talent…Dolly Parton writing and Whitney Houston singing produced one of the best songs ever recorded. You know the one.)
Twitter avatars are like snowflakes, I have decided, and are as unique as they are similar. As for Twitter bios, well, I do occasionally wonder what some members of the community were thinking about when they added those 160 characters.
A few months back, I came across a Twitter bio that had me laughing so hard I lost my breath. I tweeted a comment to the owner and she replied, embarrassed, that she had forgotten to change it once she had become serious about her writing. Personally, I thought the original was worth keeping. It can be challenging to stand out in a positive way in a shockingly large crowd, and she had managed to achieve it.
But conformity is a necessary part of evolution, I suppose. Like-minded people can accomplish a great many things together. As a society, we need certain elements of our collective world – infrastructure, in particular – to be consistent, uniform, predictable, and ordinary. They become among the greatest achievements of civilization, ironically.
Thank goodness that’s not the case for plot, characters, dialogue, writing voice, settings, book covers, titles, and everything else that goes into self-publishing a novel!
As I journey through Twitter this rainy morning, I am reminded of the creative power of the human brain, and of my renewed belief that greatness rests in the individual.
Here, in this nebula we call self/indie publishing, new stars are being created. I want to throw my arms wide and call out to all who pass, “Behold!”
To do that properly, I think I am going to need more Twitter accounts.
...wait. What am I saying? I am behind on everything.
Anyway, here I am, going through page after page of Twitter, looking for new friends, one bio at a time. I tried one of the highly recommended auto-follower programs for about two days six months ago, but I did not enjoy it.
For me, the purpose of Twitter is to develop a community of “sometimes like-minded and sometimes not” people whose tweets, blogs, Facebook posts, and other social media I find interesting. There is so much to learn and, to my way of thinking, diversity is the first step in creating a balanced world.
Auto-follow does not help me to accomplish that goal. It’s impersonal; and I don’t like impersonal. I’ll leave that to the spammers, numbers hunters, and SEO folks.
If I’m following you on Twitter, there is a 90% chance that I have been on your website or blog. If you are a writer, there is an equally strong chance that I have read one of your guest posts or excerpts.
After all, getting to know you is the reason I came to Twitter in the first place. A good laugh is always just a click away, and new information shines likes sequins on Dolly Parton’s dresses. (Speaking of amazing talent…Dolly Parton writing and Whitney Houston singing produced one of the best songs ever recorded. You know the one.)
Twitter avatars are like snowflakes, I have decided, and are as unique as they are similar. As for Twitter bios, well, I do occasionally wonder what some members of the community were thinking about when they added those 160 characters.
A few months back, I came across a Twitter bio that had me laughing so hard I lost my breath. I tweeted a comment to the owner and she replied, embarrassed, that she had forgotten to change it once she had become serious about her writing. Personally, I thought the original was worth keeping. It can be challenging to stand out in a positive way in a shockingly large crowd, and she had managed to achieve it.
But conformity is a necessary part of evolution, I suppose. Like-minded people can accomplish a great many things together. As a society, we need certain elements of our collective world – infrastructure, in particular – to be consistent, uniform, predictable, and ordinary. They become among the greatest achievements of civilization, ironically.
Thank goodness that’s not the case for plot, characters, dialogue, writing voice, settings, book covers, titles, and everything else that goes into self-publishing a novel!
As I journey through Twitter this rainy morning, I am reminded of the creative power of the human brain, and of my renewed belief that greatness rests in the individual.
Here, in this nebula we call self/indie publishing, new stars are being created. I want to throw my arms wide and call out to all who pass, “Behold!”
To do that properly, I think I am going to need more Twitter accounts.
Dear Barnes & Noble (Part Two)
This is the fun part – brainstorming!
It is amazing what becomes possible when a person stops thinking about you as merely an ordinary corporate chain of bookstores. In fact, so many ideas came to mind that this just might become a regular feature on my blog.
I’ve spent a fair portion of my time over the past two weeks letting go of my knowledge of who you are and what you do. It took some work. The Barnes & Noble Booksellers brand is well known, and that’s a major part of the problem.
There’s no mystery, no curiosity, no headline shouting “What will they think of next?!”
As mentioned in Dear Barnes & Noble, (Part One), I have a few ideas I’d like to share with you. Before beginning, please let me state, for the benefit of readers of this blog, that I have had no contact with Barnes & Noble Corporate Offices. I do not know anyone in your organization. I am not privy to your internal structure, memos, or data.
This post contains unsolicited advice from me, a consumer and a vendor, to you, a company in dire need of evolution. Or should that be revolution?
I figure I might have one shot at getting the full attention of a key decision-maker, so I’m putting a fairly large number of ideas on the table. Rest assured, there are many more. I ask only that you keep an open mind while reading this post.
Okay, here goes…
In the Nineties, when you first added cafes to your stores, they were cutting edge. Now, there is a Starbucks on every corner. You are in business to move product, not provide comfy seats and warm beverages to people.
With the cafes gone, and the square footage now freed up and dedicated to the new NOOK Apps Stores, you have added a powerful new revenue stream to your bottom line. Take a page from Apple and keep the design of the space modern, sleek, clean, and open. You want the NOOK Apps Stores to stand out in every way from the rest of the space.
Why do I offer this as step number one, the foundation brick for your entire future? Simple. NOOK is built on the Android operating system.
Begin bringing in some of the companies that make those 400,000 apps, with priority to those doing the best sales numbers on your website. Charge big fees for a sales counter in the NOOK Apps Store, and limit each vendor to one week maximum. Get many different vendors on the schedule to cast the widest net possible over the consumer base.
Let them load the apps on the Android phones, too. As long as you get a cut, and the device already has a Barnes & Noble free reading app, it doesn't matter.
What does matter is that, with the addition of the NOOK Apps Store, Android now has a partnership opportunity with a chain of retail "boutiques" in which to sell their ever-growing list of apps. You neither create the content nor market it. You provide the space, which you have, and receive access to an entirely new pool of in-store customers, which you need.
Brand new revenue stream, all cash, now added to your bottom line.
Consider the energy, the buzz this forward motion will create. Think of the cross-platform media coverage the introduction of the NOOK Apps Store will generate. National Media coverage is great, but don’t underrate wooing the local press. You want consumers to be so inspired they come right over to check out what's happening.
Amazon is nimble, a master at thinking like a start-up no matter how large they grow, but even they can’t begin to compete with the ground game your new NOOK Apps Stores make possible. Why? Read on.
Until your website redesign is finished (more about that in Part Three), your blog is your most critical social media asset. I’ve checked out your blog and I’ve come to this conclusion: You don’t know who you are, Barnes & Noble.
You are a powerhouse, but your blog says “We don’t get it.”
First, remove the number of hits displayed on the bottom of each entry. My blog gets close to as many hits a month as your does – something that, considering my blog is eight months old, should concern you. But, since you make the numbers public, I decided to spin them through my trusty old Excel.
Let’s look at February 2012. Please note that all data below is as of 9:00 PM ET on February 23. Here are the dates you posted, the headers, and corresponding hits:
Let’s examine. By my calculations, 14% of your posts drew 63% of the hits. All three of those winning posts (the 14%) fell under the same header: Free Fridays.
One day a week, you are drawing an average of 44,447 people to your site, yet none of the other posts come anywhere near that total. All those eyeballs aren’t looking anywhere else on your blog. To me this says that you aren’t delivering what your customers want to find. Worse, you are wasting the opportunity to turn those hits into sales.
You should be adding new content to your blog several times a day. No question about it.
The key here is what kind of content.
This is where the self/indie published authors step into the fold. What do we bring with us? Content. Millions of options exist (novels, poems, short stories, book trailers, blog posts, etc.) and they won’t cost you a dime.
Each day, you should be doing the following on your blog:
Consider assigning a genre category to each day of the week. With all the new content that would now be available on your blog, you need to make it easy for customers to focus in on the genre and information they want.
Organizing your blog content by genre/day of the week makes it more attractive to advertisers who want to reach a certain demographic. Allow ads, but keep the total number low and charge well for the access.
Another brand new revenue stream, all cash, now added to your bottom line.
But don’t stop there.
When nationally-recognized authors release a new book or audio book, offer the PR companies something no other bookseller can match: time on your new in-house network. The PR companies can put together their own package that might include interviews, book trailers, reader reviews, and special messages from the author to the readers.
You have how many stores? 700?
That’s a lot of opportunity.
The PR companies can also opt (for a fee) to have it simulcast on your blog and/or website.
Yet more revenue streams.
On days when there isn’t a national book release event, open the same access to self-published authors, but on a single-store basis and at a substantially discounted cost. More revenue.
Wait... What new in-house network?
Oh, I didn’t get to that part of the plan yet? Well, let’s go there...in Part Three.
It is amazing what becomes possible when a person stops thinking about you as merely an ordinary corporate chain of bookstores. In fact, so many ideas came to mind that this just might become a regular feature on my blog.
I’ve spent a fair portion of my time over the past two weeks letting go of my knowledge of who you are and what you do. It took some work. The Barnes & Noble Booksellers brand is well known, and that’s a major part of the problem.
There’s no mystery, no curiosity, no headline shouting “What will they think of next?!”
As mentioned in Dear Barnes & Noble, (Part One), I have a few ideas I’d like to share with you. Before beginning, please let me state, for the benefit of readers of this blog, that I have had no contact with Barnes & Noble Corporate Offices. I do not know anyone in your organization. I am not privy to your internal structure, memos, or data.
This post contains unsolicited advice from me, a consumer and a vendor, to you, a company in dire need of evolution. Or should that be revolution?
I figure I might have one shot at getting the full attention of a key decision-maker, so I’m putting a fairly large number of ideas on the table. Rest assured, there are many more. I ask only that you keep an open mind while reading this post.
Okay, here goes…
Cafes Out, NOOK Apps Stores In
In the Nineties, when you first added cafes to your stores, they were cutting edge. Now, there is a Starbucks on every corner. You are in business to move product, not provide comfy seats and warm beverages to people.
With the cafes gone, and the square footage now freed up and dedicated to the new NOOK Apps Stores, you have added a powerful new revenue stream to your bottom line. Take a page from Apple and keep the design of the space modern, sleek, clean, and open. You want the NOOK Apps Stores to stand out in every way from the rest of the space.
Why do I offer this as step number one, the foundation brick for your entire future? Simple. NOOK is built on the Android operating system.
Source“As of October 2011 there were more than 400,000 apps available for Android, and the estimated number of applications downloaded from the Android Market as of December 2011 exceeded 10 billion.”
Begin bringing in some of the companies that make those 400,000 apps, with priority to those doing the best sales numbers on your website. Charge big fees for a sales counter in the NOOK Apps Store, and limit each vendor to one week maximum. Get many different vendors on the schedule to cast the widest net possible over the consumer base.
Let them load the apps on the Android phones, too. As long as you get a cut, and the device already has a Barnes & Noble free reading app, it doesn't matter.
What does matter is that, with the addition of the NOOK Apps Store, Android now has a partnership opportunity with a chain of retail "boutiques" in which to sell their ever-growing list of apps. You neither create the content nor market it. You provide the space, which you have, and receive access to an entirely new pool of in-store customers, which you need.
Brand new revenue stream, all cash, now added to your bottom line.
Consider the energy, the buzz this forward motion will create. Think of the cross-platform media coverage the introduction of the NOOK Apps Store will generate. National Media coverage is great, but don’t underrate wooing the local press. You want consumers to be so inspired they come right over to check out what's happening.
Amazon is nimble, a master at thinking like a start-up no matter how large they grow, but even they can’t begin to compete with the ground game your new NOOK Apps Stores make possible. Why? Read on.
The (New) NOOK Blog
Until your website redesign is finished (more about that in Part Three), your blog is your most critical social media asset. I’ve checked out your blog and I’ve come to this conclusion: You don’t know who you are, Barnes & Noble.
You are a powerhouse, but your blog says “We don’t get it.”
First, remove the number of hits displayed on the bottom of each entry. My blog gets close to as many hits a month as your does – something that, considering my blog is eight months old, should concern you. But, since you make the numbers public, I decided to spin them through my trusty old Excel.
Let’s look at February 2012. Please note that all data below is as of 9:00 PM ET on February 23. Here are the dates you posted, the headers, and corresponding hits:
Let’s examine. By my calculations, 14% of your posts drew 63% of the hits. All three of those winning posts (the 14%) fell under the same header: Free Fridays.
One day a week, you are drawing an average of 44,447 people to your site, yet none of the other posts come anywhere near that total. All those eyeballs aren’t looking anywhere else on your blog. To me this says that you aren’t delivering what your customers want to find. Worse, you are wasting the opportunity to turn those hits into sales.
You should be adding new content to your blog several times a day. No question about it.
The key here is what kind of content.
This is where the self/indie published authors step into the fold. What do we bring with us? Content. Millions of options exist (novels, poems, short stories, book trailers, blog posts, etc.) and they won’t cost you a dime.
Each day, you should be doing the following on your blog:
- Posting new Barnes & Noble interviews with authors (both traditionally and self-published)
- Posting book trailers for authors (both traditionally and self-published)
- Airing clips of author interviews (more on that later in Part Three)
- Asking readers poll questions — about themselves not you
- Picking a “rising star” novel for a “Cast the Movie” post where fans get to comment on (and debate) who should star in it
- Re-posting stand-out blog posts from authors (traditionally and self/indie published) on topics that are relevant, heartfelt, humorous, etc.
- Adding contests for Best New Cover or Best Character in a (insert genre) Novel or Best Plot, etc. People love to give their own opinions (it’s what I’m doing here) and to vote, so provide them with new and interesting opportunities to weigh-in. Then add a fancy looking “Reader Chosen Winner of Best ____” emblem to the winning author’s page.
Consider assigning a genre category to each day of the week. With all the new content that would now be available on your blog, you need to make it easy for customers to focus in on the genre and information they want.
Organizing your blog content by genre/day of the week makes it more attractive to advertisers who want to reach a certain demographic. Allow ads, but keep the total number low and charge well for the access.
Another brand new revenue stream, all cash, now added to your bottom line.
But don’t stop there.
When nationally-recognized authors release a new book or audio book, offer the PR companies something no other bookseller can match: time on your new in-house network. The PR companies can put together their own package that might include interviews, book trailers, reader reviews, and special messages from the author to the readers.
You have how many stores? 700?
That’s a lot of opportunity.
The PR companies can also opt (for a fee) to have it simulcast on your blog and/or website.
Yet more revenue streams.
On days when there isn’t a national book release event, open the same access to self-published authors, but on a single-store basis and at a substantially discounted cost. More revenue.
Wait... What new in-house network?
Oh, I didn’t get to that part of the plan yet? Well, let’s go there...in Part Three.
Author Interview: Terra Harmony
The interview series with members of my Twitter community continues with author Terra Harmony. Enjoy!
Author Terra Harmony
Bio: Terra Harmony is an author of contemporary eco-fantasy novels. The first books, ‘Water’ and 'Air', of the Akasha Series are currently available as e-books. Terra also has a vampire short story collection published as part of the Kindred Curse Anthology.
Terra was born and raised in Colorado but has since lived in California, Texas, Utah, North Carolina, and Virginia. She has served a 5½ year enlistment in the Marine Corp, has a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and master’s degree in Linguistics. Terra lives in a suburb of Washington, DC with her husband of 13 years and three children.
Website: harmonylit.wordpress.com
Twitter ID: @harmonygirlit
Facebook: facebook.com/terraharmony
Google+: plus.google.com/u/0/101033059595962307629/posts
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/5202680.Terra_Harmony
Books Trailer(s): www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjmlhp_1Vw
Q: Welcome, Terra! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
Harmony: Good to be here and thanks for having me! My genre is contemporary eco-fantasy. I still haven’t decided if the ‘eco’ scares some people away, but I’m sticking with it.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie published, or a combination?
Harmony: I have three self-published books, 'Water' and 'Air' of the Akasha Series and the Kindred Curse Anthology (a vampire short story collection).
Q: Quite a number of reader reviews about your book "complained" that you did an excellent job of leaving them hanging at the end of book one in your series. It is a bold choice to end a book in a series on a real cliffhanger note, especially in the era of the "standalone" novel. How did you decide the ending? Were you surprised by readers' feedback?
Harmony: I wasn’t surprised by their feedback at all, and I have to say – Book Two has quite the cliffhanger as well. I had never intended to write standalone novels because it has been drilled into me - series sell. Besides, knowing people are waiting for the next book keeps me motivated to write it! I have been book-bullied by several bloggers; that is a good thing!
Q: You have published two novellas from your Kindred Curse Anthology. What advice would you give to other writers who are considering publishing novellas in addition to novels?
Harmony: I have just recently finished the Kindred Curse Anthology. It is a collection of five short stories, each a prequel to the prior. It is now only available as the full collection. My goal in publishing one short story first was two-fold; increase followers and trial by error. I learned a lot by publishing my novella first (formatting, marketing, etc.) that would have been hard lessons learned in a full length novel.
Q: Do you sell copies of your novels, or other works, directly from your website?
Harmony: Nope, and don’t plan to. Let the big guys do all the sales paperwork.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? Do you have a Facebook Fan Page?
Harmony: I maybe spend an hour or two per week on my Facebook fan page, though I make sure to post status updates two or three times a week. This is my conundrum – the more people that follow me, the more afraid I am to post. Is that crazy? I guess I am afraid of disappointing, or worse, annoying people. I need to get over that fear, and quick.
Twitter is indeed a time-suck, and I need to regulate it. I do have to say, though, my newest time-suck is Pinterest. But it is hella-fun! Check out my homepage at pinterest.com/terraharmony. I need more bookish people to follow!
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote you turn to on tough writing days?
Harmony: There is an image on my Facebook fan page of a stick figure sitting down at a computer. Another stick figure is behind, holding a gun to their head. The caption says, "Write the f%&ing story!" and the title is, "The Muse We Really Need." On my bad writing days, I revert both to this drawing and to my NaNoWriMo mindset – just write something, edit later.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc? (Note: Please feel free to include contact names, company names, and/or links if you would like to use this opportunity to refer their services to other writers.)
Harmony: I have outsourced editing and cover design (http://indiecoverdesigns.com). I have also put small amounts of money into Facebook and Goodreads Ads campaign. Verdict is still out on whether they are doing me any good. I would love to outsource web design, book trailers, and formatting, but my budget is limited and I try to focus on areas that take priority.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
Harmony: Yep – I am part of a critique group that meets weekly. They are an invaluable resource. I have vowed to never, ever publish something if they haven't reviewed it first. I have found, though, that even meeting weekly, they cannot keep up with my writing, so I am dabbling in some online critique communities. Scribophile has been my favorite so far.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
Harmony: I am seriously considering Amazon KDP select for my short story anthology. I haven’t really marketed it too much and it is not selling at all, so it won’t be a ‘loss’ so to speak.
Q: How long did it take for your first book to go from an idea to a published work?
Harmony: A looooong time. I went through a couple years of sending query letters to agents and publishers. I got many rejections, some feedback, and a few requests for full manuscripts which lead nowhere. It was a humbling experience, but I took what feedback I could and applied it to my novel. Ultimately, I have a much better product because of it.
Q: Tell us about your path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
Harmony: As far as self-publishing goes, if you would've told me how much time I would spend on the book even after it was written, I would've seriously considered holding off. I have a full time job and have three young kids, and am often a single parent because my husband is gone long periods of time for work. It just means a lot of late nights and early mornings, but I am in the thick of it now and couldn't force myself to stop for anything!
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self/indie published community?
Harmony: Indie authors need to be ready to work, be open-minded, and be flexible! There is so much to learn, but there is a great-big community out there willing to teach and share.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
Harmony: Definitely Joanna Penn (@thecreativepenn) for all writers and Elizabeth Craig (@elizabethscraig) for self-pubbers.
Q: Do you have (or are planning to make) any audio books?
Harmony: No – don’t like them myself so I don’t feel real motivated to spend the time and/or money. However, I do post flash fiction stories on my blog and I have considered putting those out as podcasts.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
Harmony: I did a week long feature with a book blogger and got a couple of other book bloggers involved. Is that considered a blog tour? Let me tell you – soooo much work. But definitely worth it. All I can say about blog tours is forever remain grateful to the bloggers!
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
Harmony: Sometimes I try to outline, but then I sit down to write and my characters take a sharp turn away from the plan and shock even me. For me, an outline takes the adventure out of writing…
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
Harmony: Working on more than one manuscript at once helps because if I get stuck on one, I can jump over to the other. Right now, I'd love to buckle down and finish the Akasha Series. No distractions. I'm looking at you Pinterest!
Q: Do you use specialty software?
Harmony: Is…my…computer…specialty software? If no, then no. I tried Dramatica Pro, but it just kept asking me all these questions about my characters and plot and I was like…I don't know yet! Quit pressuring me!
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
Harmony: Ritesh Kala, a reviewer for 'Air, Book Two of the Akasha Series' said, “This is the talent of Terra. She can bring the characters to life, living and breathing right before us.” I loved that! Real, believable characters are important to me, and I think it shows in my writing.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
Harmony: The book cover first, the synopsis second, and reviews on Goodreads third. The process lasts less than a minute.
Q: Thank you, Terra, for sharing your publishing experiences with us. We wish you continued success, and hope you'll come back and share updates with us in the summer!
Anytime! Thanks for giving me the opportunity Ashley and for all you do for authors!
*****
Purchase Links for Water:
Amazon
Nook
Smashwords
Purchase Links for Air:
Amazon
Nook
Smashwords
Purchase Links for the Kindred Curse Anthology:
Amazon
Nook
Smashwords
Author Terra HarmonyBio: Terra Harmony is an author of contemporary eco-fantasy novels. The first books, ‘Water’ and 'Air', of the Akasha Series are currently available as e-books. Terra also has a vampire short story collection published as part of the Kindred Curse Anthology.
Terra was born and raised in Colorado but has since lived in California, Texas, Utah, North Carolina, and Virginia. She has served a 5½ year enlistment in the Marine Corp, has a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and master’s degree in Linguistics. Terra lives in a suburb of Washington, DC with her husband of 13 years and three children.
Website: harmonylit.wordpress.com
Twitter ID: @harmonygirlit
Facebook: facebook.com/terraharmony
Google+: plus.google.com/u/0/101033059595962307629/posts
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/5202680.Terra_Harmony
Books Trailer(s): www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjmlhp_1Vw
Q: Welcome, Terra! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
Harmony: Good to be here and thanks for having me! My genre is contemporary eco-fantasy. I still haven’t decided if the ‘eco’ scares some people away, but I’m sticking with it.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie published, or a combination?
Harmony: I have three self-published books, 'Water' and 'Air' of the Akasha Series and the Kindred Curse Anthology (a vampire short story collection).
Q: Quite a number of reader reviews about your book "complained" that you did an excellent job of leaving them hanging at the end of book one in your series. It is a bold choice to end a book in a series on a real cliffhanger note, especially in the era of the "standalone" novel. How did you decide the ending? Were you surprised by readers' feedback?
Harmony: I wasn’t surprised by their feedback at all, and I have to say – Book Two has quite the cliffhanger as well. I had never intended to write standalone novels because it has been drilled into me - series sell. Besides, knowing people are waiting for the next book keeps me motivated to write it! I have been book-bullied by several bloggers; that is a good thing!
Q: You have published two novellas from your Kindred Curse Anthology. What advice would you give to other writers who are considering publishing novellas in addition to novels?
Harmony: I have just recently finished the Kindred Curse Anthology. It is a collection of five short stories, each a prequel to the prior. It is now only available as the full collection. My goal in publishing one short story first was two-fold; increase followers and trial by error. I learned a lot by publishing my novella first (formatting, marketing, etc.) that would have been hard lessons learned in a full length novel.
Q: Do you sell copies of your novels, or other works, directly from your website?
Harmony: Nope, and don’t plan to. Let the big guys do all the sales paperwork.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? Do you have a Facebook Fan Page?
Harmony: I maybe spend an hour or two per week on my Facebook fan page, though I make sure to post status updates two or three times a week. This is my conundrum – the more people that follow me, the more afraid I am to post. Is that crazy? I guess I am afraid of disappointing, or worse, annoying people. I need to get over that fear, and quick.
Twitter is indeed a time-suck, and I need to regulate it. I do have to say, though, my newest time-suck is Pinterest. But it is hella-fun! Check out my homepage at pinterest.com/terraharmony. I need more bookish people to follow!
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote you turn to on tough writing days?
Harmony: There is an image on my Facebook fan page of a stick figure sitting down at a computer. Another stick figure is behind, holding a gun to their head. The caption says, "Write the f%&ing story!" and the title is, "The Muse We Really Need." On my bad writing days, I revert both to this drawing and to my NaNoWriMo mindset – just write something, edit later.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc? (Note: Please feel free to include contact names, company names, and/or links if you would like to use this opportunity to refer their services to other writers.)
Harmony: I have outsourced editing and cover design (http://indiecoverdesigns.com). I have also put small amounts of money into Facebook and Goodreads Ads campaign. Verdict is still out on whether they are doing me any good. I would love to outsource web design, book trailers, and formatting, but my budget is limited and I try to focus on areas that take priority.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
Harmony: Yep – I am part of a critique group that meets weekly. They are an invaluable resource. I have vowed to never, ever publish something if they haven't reviewed it first. I have found, though, that even meeting weekly, they cannot keep up with my writing, so I am dabbling in some online critique communities. Scribophile has been my favorite so far.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
Harmony: I am seriously considering Amazon KDP select for my short story anthology. I haven’t really marketed it too much and it is not selling at all, so it won’t be a ‘loss’ so to speak.
Q: How long did it take for your first book to go from an idea to a published work?
Harmony: A looooong time. I went through a couple years of sending query letters to agents and publishers. I got many rejections, some feedback, and a few requests for full manuscripts which lead nowhere. It was a humbling experience, but I took what feedback I could and applied it to my novel. Ultimately, I have a much better product because of it.
Q: Tell us about your path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
Harmony: As far as self-publishing goes, if you would've told me how much time I would spend on the book even after it was written, I would've seriously considered holding off. I have a full time job and have three young kids, and am often a single parent because my husband is gone long periods of time for work. It just means a lot of late nights and early mornings, but I am in the thick of it now and couldn't force myself to stop for anything!
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self/indie published community?
Harmony: Indie authors need to be ready to work, be open-minded, and be flexible! There is so much to learn, but there is a great-big community out there willing to teach and share.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
Harmony: Definitely Joanna Penn (@thecreativepenn) for all writers and Elizabeth Craig (@elizabethscraig) for self-pubbers.
Q: Do you have (or are planning to make) any audio books?
Harmony: No – don’t like them myself so I don’t feel real motivated to spend the time and/or money. However, I do post flash fiction stories on my blog and I have considered putting those out as podcasts.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
Harmony: I did a week long feature with a book blogger and got a couple of other book bloggers involved. Is that considered a blog tour? Let me tell you – soooo much work. But definitely worth it. All I can say about blog tours is forever remain grateful to the bloggers!
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
Harmony: Sometimes I try to outline, but then I sit down to write and my characters take a sharp turn away from the plan and shock even me. For me, an outline takes the adventure out of writing…
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
Harmony: Working on more than one manuscript at once helps because if I get stuck on one, I can jump over to the other. Right now, I'd love to buckle down and finish the Akasha Series. No distractions. I'm looking at you Pinterest!
Q: Do you use specialty software?
Harmony: Is…my…computer…specialty software? If no, then no. I tried Dramatica Pro, but it just kept asking me all these questions about my characters and plot and I was like…I don't know yet! Quit pressuring me!
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
Harmony: Ritesh Kala, a reviewer for 'Air, Book Two of the Akasha Series' said, “This is the talent of Terra. She can bring the characters to life, living and breathing right before us.” I loved that! Real, believable characters are important to me, and I think it shows in my writing.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
Harmony: The book cover first, the synopsis second, and reviews on Goodreads third. The process lasts less than a minute.
Q: Thank you, Terra, for sharing your publishing experiences with us. We wish you continued success, and hope you'll come back and share updates with us in the summer!
Anytime! Thanks for giving me the opportunity Ashley and for all you do for authors!
*****
Purchase Links for Water:
Amazon
Nook
Smashwords
Purchase Links for Air:
Amazon
Nook
Smashwords
Purchase Links for the Kindred Curse Anthology:
Amazon
Nook
Smashwords
Shawndra Russell Reviews This Blog
How is it only thirteen months ago that I began this self-publishing journey? The impact on my life has been intense, positive, and challenging. Moving through each level of learning — remember, I started at 0.00 — brings a sense of accomplishment unlike any other I have felt.
A reason for starting this blog, back in June 2011, was to share what I'm learning as I learn it. The single best source of information, guidance, and inspiration is the other authors in this self-published and indie published community. The interview series on my blog is something I enjoy doing. It is also a way to shine a spotlight, one at a time, on the many talented, creative, and motivated members of this community.
Recently, Shawndra Russell highlighted my blog in her Writer Wednesdays series, and she had this to say about it: "The interviews are so in-depth and revealing!"
It takes a lot of work to put a blog together. Thank you, Shawndra, for the encouragement and recognition. I very much appreciate your words.
Here is Shawndra Russell's full blog post.
A reason for starting this blog, back in June 2011, was to share what I'm learning as I learn it. The single best source of information, guidance, and inspiration is the other authors in this self-published and indie published community. The interview series on my blog is something I enjoy doing. It is also a way to shine a spotlight, one at a time, on the many talented, creative, and motivated members of this community.
Recently, Shawndra Russell highlighted my blog in her Writer Wednesdays series, and she had this to say about it: "The interviews are so in-depth and revealing!"
It takes a lot of work to put a blog together. Thank you, Shawndra, for the encouragement and recognition. I very much appreciate your words.
Here is Shawndra Russell's full blog post.
#TeaserTrain Sample: Carrie Green's 'Violets Are Blue'
Violets Are Blue is FREE on Amazon, Wed, Feb 14th - Sun, Feb 19th Only. Click Here!
#TeaserTrain Sample From: Violets Are Blue
#TeaserTrain Sample From: Violets Are Blue
Sarah stood on the dirt road, staring at the six foot high stalks, at the long, rippled leaves that concealed, in seconds, the bold red of Todd’s t-shirt. The corn had swallowed him up. She hadn’t expected him to take off.
Seriously, he wanted to play tag in a corn field? Then, she thought, why not? It was as crazy as anything else that they had done together.
She remembered the time that they had walked through a snow storm, licking ice cream cones. People drove by, laughing at them, but a cone in winter had the advantage of not melting. It was the perfect weather for ice cream.
“Todd, where are you?” She tried to sound pissed, after all, he was forcing her to play tag. She waited to hear his voice, so that she could follow him. “Todd?”
“Come and get me!” he shouted, but she heard him moving again as she ran into the field, the noise of him running was fainter than the crashing of her own elbows and legs through the corn stalks.
In the corner of her eye she saw the ears of corn which were both uglier and smaller than those in the supermarkets back home. The cobs, half eaten by the birds, had empty black sockets that resembled gap-toothed smiles. Tassels draped over the cobs like a bad comb-over.
The leaves sliced her skin. She was forced to run through random swarming circles of flies. Her hands were held out straight in front of her in a futile effort to protect her face. Sarah could hear Todd, up-ahead. He sounded closer.
She stumbled. Her feet kept getting caught in the rope-like webbing of the corn roots. The ground was rock hard and dry. Only her momentum kept her from actually falling. A glimpse, finally, of Todd’s shirt; she was gaining on him.
His dark blue baseball cap flew up above the corn. Her eyes followed its descent. Sarah almost went to pick it up, but she didn’t want to lose Todd now. It was his problem, if they couldn’t find the hat later…
Grinning, she gasped for more air, she was getting closer. Todd was too smug in his country boy superiority, condescending about her fear of chickens. They were big birds, peaking at her knees, chasing her around the pen.
They had flapped their useless wings in what she figured was their attack pose and made their warning cries, high and screechy. Fried chicken. Roasted chicken. Sweet and sour chicken. Her revenge would be tasty.
Todd was no longer a blur, but begun to take shape, again. She could see, in clear detail, the dark wave of hair at the top of his neck, formed by his constant habit of wearing baseball caps.
She was getting closer. Growing up in Chicago didn’t mean that she couldn’t run. There had been plenty of things to run from in Chicago. She liked to think that four years in college hadn’t slowed her down.
She could see Todd turn his head to check on her progress. He started quarterback dodging, going left and then right, around the rows of corn. Sarah followed, replicating his sudden turns. She steadied herself by reaching out at the corn, ripping off leaves, knocking down stalks. She was beginning to enjoy herself, exhilarated by the pounding of her heart and the heat of the sun on her head.
Violets Are Blue is FREE on Amazon, Wed, Feb 14th - Sun, Feb 19th Only. Click Here!
Dear Barnes & Noble (Part One)
I have spent many fine hours in your stores, browsing, buying, and dreaming. I’m not entirely sure what percentage of my lifetime earnings I’ve contributed to your gross earnings, but I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that it’s enough to warrant its own line item.
For over a decade, I’ve walked into your store knowing no matter my mood, my situation, my hopes or fears, I’ll find a book to match. Thank you.
And thank you for the business decisions, the commitment to growth, and the successful strategies that have propelled you to the top of this complicated arena, and kept you there.
Nearly every post on this blog speaks to my love of books, a sentiment I suspect you share. Most posts also mention, in one form or another, my belief in entrepreneurial spirit, small businesses, and the need for healthy, consistent competition in every marketplace.
Here’s something you should know: I own a Kindle. It was a gift, and I adore its convenience and functionality. In the coming months, I will become a Nook owner, too. Eventually—considering my profession is writing novels—I plan to own the full range of e-readers.
As a company in the business of books, I hope you’ll be happy to learn that my debut novel is nearly here. I am in the final final stages of my preparation checklist, and am looking forward to seeing “Ava” on your e-shelves this spring.
And, no surprise here, today I am writing to you about that miracle invention, the book.
Why? I was in my local Barnes & Noble yesterday admiring the expanded Nook space that you have created and staffed with patient, attentive sellers. Excellent! I thought. It’s the right move…for starters.
While I am pleased to see that you are making changes, my concern is that you are not making them fast enough.
When readers purchase books at your stores, or on your website, we become stakeholders in the success of your company, and you become a part of the experience contained within the pages—or e-pages—of our purchases. You become a stakeholder in the success of each author with a name gracing a cover, and in the satisfaction of each reader devouring those pages in between.
Right now, your fiercest competitor is rolling out innovations left and right. They have ignited a ranging wildfire of debate with the introduction of their most recent (and controversial) sales initiative. Now, rumor has it, they are rolling out a flagship store in their hometown.
In your company bio, I read this: “The company began its publishing efforts by reissuing affordable editions of out-of-print titles...Over the next decade, Barnes & Noble’s nationwide store base enabled it to expand its publishing operation and become a leader in illustrated book publishing.”
It almost hurt to read that sentence; times have definitely changed.
Right now, your competitor is vigorously wooing the self-published author set with all the fervor of a love struck teenaged girl.
Why? Because there is money in ebooks. Big, big money.
It’s time to unlearn everything you learned on the way to becoming a corporate giant. It’s time to think like a guppy, a newbie, an anything-is-possible, you-can’t-scare-me, sweat-equity-rich start-up business.
It’s time to return to your entrepreneurial roots with all due haste. Along those lines, and in the spirit of helping to foster healthy competition, I’ll be offering up a few ideas in Part Two of this post.
But, before proceeding, Barnes & Noble, I feel it is important that we are clear on one major point: I am not for or against you; I am not for or against Amazon.
I am on the side of the marketplace. I am on the side of competition, vibrant innovation, opportunity, jobs, balance, creative thinking, and effective marketing campaigns—all of which apply to authors, too.
Your continued presence in this marketplace matters, Barnes & Noble. I might even go so far as to say it’s necessary. Whether or not that rumor about Amazon expanding into brick-and-mortar is true, you currently hold a beautiful, precious asset that your competitor does not have: physical stores.
It’s time to play this card, this magic card, in a new way. It’s time to up the ante, to take back the headlines, to e-innovate.
You have another asset, one that is within your reach, one that should be your top priority: the self-published author.
Set aside your corporate hats. Brainstorm about how to harness the strength of your most important, untapped resource: the self-published author. We are enthusiastic, knowledgeable, motivated, self-starting, entrepreneurial minded, boots-on-the-ground marketers that get paid solely for the amount of books we sell.
And do that brainstorming with us, the self-published authors. Bring us into your fold. Find ways—find every way—to work with us, to expand our options and connections within the Barnes & Noble family.
Original content is being created by self-published authors each day at no cost to you. Hundreds of millions of items are out there: novels, short stories, poems, blog posts, book trailers, etc.
And all of that content is missing the critical element: a central point of organization. Not even Google can compete with you in the area of book inventory and data—only Amazon can.
It’s time to gather your stakeholders together, Barnes & Noble; stakeholders that include us, the self-published authors. Let us be part of the solution and foundation for your new tomorrow.
We’re ready. Are you?
*****
Click here to read "Dear Barnes & Noble (Part Two)"
For over a decade, I’ve walked into your store knowing no matter my mood, my situation, my hopes or fears, I’ll find a book to match. Thank you.
And thank you for the business decisions, the commitment to growth, and the successful strategies that have propelled you to the top of this complicated arena, and kept you there.
Nearly every post on this blog speaks to my love of books, a sentiment I suspect you share. Most posts also mention, in one form or another, my belief in entrepreneurial spirit, small businesses, and the need for healthy, consistent competition in every marketplace.
Here’s something you should know: I own a Kindle. It was a gift, and I adore its convenience and functionality. In the coming months, I will become a Nook owner, too. Eventually—considering my profession is writing novels—I plan to own the full range of e-readers.
As a company in the business of books, I hope you’ll be happy to learn that my debut novel is nearly here. I am in the final final stages of my preparation checklist, and am looking forward to seeing “Ava” on your e-shelves this spring.
And, no surprise here, today I am writing to you about that miracle invention, the book.
Why? I was in my local Barnes & Noble yesterday admiring the expanded Nook space that you have created and staffed with patient, attentive sellers. Excellent! I thought. It’s the right move…for starters.
While I am pleased to see that you are making changes, my concern is that you are not making them fast enough.
When readers purchase books at your stores, or on your website, we become stakeholders in the success of your company, and you become a part of the experience contained within the pages—or e-pages—of our purchases. You become a stakeholder in the success of each author with a name gracing a cover, and in the satisfaction of each reader devouring those pages in between.
Right now, your fiercest competitor is rolling out innovations left and right. They have ignited a ranging wildfire of debate with the introduction of their most recent (and controversial) sales initiative. Now, rumor has it, they are rolling out a flagship store in their hometown.
In your company bio, I read this: “The company began its publishing efforts by reissuing affordable editions of out-of-print titles...Over the next decade, Barnes & Noble’s nationwide store base enabled it to expand its publishing operation and become a leader in illustrated book publishing.”
It almost hurt to read that sentence; times have definitely changed.
Right now, your competitor is vigorously wooing the self-published author set with all the fervor of a love struck teenaged girl.
Why? Because there is money in ebooks. Big, big money.
It’s time to unlearn everything you learned on the way to becoming a corporate giant. It’s time to think like a guppy, a newbie, an anything-is-possible, you-can’t-scare-me, sweat-equity-rich start-up business.
It’s time to return to your entrepreneurial roots with all due haste. Along those lines, and in the spirit of helping to foster healthy competition, I’ll be offering up a few ideas in Part Two of this post.
But, before proceeding, Barnes & Noble, I feel it is important that we are clear on one major point: I am not for or against you; I am not for or against Amazon.
I am on the side of the marketplace. I am on the side of competition, vibrant innovation, opportunity, jobs, balance, creative thinking, and effective marketing campaigns—all of which apply to authors, too.
Your continued presence in this marketplace matters, Barnes & Noble. I might even go so far as to say it’s necessary. Whether or not that rumor about Amazon expanding into brick-and-mortar is true, you currently hold a beautiful, precious asset that your competitor does not have: physical stores.
It’s time to play this card, this magic card, in a new way. It’s time to up the ante, to take back the headlines, to e-innovate.
You have another asset, one that is within your reach, one that should be your top priority: the self-published author.
Set aside your corporate hats. Brainstorm about how to harness the strength of your most important, untapped resource: the self-published author. We are enthusiastic, knowledgeable, motivated, self-starting, entrepreneurial minded, boots-on-the-ground marketers that get paid solely for the amount of books we sell.
And do that brainstorming with us, the self-published authors. Bring us into your fold. Find ways—find every way—to work with us, to expand our options and connections within the Barnes & Noble family.
Original content is being created by self-published authors each day at no cost to you. Hundreds of millions of items are out there: novels, short stories, poems, blog posts, book trailers, etc.
And all of that content is missing the critical element: a central point of organization. Not even Google can compete with you in the area of book inventory and data—only Amazon can.
It’s time to gather your stakeholders together, Barnes & Noble; stakeholders that include us, the self-published authors. Let us be part of the solution and foundation for your new tomorrow.
We’re ready. Are you?
*****
Click here to read "Dear Barnes & Noble (Part Two)"
Guest Post On Carlyle Labuschagne's Blog
"When I decided to write a novel, a love story was the natural choice. It seems that anything I write, including short stories and poems, ends up being about love. So why fight it?"
Author Interview: Brian Rathbone
The interview series with members of my Twitter community continues with author and publisher Brian Rathbone. Enjoy!
Author Brian Rathbone
Bio: Brian Rathbone is a former horse trainer turned technologist and fantasy author. When he isn't writing, he's trying to get more broadband for the people of rural North Carolina.
Website: brianrathbone.com
Twitter ID: @brianrathbone
Facebook: www.facebook.com/brian.rathbone
Google+: plus.google.com/100576965008526977677/
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/2854898.Brian_Rathbone
Q: Welcome, Brian! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
Rathbone: I write fantasy, paranormal, and occasionally science fiction. Speculative fiction has always been my reading preference, and I haven't had much desire to write in other genres. I will most likely write some non-fiction as well. I'm passionate about broadband expansion into rural areas, and I may write a book about that. I'll also be working on some books for writers. It should be fun.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie published, or a combination?
Rathbone: I've published four of my own novels and a few short stories. I'm also a publisher, and I've published about 25 titles for other authors. I started White Wolf Press in 2008 to publish my own works. I wanted to find a way to build my audience, so I didn't feel like I was attractive to agents and publishers without an audience. Later, as I started seeing some success, other authors asked for my help. I wanted to do what I could for them, and eventually White Wolf Press began taking on other authors. It has been a rewarding experience. Now that I have built a larger audience, I may find a home for some of my books with traditional publishing. I believe the two can coexist and prosper, and one can lead to the other, especially when done well.
Q: I noticed you simultaneously published three books from your 'Dawning of Power' series in 2010. Given what you know now, eighteen months later, regarding sales, readership, and creating new works, would you still release all three together or would you space them out?
Rathbone: In 2008 I ran an offset press run of The Dawning of Power trilogy as a single volume. I did this for cost reasons, but I wouldn't do it again. Print on demand has become much more practical and profitable in the last few years, and the self-publishing tools have become much more robust. I would definitely release the three books individually, which I have now done for the ebooks. As for the timing, there are reasons supporting either argument. I would probably still release all three at once since I had them all completed. As I begin the second trilogy, I released Regent, but the trilogy is not yet finished. Now my readers are having to wait for resolution of the overall story line. I don't want to keep them waiting long. Sometimes the best thing you can do is write as fast as you can.
Q: The limitations of special effects in movie-making don't apply to a creative author's mind. How effectively do you find the fantasy genre, with its incredibly detailed style of bringing a story alive for readers, translates to the big screen?
Rathbone: I see the movie in my mind as I write. No producer could ever completely match that vision, but I feel lucky to live in an age where they can come pretty darn close. The cost of doing computer generated imagery is getting lower, and the power is becoming greater. I love to see a good fantasy film, and I would love to see the Godsland series on the big screen.
Q: Do you sell copies of your novels, or other works, directly from your website?
Rathbone: I did at one time, but I don't any more. I prefer to drive my sales to the various retailers that carry my work. There are multiple benefits from doing this, not the least of which is not having to worry about the payment and delivery systems. I probably should add the 'buy a signed copy' button back to my website, though. I never mind signing a book for anyone.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? Do you have a Facebook Fan Page?
Rathbone: I probably spend about 10-12 hours a week on Twitter. It is my primary method of communicating with readers. I have a Facebook page, but I must admit that I don't really use it. I may have to change that.
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote you turn to on tough writing days?
Rathbone: I got stuck once. Life handed me some pretty big challenges that took me away from writing, and then I had trouble getting started again. I found myself sitting there trying to decide if there was anything else I needed to do before going back to writing. I always put a quote at the beginning of a chapter in my books, and that day I wrote: "Procrastination robs the world of countless treasures." It has stuck with me.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc?
Rathbone: Yes to all of the above. As a self-publisher, I sometimes feel like I have to be everything, but I'm not good at everything. Sometimes it's best to get some help. Even if I was able to do everything myself, I feel every writer should work with an editor. The World of Godsland series is edited by Andrea Howe at Blue Falcon Editing. Andrea specializes in fantasy, and she's very good at it. Donna Kay recently edited another of my works that hasn't been released yet. Donna likes to work on paranormal romances and contemporary paranormal. Both have done great work for me. They have made my writing better and made me a better writer. It's been a very worthwhile investment. I also work with Mike Brooker on cover art. I'm very happy with the work he's done. They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we do anyway, and then we judge the editing and the story and the character development... I've also worked with good folks on interior layout, cover layout, and voice talent. Find people who are strong where you are weak and let them do what they do best. You'll be glad you did.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
Rathbone: I don't work with a formal writing group, but I do share my work with a few other writers. It's good to have feedback from multiple people. My rule on feedback is that if only one person complains about something and I disagree, ignore it. If more than one person complains about the same thing, then give it a good hard look.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
Rathbone: Yes. I have embraced the free model. The reason is that I had a completed trilogy and no audience. I had to figure out how to spread the word. Making the first book free allows people to try one of my books at no risk to them. If they like the book, then they are likely to buy the next book in the series. I also give away free audio versions of my work. The books are read by me, and narrating may not be my greatest strength, but they have brought me many new friends and readers. People who listen to the audio sometimes leave donations but more often buy they ebook or a paperback. It's just a great way for me to introduce myself to readers.
Q: How long did it take for your first book to go from an idea to a published work?
Rathbone: Three years. I wrote and edited three books in those years.
Q: Tell us about your path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
Rathbone: I didn't really know anything at first; I just started writing. I always knew I would write, and I knew what the story was, so I just had to put it into words. Preferably good words. I researched the business of being an author and the publishing industry while I wrote my first three books. I would never have guessed that it would go the way it has. It's been a fun journey with some unexpected twists and turns.
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self/indie published community?
Rathbone: Write fearlessly. Edit meticulously. Get great cover art. Do your homework on the publishing industry. Distribute everywhere. Start building your platform now; you'll need it when it comes time to launch. Write some more and repeat. When you do all that and have run out of things to do, come see me.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
Rathbone: There are so many that I made a list. It's called the Twitter Fantasy List. Anyone who feels they are a part of the fantasy community can opt in for the list. You also can't go wrong following @ntaylor1981 @rhondacarpenter @hroulo @aobibliophile and @amhargrove1. There are more that I should have mentioned, but for the sake of brevity, I'll stop there.
Q: Do you have (or are planning to make) any audio books?
Rathbone: The premium audio version of the Dawning of Power trilogy is available on Audible.com, iTunes and Amazon.com. There is also a free version of the audio available at Podiobooks.com. It is my goal to have all of my books available in audio form. Some I've read, and some will be read by another narrator.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
Rathbone: I haven't done a formal blog tour, but I understand the value. I think a well executed blog tour can have long lasting positive effects.
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
Rathbone: I do. I use a non-linear editor and create the chapters in advance. At the top of each chapter, I write a few lines of synopsis and a quote to set the mood of the chapter. The quotes are great fun, and they make it feel like the chapter is already started when I get there.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
Rathbone: I've done it, but I prefer to work on one book at a time. There was one book that just wouldn't get out of my head, so I had to write it even though it interfered with my timeline a bit.
Q: Do you use specialty software?
Rathbone: I do. I currently use WriteItNow, but I am probably going to move to Scrivener for my next novel. I've heard such great things, and I like it when software makes my life easier. All the formats it exports to don't hurt either.
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
Rathbone: The best compliment I have received is that my books were the first books that a young person actually liked reading. A Wrinkle in Time did that for me as a kid, and the compliment really hit home. If I could get a hundred of those a day, I'd be thrilled.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
Rathbone: I like to read books in a series, but I like to read completed series. I like books that are in multiple formats. I like to read paper books, but I also use an ereader at times, and I listen to audiobooks while I drive. I like good cover art, and I like to know that others enjoyed it.
Thank you, Brian, for sharing your publishing experiences with us. We wish you continued success, and hope you'll come back and share updates with us in the summer!
Thank you Ashley. I'll look forward to talking with you again. And a big wave to all the readers out there.
*****
Purchase Links
Amazon
Nook
Smashwords
iTunes
Kobo
Author Brian RathboneBio: Brian Rathbone is a former horse trainer turned technologist and fantasy author. When he isn't writing, he's trying to get more broadband for the people of rural North Carolina.
Website: brianrathbone.com
Twitter ID: @brianrathbone
Facebook: www.facebook.com/brian.rathbone
Google+: plus.google.com/100576965008526977677/
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/2854898.Brian_Rathbone
Q: Welcome, Brian! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
Rathbone: I write fantasy, paranormal, and occasionally science fiction. Speculative fiction has always been my reading preference, and I haven't had much desire to write in other genres. I will most likely write some non-fiction as well. I'm passionate about broadband expansion into rural areas, and I may write a book about that. I'll also be working on some books for writers. It should be fun.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie published, or a combination?
Rathbone: I've published four of my own novels and a few short stories. I'm also a publisher, and I've published about 25 titles for other authors. I started White Wolf Press in 2008 to publish my own works. I wanted to find a way to build my audience, so I didn't feel like I was attractive to agents and publishers without an audience. Later, as I started seeing some success, other authors asked for my help. I wanted to do what I could for them, and eventually White Wolf Press began taking on other authors. It has been a rewarding experience. Now that I have built a larger audience, I may find a home for some of my books with traditional publishing. I believe the two can coexist and prosper, and one can lead to the other, especially when done well.
Q: I noticed you simultaneously published three books from your 'Dawning of Power' series in 2010. Given what you know now, eighteen months later, regarding sales, readership, and creating new works, would you still release all three together or would you space them out?
Rathbone: In 2008 I ran an offset press run of The Dawning of Power trilogy as a single volume. I did this for cost reasons, but I wouldn't do it again. Print on demand has become much more practical and profitable in the last few years, and the self-publishing tools have become much more robust. I would definitely release the three books individually, which I have now done for the ebooks. As for the timing, there are reasons supporting either argument. I would probably still release all three at once since I had them all completed. As I begin the second trilogy, I released Regent, but the trilogy is not yet finished. Now my readers are having to wait for resolution of the overall story line. I don't want to keep them waiting long. Sometimes the best thing you can do is write as fast as you can.
Q: The limitations of special effects in movie-making don't apply to a creative author's mind. How effectively do you find the fantasy genre, with its incredibly detailed style of bringing a story alive for readers, translates to the big screen?
Rathbone: I see the movie in my mind as I write. No producer could ever completely match that vision, but I feel lucky to live in an age where they can come pretty darn close. The cost of doing computer generated imagery is getting lower, and the power is becoming greater. I love to see a good fantasy film, and I would love to see the Godsland series on the big screen.
Q: Do you sell copies of your novels, or other works, directly from your website?
Rathbone: I did at one time, but I don't any more. I prefer to drive my sales to the various retailers that carry my work. There are multiple benefits from doing this, not the least of which is not having to worry about the payment and delivery systems. I probably should add the 'buy a signed copy' button back to my website, though. I never mind signing a book for anyone.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? Do you have a Facebook Fan Page?
Rathbone: I probably spend about 10-12 hours a week on Twitter. It is my primary method of communicating with readers. I have a Facebook page, but I must admit that I don't really use it. I may have to change that.
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote you turn to on tough writing days?
Rathbone: I got stuck once. Life handed me some pretty big challenges that took me away from writing, and then I had trouble getting started again. I found myself sitting there trying to decide if there was anything else I needed to do before going back to writing. I always put a quote at the beginning of a chapter in my books, and that day I wrote: "Procrastination robs the world of countless treasures." It has stuck with me.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc?
Rathbone: Yes to all of the above. As a self-publisher, I sometimes feel like I have to be everything, but I'm not good at everything. Sometimes it's best to get some help. Even if I was able to do everything myself, I feel every writer should work with an editor. The World of Godsland series is edited by Andrea Howe at Blue Falcon Editing. Andrea specializes in fantasy, and she's very good at it. Donna Kay recently edited another of my works that hasn't been released yet. Donna likes to work on paranormal romances and contemporary paranormal. Both have done great work for me. They have made my writing better and made me a better writer. It's been a very worthwhile investment. I also work with Mike Brooker on cover art. I'm very happy with the work he's done. They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we do anyway, and then we judge the editing and the story and the character development... I've also worked with good folks on interior layout, cover layout, and voice talent. Find people who are strong where you are weak and let them do what they do best. You'll be glad you did.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
Rathbone: I don't work with a formal writing group, but I do share my work with a few other writers. It's good to have feedback from multiple people. My rule on feedback is that if only one person complains about something and I disagree, ignore it. If more than one person complains about the same thing, then give it a good hard look.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
Rathbone: Yes. I have embraced the free model. The reason is that I had a completed trilogy and no audience. I had to figure out how to spread the word. Making the first book free allows people to try one of my books at no risk to them. If they like the book, then they are likely to buy the next book in the series. I also give away free audio versions of my work. The books are read by me, and narrating may not be my greatest strength, but they have brought me many new friends and readers. People who listen to the audio sometimes leave donations but more often buy they ebook or a paperback. It's just a great way for me to introduce myself to readers.
Q: How long did it take for your first book to go from an idea to a published work?
Rathbone: Three years. I wrote and edited three books in those years.
Q: Tell us about your path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
Rathbone: I didn't really know anything at first; I just started writing. I always knew I would write, and I knew what the story was, so I just had to put it into words. Preferably good words. I researched the business of being an author and the publishing industry while I wrote my first three books. I would never have guessed that it would go the way it has. It's been a fun journey with some unexpected twists and turns.
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self/indie published community?
Rathbone: Write fearlessly. Edit meticulously. Get great cover art. Do your homework on the publishing industry. Distribute everywhere. Start building your platform now; you'll need it when it comes time to launch. Write some more and repeat. When you do all that and have run out of things to do, come see me.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
Rathbone: There are so many that I made a list. It's called the Twitter Fantasy List. Anyone who feels they are a part of the fantasy community can opt in for the list. You also can't go wrong following @ntaylor1981 @rhondacarpenter @hroulo @aobibliophile and @amhargrove1. There are more that I should have mentioned, but for the sake of brevity, I'll stop there.
Q: Do you have (or are planning to make) any audio books?
Rathbone: The premium audio version of the Dawning of Power trilogy is available on Audible.com, iTunes and Amazon.com. There is also a free version of the audio available at Podiobooks.com. It is my goal to have all of my books available in audio form. Some I've read, and some will be read by another narrator.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
Rathbone: I haven't done a formal blog tour, but I understand the value. I think a well executed blog tour can have long lasting positive effects.
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
Rathbone: I do. I use a non-linear editor and create the chapters in advance. At the top of each chapter, I write a few lines of synopsis and a quote to set the mood of the chapter. The quotes are great fun, and they make it feel like the chapter is already started when I get there.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
Rathbone: I've done it, but I prefer to work on one book at a time. There was one book that just wouldn't get out of my head, so I had to write it even though it interfered with my timeline a bit.
Q: Do you use specialty software?
Rathbone: I do. I currently use WriteItNow, but I am probably going to move to Scrivener for my next novel. I've heard such great things, and I like it when software makes my life easier. All the formats it exports to don't hurt either.
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
Rathbone: The best compliment I have received is that my books were the first books that a young person actually liked reading. A Wrinkle in Time did that for me as a kid, and the compliment really hit home. If I could get a hundred of those a day, I'd be thrilled.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
Rathbone: I like to read books in a series, but I like to read completed series. I like books that are in multiple formats. I like to read paper books, but I also use an ereader at times, and I listen to audiobooks while I drive. I like good cover art, and I like to know that others enjoyed it.
Thank you, Brian, for sharing your publishing experiences with us. We wish you continued success, and hope you'll come back and share updates with us in the summer!
Thank you Ashley. I'll look forward to talking with you again. And a big wave to all the readers out there.
*****
Purchase Links
Amazon
Nook
Smashwords
iTunes
Kobo
New Release: Author Carrie James Haynes
Throughout 2012, I will be highlighting the new releases of members of the Facebook group SelfPubEBooks. The group is open to all writers and self-published or indie-published authors.
The purpose of SelfPubEbooks is to discuss marketing ideas, innovations, and changes in the industry, and to support one another by sharing information about the new releases and successes of fellow members. We welcome your participation.
Bio: I’m a Southern girl who now lives with my husband, children, and two dogs in New England. My children laugh at me because I consider Southern a nationality. I’m an avid reader who has a fascination with history which reflects in my writings. My latest series with Whiskey Creek Press, Tides of Charleston, is set in colonial Charleston. The Judas Kiss was just released in January which will be followed by The Promise in May, 2012 and Another Night Falls in September, 2012. Last fall, I decided to take a path that many authors have before me…I went Indie under my pen name Carrie James Haynes. I released the beginning of a fantasy saga, Whispers of a Legend. Now it’s my hope to expand my Indie writings with the release of Daughter of Deceit.
Book Name: Daughter of Deceit
Release Date: January 28, 2012
Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense
Author Links: @jhines340 or @CarrieJHaynes
www.facebook.com/pages/Novel-Works-by-Jerri-Hines
www.jerrihines.blogspot.com
www.carriejameshaynes.blogspot.com
Lord Julian Casvelyn has long lived with the guilt brought on by the death of his brother, a brother supposedly killed by George Hythe, England’s most notorious spy. For years, Alyce Hythe has been hidden away from the prying eyes of London Society, given a new identity and told to forget who she was. Thrown together by fate, the two search for answers long denied them and along the way discover a love that can free them both.
Someone wants Alyce Hythe dead… Shunned from London society for being the daughter of George Hythe, the notorious spy and murderer, Alyce wants only to clear her father’s name. With help from her only friend, the Marquess of Rotheward, Alyce has begun to search for answers. The Marquess and Alyce have formed a bond, kindred souls, each with a burden to bear. A burden placed upon them by an unforgiving society; she branded by her father’s deeds; his by his preference in love. If known to the world, both would be ostracized and hated.
For years Lord Julian Casvelyn has mourned his brother’s death, murdered by England’s most notorious spy, but one eventful night has changed everything Lord Julian believed about his brother’s death. Never did he suspect the woman he has just saved from certain death is the daughter of that man. Julian is caught in midst of a conspiracy and desire for a woman where he soon discovers he might well want all to remain secret.
Alyce learns unearthing secrets has a price. When her friend needs her the most to avert certain scandal, Alyce is torn between her passion for the man she loves and her duty to her friend. Moreover her life is still endangered. Will uncovering the truth save her? Or will it be best served for the secrets to remain…secret?
By: Ruby W.
Honestly one of the best books I've read in a long time. I was caught up in the story immediately. From the opening scene, the book took one turn and then another to the point by the end of the book I was satisfied with how Ms Haynes tied everything nicely together. Alyce is searching for answers in her father's death. Julian, grieving over his twin brother's murder, saves Alyce from an assailant bent on killing her when he discovers not only is she the daughter of the man thought to have killed his brother but his own grandfather has been her guardian without his knowledge for years. Soon he realizes he's in the midst of a conspiracy. I have to mention Alyce's best friend, Charles. I don't want to give too much away, but I absolutely loved his character. There is a paranormal element to the story also which added to the suspense. I loved it, but who doesn't love a good ghost story. And the love story between Alyce and Julian perfect! Can you tell I loved the book?
The purpose of SelfPubEbooks is to discuss marketing ideas, innovations, and changes in the industry, and to support one another by sharing information about the new releases and successes of fellow members. We welcome your participation.
* A January 2012 New Release *
AUTHOR CARRIE JAMES HAYNES
Bio: I’m a Southern girl who now lives with my husband, children, and two dogs in New England. My children laugh at me because I consider Southern a nationality. I’m an avid reader who has a fascination with history which reflects in my writings. My latest series with Whiskey Creek Press, Tides of Charleston, is set in colonial Charleston. The Judas Kiss was just released in January which will be followed by The Promise in May, 2012 and Another Night Falls in September, 2012. Last fall, I decided to take a path that many authors have before me…I went Indie under my pen name Carrie James Haynes. I released the beginning of a fantasy saga, Whispers of a Legend. Now it’s my hope to expand my Indie writings with the release of Daughter of Deceit.
Book Name: Daughter of Deceit
Release Date: January 28, 2012
Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense
Author Links: @jhines340 or @CarrieJHaynes
www.facebook.com/pages/Novel-Works-by-Jerri-Hines
www.jerrihines.blogspot.com
www.carriejameshaynes.blogspot.com
ABOUT ‘DAUGHTER OF DECEIT’
Lord Julian Casvelyn has long lived with the guilt brought on by the death of his brother, a brother supposedly killed by George Hythe, England’s most notorious spy. For years, Alyce Hythe has been hidden away from the prying eyes of London Society, given a new identity and told to forget who she was. Thrown together by fate, the two search for answers long denied them and along the way discover a love that can free them both.
Someone wants Alyce Hythe dead… Shunned from London society for being the daughter of George Hythe, the notorious spy and murderer, Alyce wants only to clear her father’s name. With help from her only friend, the Marquess of Rotheward, Alyce has begun to search for answers. The Marquess and Alyce have formed a bond, kindred souls, each with a burden to bear. A burden placed upon them by an unforgiving society; she branded by her father’s deeds; his by his preference in love. If known to the world, both would be ostracized and hated.
For years Lord Julian Casvelyn has mourned his brother’s death, murdered by England’s most notorious spy, but one eventful night has changed everything Lord Julian believed about his brother’s death. Never did he suspect the woman he has just saved from certain death is the daughter of that man. Julian is caught in midst of a conspiracy and desire for a woman where he soon discovers he might well want all to remain secret.
Alyce learns unearthing secrets has a price. When her friend needs her the most to avert certain scandal, Alyce is torn between her passion for the man she loves and her duty to her friend. Moreover her life is still endangered. Will uncovering the truth save her? Or will it be best served for the secrets to remain…secret?
READER REVIEW FOR ‘DAUGHTER OF DECEIT’
By: Ruby W.
Honestly one of the best books I've read in a long time. I was caught up in the story immediately. From the opening scene, the book took one turn and then another to the point by the end of the book I was satisfied with how Ms Haynes tied everything nicely together. Alyce is searching for answers in her father's death. Julian, grieving over his twin brother's murder, saves Alyce from an assailant bent on killing her when he discovers not only is she the daughter of the man thought to have killed his brother but his own grandfather has been her guardian without his knowledge for years. Soon he realizes he's in the midst of a conspiracy. I have to mention Alyce's best friend, Charles. I don't want to give too much away, but I absolutely loved his character. There is a paranormal element to the story also which added to the suspense. I loved it, but who doesn't love a good ghost story. And the love story between Alyce and Julian perfect! Can you tell I loved the book?
PURCHASE LINK FOR ‘DAUGHTER OF DECEIT’
Author Interview: Thea Atkinson
The interview series with members of my Twitter community continues with author Thea Atkinson. Enjoy!
Author Thea Atkinson
Bio: Thea Atkinson is a writer of character driven fiction; call it what you will: she prefers to describe her work as psychological thrillers with a distinct literary flavour. As in her bestselling novel, Anomaly, her characters often find themselves in the darker edges of their own spirits but manage to find the light they seek.
She has been an editor, a freelancer, and a teacher, but fiction is her passion. She now blogs and writes and twitters. Not necessarily in that order.
Please visit her blog for ramblings, guest posts, giveaways, and more
http://theaatkinson.wordpress.com
or follow her on twitter
https://twitter.com/theaatkinson
or like her facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Theas-Writing-Page/122231651163413
Q: Welcome, Thea! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
Atkinson: I’m not sure really. I just blogged about this. I started out believing it was litfic, then shifted to psychological thriller then blended the two. Now: I have no idea. It’s a great question. I write what moves me at the time as I enjoy reading so many genres. I don’t write romance or thrillers or mystery though. that much I can say for sure.
I’d have to say I didn’t choose. It just sort of is what it is. I’d love to write in ONE genre that’s clearly defined, but I just hate being pegged into a small round hole.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie published, or a combination?
Atkinson: All indie so far.
Q: How do you pick the names for your novels? Do you know them before you begin writing the story?
Atkinson: That depends. Sometimes it starts with a word that intrigues me or strikes me, but most times it’s a character that starts to creep in and then I end up wanting to get to know them better.
Q: You recently wrote a guest blog post about love. Your opening was humorous, then changed to be a touch cynical — and I thought, "Uh-oh" — but you brought the conclusion together in a beautifully written testament to the purpose and power of love. What sort of impact does regular blogging have on your writing style, plot ideas, and/or overall writing pace?
Atkinson: hmm. good question. Probably the best question I’ve had in a while. I use my blog to sort of meander into places I wouldn’t normally. I’d say it’s my regular writing that impacts my blog, actually. I think I have a good sense of humor although it doesn’t come out in my writing because humor writing is so so tough. What you saw in that post about love is pretty much me and indicative of my writing style: there’s always a bit of dark in it somewhere even if it starts out light.
Q: Do you sell copies of your novels, or other works, directly from your website?
Atkinson: No, wish I could, but I’m a bit of a noob on that front.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? Do you have a Facebook Fan Page?
Atkinson: a bit. Not as much as I used to: I was getting sort of addicted. (sheepish grin) and the fam was getting a bit jealous of the computer. I do have a FB fan page although it’s not terribly active. I try, but I always end up spending time looking at everyone's photos and making silly comments on their statuses.
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote you turn to on tough writing days?
Atkinson: Yes. An artist friend once told me that for every artist who makes it, a hundred give up...and that if they’d just stuck it out, each of the hundred would have ended up on the first end of the ratio. that drives me when I think about just stopping.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc?
Atkinson: not formally, but I have a great critique group with some really amazing writers and critiquers in it.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
Atkinson: Yes. Yes. Yes.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
Atkinson: who hasn’t? Starving artist and all: exposure and the like, blah blah blah.
Q: How long did it take for your first book to go from an idea to a published work?
Atkinson: yow. my first book? really? well that was about hmmm...thirty years ago, except it never did get published, so I’d have to go to the first one that I did publish: One Insular Tahiti. That was a long one because my agent shopped it first...so...let’s say about 6 years.
Q: Tell us about your path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
Atkinson: I don’t think anyone does or they wouldn’t do it. It’s an ease-yourself-into-a-hot-bath kind of affair.
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self/indie published community?
Atkinson: write. rewrite. help others. pass it on.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
Atkinson: oh so so many: @talesofwhoa, @guineapig66, @larryenright, @anakronistical, @sammywrites, @threecifer to name just a few. Why? because they are incredibly supportive and encouraging
Q: Do you have (or are planning to make) any audio books?
Atkinson: hadn’t until just now. you may have planted a seed.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
Atkinson: no. noob again.
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
Atkinson: nope. yes. sometimes. well, maybe a tiny one. Very sparse. And then I throw it away because I can’t write to outline to save my little soul.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
Atkinson: nope
Q: Do you use specialty software?
Atkinson: yes. VR software cause of my tendonitis.
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
Atkinson: Secret Language of Crows got called Faulknerian. Does it get better than that for a litfic writer? Yes. Each compliment is better than the last because it’s the one of the moment, and we writers get so little praise, it always feels nice.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
Atkinson: character, story, character in that order. I need to want to spend time with a book’s characters. And then I want the story to help me escape. And then I want to hate leaving the character behind.
Thank you, Thea, for sharing your publishing experiences with us. We wish you continued success, and hope you'll come back and share updates with us in the summer!
*****
Purchase Links for Thea Atkinson's Novels
Amazon
Nook
Smashwords
kobo
Author Thea AtkinsonBio: Thea Atkinson is a writer of character driven fiction; call it what you will: she prefers to describe her work as psychological thrillers with a distinct literary flavour. As in her bestselling novel, Anomaly, her characters often find themselves in the darker edges of their own spirits but manage to find the light they seek.
She has been an editor, a freelancer, and a teacher, but fiction is her passion. She now blogs and writes and twitters. Not necessarily in that order.
Please visit her blog for ramblings, guest posts, giveaways, and more
http://theaatkinson.wordpress.com
or follow her on twitter
https://twitter.com/theaatkinson
or like her facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Theas-Writing-Page/122231651163413
Q: Welcome, Thea! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
Atkinson: I’m not sure really. I just blogged about this. I started out believing it was litfic, then shifted to psychological thriller then blended the two. Now: I have no idea. It’s a great question. I write what moves me at the time as I enjoy reading so many genres. I don’t write romance or thrillers or mystery though. that much I can say for sure.
I’d have to say I didn’t choose. It just sort of is what it is. I’d love to write in ONE genre that’s clearly defined, but I just hate being pegged into a small round hole.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie published, or a combination?
Atkinson: All indie so far.
Q: How do you pick the names for your novels? Do you know them before you begin writing the story?
Atkinson: That depends. Sometimes it starts with a word that intrigues me or strikes me, but most times it’s a character that starts to creep in and then I end up wanting to get to know them better.
Q: You recently wrote a guest blog post about love. Your opening was humorous, then changed to be a touch cynical — and I thought, "Uh-oh" — but you brought the conclusion together in a beautifully written testament to the purpose and power of love. What sort of impact does regular blogging have on your writing style, plot ideas, and/or overall writing pace?
Atkinson: hmm. good question. Probably the best question I’ve had in a while. I use my blog to sort of meander into places I wouldn’t normally. I’d say it’s my regular writing that impacts my blog, actually. I think I have a good sense of humor although it doesn’t come out in my writing because humor writing is so so tough. What you saw in that post about love is pretty much me and indicative of my writing style: there’s always a bit of dark in it somewhere even if it starts out light.
Q: Do you sell copies of your novels, or other works, directly from your website?
Atkinson: No, wish I could, but I’m a bit of a noob on that front.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? Do you have a Facebook Fan Page?
Atkinson: a bit. Not as much as I used to: I was getting sort of addicted. (sheepish grin) and the fam was getting a bit jealous of the computer. I do have a FB fan page although it’s not terribly active. I try, but I always end up spending time looking at everyone's photos and making silly comments on their statuses.
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote you turn to on tough writing days?
Atkinson: Yes. An artist friend once told me that for every artist who makes it, a hundred give up...and that if they’d just stuck it out, each of the hundred would have ended up on the first end of the ratio. that drives me when I think about just stopping.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc?
Atkinson: not formally, but I have a great critique group with some really amazing writers and critiquers in it.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
Atkinson: Yes. Yes. Yes.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
Atkinson: who hasn’t? Starving artist and all: exposure and the like, blah blah blah.
Q: How long did it take for your first book to go from an idea to a published work?
Atkinson: yow. my first book? really? well that was about hmmm...thirty years ago, except it never did get published, so I’d have to go to the first one that I did publish: One Insular Tahiti. That was a long one because my agent shopped it first...so...let’s say about 6 years.
Q: Tell us about your path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
Atkinson: I don’t think anyone does or they wouldn’t do it. It’s an ease-yourself-into-a-hot-bath kind of affair.
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self/indie published community?
Atkinson: write. rewrite. help others. pass it on.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
Atkinson: oh so so many: @talesofwhoa, @guineapig66, @larryenright, @anakronistical, @sammywrites, @threecifer to name just a few. Why? because they are incredibly supportive and encouraging
Q: Do you have (or are planning to make) any audio books?
Atkinson: hadn’t until just now. you may have planted a seed.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
Atkinson: no. noob again.
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
Atkinson: nope. yes. sometimes. well, maybe a tiny one. Very sparse. And then I throw it away because I can’t write to outline to save my little soul.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
Atkinson: nope
Q: Do you use specialty software?
Atkinson: yes. VR software cause of my tendonitis.
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
Atkinson: Secret Language of Crows got called Faulknerian. Does it get better than that for a litfic writer? Yes. Each compliment is better than the last because it’s the one of the moment, and we writers get so little praise, it always feels nice.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
Atkinson: character, story, character in that order. I need to want to spend time with a book’s characters. And then I want the story to help me escape. And then I want to hate leaving the character behind.
Thank you, Thea, for sharing your publishing experiences with us. We wish you continued success, and hope you'll come back and share updates with us in the summer!
*****
Purchase Links for Thea Atkinson's Novels
Amazon
Nook
Smashwords
kobo
New Release: Author Angel Bearfield
Throughout 2012, I will be highlighting the new releases of members of the Facebook group SelfPubEBooks. The group is open to all writers and self-published or indie-published authors.
The purpose of SelfPubEbooks is to discuss marketing ideas, innovations, and changes in the industry, and to support one another by sharing information about the new releases and successes of fellow members. We welcome your participation.
* A January 2012 New Release *
AUTHOR ANGEL BEARFIELD
Bio: A long time writer of poems and short stories, Angel is a self published author with titles Loving Rainy Days and Child Support. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education, bachelor in Organizational Management, and masters in Business Management. She enjoys writing fiction, romance, and erotica and is always in search of that unique innovative plot. Angel is a native of New Jersey and loves wielding her characters around the different individuals she meets. She grew up the youngest in a large family of ten that was constantly filled with laughter, and she found herself sometimes adding small scenario’s from her life into her books. Angel writes because it not only relaxes her, but because she loves hearing and seeing people enjoying her work. She also enjoys reading just about everything she can get her hands on. She feels peace and satisfaction in knowing that somewhere in the world her words have moved someone emotionally.
Book Title: 'Child Support'
Release Date: Jan 15, 2012
Genre: Romance, Erotica
Author Links: www.facebook.com/AngelBearfield
about.me/freeyormind2books
ABOUT THE BOOK ‘CHILD SUPPORT’
In most cases, when you hear a person talking about child support, it’s either about someone being a dead beat parent, not getting to see their kids, or their payments are too high. You never get to hear the story that led up to all the anger and mayhem… until now. Child support is a drama-filled shocker that has two stories that are based from a man and woman’s point of view on how child support has affected their lives.
WATCH THE TRAILER FOR ‘CHILD SUPPORT’
READ REVIEWS FOR ‘CHILD SUPPORT’
By: taquila t
This review is from: Child Support (Kindle Edition) I absolutely loved this book. I was heartbroken about the ending. I really wasn't expecting that to happen. I didn't know that females were so careless and stupid and selfish. Gave me some insight into what really goes on inside some females minds. I recommend this to any and everybody.
By: Shaniyah Isallineed Shestruluv
I came to let you know great job on your book. I loved it! The characters, the storyline… omg Nina was crazy! Smh can’t wait to read more from you.
PURCHASE LINKS FOR ‘CHILD SUPPORT’
Author Interview: A. R. Silverberry
The interview series with members of my Twitter community continues with #TeaserTrain author A. R. Silverberry. Enjoy!
Author A. R. Silverberry Bio: A. R. Silverberry has won a dozen awards, including Gold Medal Winner in the 2011 Benjamin Franklin Awards, in Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction; Gold Medal Winner in the 2010 Readers Favorite Awards in Preteen Fiction; and Winner, 2010 Books and Authors Books of the Year Award, in Fantasy/Fairy Tale Fiction. He lives in California, where the majestic coastline, trees, and mountains inspire his writing. Silverberry, the pen name for Peter Allan Adler, has been a licensed psychologist since 1991. He continues to balance his clinical practice with writing. Wyndano's Cloak is his first novel.
Website: www.arsilverberry.com
Blog: www.arsilverberry.com/blog
Twitter ID: @arsilverberry
Facebook: A.R. Silverberry
Goodreads: Wyndano’s Cloak
Books Trailer: Wyndano’s Cloak
Q: Welcome, A. R. Silverberry! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
Silverberry: An element of fantasy runs through all of my writing. I love creating whole worlds where anything is possible. I find that this opens up wonderful possibilities for creating symbols. For example, Wyndano’s Cloak is a symbol for growth, transformation, and empowerment. The novel is a fantasy adventure for children, ages ten and up. I’m currently working on a survival tale set in a mythic past, and the audience is teens and adults.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie-published, or a combination?
Silverberry: Wyndano’s Cloak is the only one out there. It’s an indie.
Q: You wrote a guest blog post for Stacy Eaton, a fellow #TeaserTrain and Women's Literary Cafe member, in which you talked about the importance of the companionship of fellow writers. If a writer is just starting out, just beginning to get their first novel together, and is still shy, still learning the ropes in this online world, what first steps would you recommend to them with regard reaching out to other writers and writing groups?
Silverberry: Join Women’s Literary Cafe! You’ll find support for all your efforts, from beginning to end. Also, look for Facebook groups in your genre. Post questions. Support others. There’s a wonderful community of indie authors out there who understand that we’re stronger if we stand together, and we’re not in competition.
Q: Do you sell copies of your novels, or other works, directly from your website?
Silverberry: There’s a link on to my distributor. However, later this year, I’m pulling out of there. My book has been out almost two years, and a distributor is no longer warranted. I’ll be selling the hardback directly from my website.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? Do you have a Facebook Fan Page?
Silverberry: Honestly, the amount of time goes up and down. I’m a psychologist by day. The care of my clients always comes first, so some days and weeks, I have trouble getting to social media. I think (hope!) my writer friends understand my legal and ethical obligations. I believe I spend more time tweeting and posting about others than I do about me or my book, which is as it should be.
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote you turn to on tough writing days?
Silverberry: I’ve got two. 1) "What the public criticizes in you, cultivate it. It is you." Jean Cocteau 2) “You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” Jack London
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc?
Silverberry: I worked with two wonderful editors. One did line editing and light content editing. The other did copy editing. I think both are necessary. The more expert eyes on a book, the better. My wife did the cover art. That was awesome, because she knew my MC, Jenren, well, and I was able to whisper a few suggestions in her ear as she went along. Her cover won an award, as did the interior design! We hired folks to do the formatting for both. My web designer, Diane Whiddon, of Novel Website Design, is an angel. She not only captured the feeling of my book, but also my voice as an author. I do my own marketing, which included around 25 book expos, including the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Book Expo America, and the Frankfurt Book Fair.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
Silverberry: I did for the early chapters in Wyndano’s Cloak. The group was most helpful, and I highly recommend that writers do this. But you have to find people who you’re compatible with, who will give you honest feedback sandwiched with praise, and who can leave their egos outside the door. Roughly paraphrasing EB White, writing is bad for your health. I think that what he meant is that there are millions of places where you can go wrong, including simply saying something you don’t mean. The only cure is getting lots of comments from lots of people reading your work. I had a good dozen sets of eyes on my novel, and these folks saw multiple drafts. Some chapters had as many as 29 drafts!
Q: When you did you first decide to become an indie? How much time did it take to get from an idea to a book on Amazon?
Silverberry: I decided around 2007 or 2008 that I wanted Wyndano’s Cloak to be an indie. I wanted maximum control. One of my editors repeatedly urged me to submit it to agents, but I wanted to do this one myself. Everything from the color of the smythe-sewn binding thread to the feel of the pages reflects the fairy-tale statement I wanted to make. I don’t believe that a traditional publisher would have put so much love or attention into it. I started the book in 2004 and it was published 3/15/10. I plan to submit my next novel to agents. If it doesn’t sell, I can always indie it.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
Silverberry: I haven’t. I came late to ebook publishing. A big mistake. I didn’t understand where the world was going. So the book wasn’t published as an ebook until last July. At that point, it seemed that .99 was practically giving it away, but the world continues to change rapidly. Giveaways are required to get any kind of recognition. I plan to do the KDP Select program in March, so there will be two days when it will be free. A month prior to my next book coming out, I’ll also drop the price down to free. People want you to give them something. Who am I to argue?!
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self-published community?
Silverberry: Write the best book you can. If anything doesn’t feel right, keep working on it. Have it professionally edited by TWO editors who come highly recommended. See samples of their work, and make sure they understand yours. Find out what qualifies them to edit. I’m going to get hate mail for what I’m about to say. Indie publishing has a huge secondary market of folks who are making money off of our hopes and dreams. Unfortunately, that includes some people who proffer themselves as editors, but are not qualified. I’ve seen the results of their work, and it hurts. At minimum, have they passed some kind of editing test? I’m convinced my copy editor can quote the Chicago Manual of Style chapter and verse. You need that confidence. Any errors in Wyndano’s Cloak are mine, not his. After editing, you need a dynamite title, an eye-grabbing cover that looks good in thumbnail, and a succinct, but compelling synopsis that gets to the heart of your story.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
Silverberry: Many, including quite a few on the Teaser Train. But I’m only going to name one here. Sadly, Howard Hopkins passed away recently. He was a prolific and talented writer, and his work deserves to live on.
Q: What is coming up for you in the next few months?
Silverberry: Starting this week, I’m running a four-part series on my blog about social media. Review copies of Wyndano’s Cloak will be available mid February on the Women’s Literary Cafe. I’m planning a blog tour in a few months, and also some school visits. Somewhere in all of that, I’ll be working on the second draft of my new novel, and I’ve started sketching out the one that follows.
Q: Do you have (or are planning to make) any audio books?
Silverberry: At some point.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
Silverberry: I’m the newbie on that one! Check back with me.
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
Silverberry: Absolutely. Here’s my current process. I start with a statement of the theme. Then I create character’s that grab my attention and are an expression of that theme. Finally, I work out a plot that reflects conflicts between the characters, and still reflects the theme. Any of these three points can and will come under scrutiny as I progress through subsequent drafts. Ten years ago, I wrote more intuitively, and then waited to see what unfolded. This is a creative way to go, but ultimately, I found I had to work too hard to unify.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
Silverberry: Not while I’m writing the first draft. And anything I do on another book, while I’m still writing the first one, will be very light. I don’t like to dissipate my creativity. I think it’s easy to get pulled into something else when you’re undergoing the creative struggle that is normal to the process. It’s important to fight against that. I was pleased to see that Henry Miller felt the same way!
Q: Do you use specialty software?
Silverberry: No. I’m open to it.
Q: Tell us about some of the hurdles you've cleared on the path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
Silverberry: The biggest hurdle has been marketing. After that, the writing process itself can be trying. I agonize over every word; sentence; and comma, those that should be there, and those I know should be there, but take out. I spent six months between drafts just thinking about the theme of the book. I think I drove my wife crazy! She still teases me about it. I’m going through the same problem with my current novel. I call it second draft angst. Does anyone else get that?
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
Silverberry: Can I share two? This reviewer’s comment was so spot on:
“A powerful coming-of-age story . . . a rich and subtle metaphor for the power of creativity and courage, the function and purpose of artistic inspiration and enrichment, and the role of fantasy and vision in the human psyche.” The US Review of Books
High art, that! And this from a reader:
“One of the best books I’ve ever read, and I’ve read a lot of books. I’m keeping it on my shelf.” A Retired Librarian
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
Silverberry: In this order: The cover, the title, the synopsis, the first sentence. If you can entice me with a blurb from Dean Koontz, Joan Didion, or a reader in Hoboken, well then, I’m heading to the checkout line.
Q: Thank you for sharing your publishing experiences with us. We wish you continued success. Will you come back and share updates with us later in the year?
Silverberry: Thanks for having me, Ashley! These were wonderful questions. I look forward to talking with you again!
*****
Purchase Links
Amazon: Wyndano's Cloak
Nook: Wyndano's Cloak
iTunes: Wyndano's Cloak
Regarding Loss
It’s a tornado, a hurricane, an earthquake, and a flood happening all at the same time. There is simply no place to run, no place to hide. It’s coming. You’re going to go through it, be hurt by it, experience it in full, no matter how vigorously you beg, pray, or plead. At its worst, you need only remember one thing, just one.
You will survive this.
You will survive this.
Author Interview: T. M. Souders
The interview series with members of my Twitter community continues with #TeaserTrain author T. M. Souders. Enjoy!
Author T. M. Souders Bio: T.M. Souders was born in Johnstown, PA and grew up in the suburbs outside of Pittsburgh. She graduated in 2004, from Youngstown State University, with a degree in Psychology and minor in Women's Studies. She is the author of Women's Fiction novel, Waiting on Hope, as well as Young Adult novel, Freedom Road, due to be released later this year. She currently lives in rural Ohio with her husband and children.
Website: tmsouder.com/
Blogs: tmsouders.com/blog/
thecheapkindledaily.wordpress.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/TM-Souders-Author
Twitter: @tmsouders
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/tmsouders
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/t-m-souders
Google +: plus.google.com/115011332472574926454#115011332472574926454
Welcome, T.M.! Thanks for being here today.
Q: What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
TMS: I write emotional women's fiction and contemporary romance because it's what comes most natural to me. Also, probably because that's what I most like to read.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, self-published, or a combination?
TMS: I have one women's fiction novel, Waiting On Hope and a novelette Dashing Through The Snow. My second novel is going through edits right now, and I hope to have it out by mid-March. I am self-published. I think there will come a time when I go the traditional route, but for now, self-publishing seems to be the best route. You get 100% control over your work, which is important to me.
Q: Recently, you wrote a blog post about whether or not to stop working on a 30,000-word manuscript that just wasn't coming together. How did you come to that decision? What advice would you offer other writers who find themselves standing at a similar crossroads?
TMS: Ugh! I came to that decision because, I honestly, was dreading sitting down to write every day. My heart just wasn't in it. I love writing and I knew that forcing myself to write a book that just wasn't working was going to get me nowhere. I was just frustrating myself further, so I put it down and started a project that had been waiting for me to give it some attention. I think as authors we need to remember to write the story that calls us, the one that we're passionate about and not one that others may want us to write. You can't write for someone else. You have to write for yourself.
Q: Do you sell copies of your novels, or other works, directly from your website?
TMS: No, I don't. I don't necessarily have a reason for this. I'm now enrolled in KDP Select, which for people who may not know, requires you to remove your work from other venues. Even before that though, I didn't sell on my site. I think most people prefer shopping with a major company like Amazon or B&N.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? Do you have a Facebook Fan Page?
TMS: I spend WAY too much time on Twitter and Facebook! It's a huge procrastination tool and distraction! They should have labels that read: "AUTHORS BEWARE!" lol. I do have a Facebook Fan Page and love to connect: www.facebook.com/pages/TM-Souders-Author
Q: Do you blog? How often? Strictly professional or a blend of all things?
TMS: I do blog a blend of posts and topics. I have seriously neglected it lately, but am trying to make amends! I am and will be posting much more often.
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote you turn to on tough writing days?
TMS: I don't have anything specific, but when I hit a rough patch, as all authors do, I just remind myself that the only thing that will help is to write through it.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc?
TMS: I outsource for my covers and have recently acquired a new, and rather fabulous, editor.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
TMS: No, I wish I did, but I live in a rural area, where there are not many groups like that. I am lucky to have a great group of author friends though that I network with and socialize with online on a daily basis. Writing can be a very solitary endeavor so it's important to have support or feel like you're a part of a community.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
TMS: Yes. I recently did a 2 day freebie on Waiting On Hope. I was petrified, but did it anyway and had amazing success— #1 on Free Kindle and 45,000 downloads!
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self-published community?
TMS: Grow a thick skin. Never stop working, never stop trying, and always continue to improve your craft.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
TMS: There are too many to list!
Q: What is coming up for you in the next few months?
TMS: As I mentioned before, I'm hoping to release my new novel, Freedom Road. I's a YA/Crossover novel, which I'm very excited about.
Q: Do you have (or are planning to make) any audio books?
TMS: Audio book? Oh yeah! They're on my extremely long list of Things-to-do.
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
TMS: Yes, but it's very rough, lol. Sometimes I can't even read what I wrote, lol.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
TMS: No! I find that too distracting and that it makes it more difficult to feel the characters emotionally in the same manner. I'm also the type of person who doesn't enjoy reading more than one book at the same time for the same reason
Q: Tell us about some of the hurdles you've cleared on the path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entailed?
TMS: I had no idea how hard!! If I had known, I probably would've ran screaming for the hills, lol! No seriously, I knew it would be difficult and a ton of work, but I never expected just how much work it would be. I love it though and would never trade it for anything else. This is what I was meant to do.
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
TMS: The best compliment is just when someone tells me they loved it. I don't think there is any greater compliment.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
TMS: I just go based on what appeals to me. I'm an eclectic reader, but my main purchases are women's fiction and romance (not the Harlequin type). And I have to admit that the cover is what first draws me in.
Thank you, T.M., for sharing your publishing experiences with us. We wish you continued success, and hope you'll come back and share updates with us in the summer!
*****
Purchase Links
Amazon: Waiting On Hope (Kindle)
Waiting on Hope (paperback)
Dashing Through The Snow (Kindle)
Author Interview: John W. Mefford
The interview series with members of my Twitter community continues with author John W. Mefford. Enjoy!
Author John W. MeffordBio: A veteran of the corporate wars, former journalist, and true studier of human and social behavior, John W. Mefford has been writing his debut novel since he first entered the work force twenty-five years ago, although he never put words on paper until late 2009.
Considered a visionary leader in his fifteen-year IT career, he quit his job and started writing, pouring out his thoughts with no net.
When he’s not writing, he chases three kids around, slaves away in the yard, reads, takes in as many sports as time allows, watches all sorts of movies, and continues to make mental notes of people and societies across the land — even if they piss him off.
Committed is the first book in the series, The Michael Doyle Chronicles.
John lives in Frisco, Texas with his beautiful wife, three adorable kids, and a feisty fat cat.
Website / blog: www.johnwmefford.com
Twitter ID: @jwmefford
Facebook: John W Mefford
Goodreads: John W Mefford
Q: Welcome, John! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
JM: Hi Ashley. Thank you for sharing your precious blog space. My first and only published book, COMMITTED, is a suspense / mystery / thriller. I really felt like the genre chose me. It’s the genre that I’ve read the most. For years I wanted to take that leap of faith and write one of my own. It finally became a reality on 11.1.11.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, self-published, or a combination?
JM: COMMITTED is my debut novel, the first book in the series, The Michael Doyle Chronicles. Back in the summer of 2011 I finally opened my eyes and I saw I was standing in the eye of the book industry hurricane. I did a lot of research and began taking baby steps towards the self-publishing path. I believe things happen for a reason, which is why I’ve been open-minded to learning so much in the last few months. But I also realize that this industry will continue to shift and I need to continue to be in a learning mode.
Q: Shifting directions and leaving behind a fifteen-year career in corporate America to become a self-employed writer must have impacted your life in unexpected ways. When did it really sink in? What would you say to other writers who are considering similar career changes?
JM: First, it allowed me to fill my lungs with air and let it all out. The stress I’d built up took a while to release, but writing became my most fulfilling outlet. For the first time in years, I allowed my mind to think with complete freedom. There’s nothing better than that. There were a couple of things that made me realize what I’d been missing. In my previous life I was the consummate multi-tasker, never focused on one task longer than a few spare moments and usually thinking about three of four other things at the same time.
When I write, I need a minimum of 2-3 hours to make substantive progress. It allows my ideas to cultivate and evolve, and it provides me a depth of concentration that I realized I had never achieved before. This has created an environment that has allowed me to improve as a writer.
For everyone out there considering making a career shift into writing, we are all unique, as are our situations. But life is ever-changing. For me, it was the right decision at the right time. If and when you make that switch, you need to create situations that allow you to build your confidence. Have an open mind but a strong heart. Given my desire to stretch my mind and challenge myself, I’m sure I’ll try other ventures, both creative and business-oriented.
Q: Do you sell copies of your novels, or other works, directly from your website?
JM: I looked at that option, but decided out of the gate to keep it simple and sell my book through the traditional ebook venues (Amazon).
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? Do you have a Facebook Fan Page?
JM: Have you been over-hearing conversations in my house?
I probably spend too much time on Twitter right now. I’ve been working to time-box it a bit. With so many followers interacting with me, I really enjoy the back-and-forth chatter. I’ve also branched out on Facebook. My author fan page is a place where I can expand my thoughts and share ideas longer than 140 characters and allow the feedback to percolate a while.Q: Do you blog? How often? Strictly professional or a blend of all things?
JM: I have blogged, but not as much I plan to do in the future. I see my posts as a discussion of anything to do with my path an author and the writing world. But when you’re opening up your soul for everyone to see, the posts become personal very quickly. That’s been one the hidden blessings from this journey I’ve chosen. Opening up, being yourself, helping others…it heals old wounds and opens doors to your soul you never thought you’d reach, let alone share with the world.
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote you turn to on tough writing days?
JM: It’s funny. I’ve never allowed myself to say, “I have writer’s block, therefore I can’t write.” Still, some days are more free-flowing than others. I was recently in Chicago and my wife and I took this amazing architecture tour down the Chicago River. The tour guide said she had once been told, “If you’re not living on the edge, you’re not living.” It really stuck with me. I see it as a combination of thoughts: Don’t fall in a rut and go with the flow. Challenge yourself, experience new things, open your mind, don’t be afraid to re-evaluate your direction and priorities, but enjoy what you have. That’s what life is all about.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc?
JM: I realized that to be taken seriously as an author, some tasks are best completed by experts in their own field. I used the wonderfully talented Jeroen Ten Berge for my cover. And I had an outstanding editor. I took on the mundane tasks of book formatting and conversion. With a little help from Jeroen and my sister in-law (professional photographer), I created my own web site. I think my website is professional, yet unique. The marketing, PR front is a world that is as deep and murky as a black hole. I enjoy the creative brainstorming to develop ideas to build my brand/platform, but you can easily get lost going down too many paths at once. As an “indie” author, you have to constantly take a step back and determine where you should spend your time, energy, and money.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
JM: Very early in my writing process I gave that whirl. It just wasn’t a good fit for me. With this second book, I plan to use beta readers as my main feedback mechanism before I take it to the editor. If anyone is open to being a beta reader, feel free to reach out to me through my website.
Q: When you did you first decide to self-publish? How much time did it take to get from an idea to an ebook on Amazon?
JM: From the time I started to put together my self-publishing project plan to my release date (11.1.11) it was just under six months. Knowing I still had a ton of research to complete, I built extra time in my schedule. And sometimes you’re dependent on others and their schedule. The next time around will be much quicker, since part of the self-pub decision was also the beginning of creating my brand – website/blog, pictures, cover art, etc…
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
JM: I just joined the KDP program on Amazon, and then made COMMITTED free for two days to help create a buzz. I think it worked fairly nicely. In the long run, I hope we see a trend where authors and readers alike appreciate the intrinsic value of the unique products we create and can avoid low-balling promotions. It’s a balancing act, trying to stay true to yourself and your profession by pricing your work of art at a fair price, yet also utilizing the most effective marketing strategies. Like many things in business, change is the only constant, and this situation is no different.
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the self-published community?
JM: Frankly, I could write a book on my path and the reason I’ve made certain decisions. A couple of high-level thoughts come to mind. First, be prepared to learn. There’s no way to know everything about any profession without going through the experience. Second, creating your brand while being true to yourself is as important as creating your narrative voice. Stay out of the online bickering and realize every word you write is being scrutinized. Be professional, courteous, enjoy it as you’re experiencing it, and remember to pay it forward.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
JM: Besides @dcPriya, the first one who comes to mind is @Melissa_Foster. She’ s a remarkably talented and successful author, but also someone who’s decided to share her knowledge and wisdom. She’s a dynamic, positive woman. Another one of the many supportive and knowledgeable people in Twitter Land is Claude Bouchard (@ceebee308). Claude has more connections than a Hollywood producer, is funny, and a damn good writer.
Q: What is coming up for you in the next few months?
JM: I’m in the middle of a major re-write on Book Two of The Michael Doyle Chronicles. It’s looking like a 2012 Q2 release at this stage. Here is the release of my first official plug: A chain of death… all linked by one unstoppable force. I have a good idea on the title, but want to finish this re-write before I settle on the title and begin the cover art process. There might be another surprise to share, but it’s too early to determine if it will come through.
Q: Do you have (or are planning to make) any audio books?
JM: Creating an audio book is another one of the many items on my list. But in the world of constant prioritization, it hasn’t hit my top 20 yet.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
JM: I haven’t been the focal point of a blog tour. But I’ve done a fair amount of observing. For readers who follow many of the same blogs hosting the same author, it can be viewed as a bit gluttonous for those who are inundated with blog posts for 30 straight days. But I’m also amazed at the authors who can create so many blog topics. And then there are a few whose blog topic is a glorified Facebook post. Like any type of public relations/marketing event, there’s a fine line between tantalizing your audience and bludgeoning your audience. And that threshold is probably different for each of us.
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
JM: I started with a high-level summary of the book and a description of some of the characters. After I wrote the first three of four chapters (my chapters are Patterson-like short), I realized I’d work better if I plotted out a couple of sentences per chapter to describe where was I headed for the next four to five chapters. What made it work, however, was that I gave myself carte blanche to change direction at any time. It was fluid, but I never felt like I didn’t have a plan. For me, it was the best of both worlds.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
JM: I’ve dabbled a bit with a few other story ideas, starting two novels, but they fizzled out pretty quickly. I definitely have more clarity about my characters and deliver a plot that “rings true” when I’m focused on one storyline. Plus, it’s the ride of a lifetime. Why would you want to interrupt it?
Q: Do you use specialty software?
JM: That’s an easy one. No. It’s straight up Microsoft Office. Then, I do the conversions from there using various tools I’ve hunted on the Internet.
Q: Tell us about some of the hurdles you've cleared on the path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
JM: When I first sat down to write, I didn’t know I was writing my first book. I wrote for a little over three days and produced about 20 pages. I re-read it and said, “S*it, I think I can write a novel.” Then came the first decision point: Do I dive into the internet and pummel myself with book-writing information? I feared I’d find only a fair amount of self-doubt, so I acquired only one piece of data: How many words equated a normal book page. I was off and running. Only after I finished the first draft did I allow myself to think about all the unknown obstacles before me.
One of the biggest hurdles I cleared was putting myself out there and letting the world see me and my work for what it was. And by taking the self-publishing path—when you’ve yet to take step one in brand-building—you’re pretty much guaranteed that the list of heavy-duty supporters starts behind me and my wife. But going the grass-roots path has been invigorating. Frustrating at times, but an experience I would never trade. As I noted earlier, once I became comfortable that I’ll always be in learning mode, life got a little easier.
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
JM: Before I released the book, I put excerpts on my website and one reader sent me the following feedback: “I am not a literary critic and most certainly lack any training in that field, but I am a reader, and a big-time appreciator of fine writing—and, John, you have IT! Clearly, you have the talent, the skills, and the creative juices. Onward! I shall watch with much anticipation what comes next!!”
Comments like that early on lifted me up and gave me the incentive and confidence to continue marching forward and to not let my inner demons divert my objective.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
JM: Not unlike many readers the cover and title make a first impression. If it passes that litmus test, I’ll look at a couple of reviews. Then, I’ll read a sample. From there, I can usually tell if the story holds my interest. Word of mouth certainly plays a role. If someone I know and respect recommends a book, I’ll at least read a sample and possibly buy it outright. After going years spending $20-$40 on a book, price just doesn’t matter.
Q: Thank you, John, for sharing your publishing experiences with us. We wish you continued success, and hope you'll come back and share updates with us in the summer!
JM: I really appreciate this forum, Ashley. And I greatly appreciate the opportunity to share my world with our wonderful readers. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to write stories that hopefully move them. Thank you!
*****
Purchase Links
Amazon (US): 'COMMITTED'
Amazon (UK): 'COMMITTED'
Author Interview: Shelli Johnson
The interview series with members of my Twitter community continues with author Shelli Johnson. Enjoy!
Author Shelli Johnson
Bio: Shelli Johnson has been writing for as long as she can remember. After receiving an undergraduate degree in journalism, she worked as a sports journalist at a major metropolitan newspaper (winning several awards for her reporting) then as a freelance editor for many years before finally following her passion and pursuing her MFA in fiction writing. Her award-winning novel, Small as a Mustard Seed, is available now as an ebook.
WEBSITE: www.shellijohnson.com
BLOG: www.shellijohnson.com/blog
FACEBOOK: Shelli Johnson
TWITTER: Shelli_Johnson
GOODREADS: Shelli Johnson
GOOGLE+: Shelli Johnson
BOOK BLOGS: Shelli Johnson
Q: Welcome, Shelli! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
SJ: Hi, Ashley! Thanks so much for having me on your blog. I write primarily literary fiction. It also tends to be historical in nature. To be honest, I think it more chose me. That’s the kind of books I lean toward reading and so that’s what I ended up writing.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie-published, or a combination?
SJ: One book published. Another scheduled for publication soon. Small as a Mustard Seed, my first novel, was indie-published. I have my own small press so most likely I will be publishing my future work through that small press.
Q: You have a Bachelor's degree in journalism and a Master's degree in fiction writing. Has this specialized education had any impact on the manner in which you research, design, and write a novel?
SJ: The journalism degree has helped tremendously in teaching me how to interview people. I’m also not shy about asking people for what I need because of my professional training. Journalism taught me, too, how to research: where to look, who to ask, how to fact check, that kind of thing. I also learned graphic design in college: spatial relationships, typography, and how to use the software to do it so I was able to create my own website and book cover.
The fiction writing training helped me slow down. Being a journalist on deadline means that you write fast and maybe miss certain less-important details because you’re trying to get to the main point. You don’t necessarily get to know people. You interview them, sure, and hear what they have to say, but that doesn’t mean you know why they do what they do, what makes them tick. There’s usually not that kind of time. What makes fiction real for the reader are the little details. Grad school taught me to slow down, to see everything that was happening in a scene, to delve deeper into the characters and understand their motivations. It also taught me to follow a story to its absolute end, however messy that may end up getting.
Q: Do you sell copies of your novels, or other works, directly from your website?
SJ: No. Some things I felt would be better handled by a third party & the actual distribution of my novel is one of those things.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? Do you have a Facebook Author Page?
SJ: When I first joined Twitter, I wasn’t even sure I would like it. At first, I thought it was pointless; you know, what do I have to say in 140 characters or less? Nowadays, I probably spend a good 7 – 10 hours on Twitter every week. It’s a great place to meet other writers, to get some support when you need it, to just talk to people instead of being holed up by yourself all the time, to let people know about what you’re working on, and finally to learn new things that will help your own writing.
I do have a Facebook Author Page. I think it’s imperative that, at a minimum, authors have a website, are on Twitter, and have a Facebook Page. Somewhere I read that Facebook has something like 800 million users. That’s an enormous potential audience for your work. Times have changed & the first thing that people do when they want to know something about you is check out the web. I read a blog post a little while ago from a reader who loved a book & wanted to contact the author. When she found out the author didn’t have much of a web presence, she wasn’t as excited about that author anymore. Maybe that isn’t fair, but that seems to be the way things are now. Yes, it takes time to set things up so they look professional, but it’s absolutely worth your time to do it.
The Indie Book Collective does free social media training, which I haven’t tried out but it’s free so I thought I’d mention it. I took some paid online training at Lynda.com.
Q: I very much enjoyed your blog post "Stepping Out In Faith," about taking risks and following dreams. What would you say to writers who are staring at that new horizon, indie publishing, and thinking to themselves, maybe now is the time?
SJ: First, read J.A. Konrath’s blog, A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing. Second, have faith. If this is what you want to do, that you’d rather go indie than traditional or maybe the traditional way just isn’t working for you, then step out and do it. It involves risk, but so does leaving your house in the morning. It’s going to be a lot of work, but so does anything worthwhile. You’ll probably be out of your comfort zone a lot, which means you will grow and achieve things you never thought yourself capable of. Expect obstacles from the start and they won’t derail you when they finally show up. Be professional. Write quality work. Have it edited. Put your absolute best foot forward. And finally: Don’t give up. A lot of people expect instant success (meaning weeks or months) and when that doesn’t materialize, they give up. Sometimes, success takes a long time. Sometimes, it takes writing four books and countless hours of promotion and missing your kids/family and maybe it will take years. Keep your eyes on the prize. I’m going to say that again because it bears repeating, plus I need to hear it, too: Keep your eyes on the prize.
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote you turn to on tough writing days?
SJ: I have two little post-it notes tacked up on a cork board near my computer. One says, YOU ARE CAPABLE and the other says, YES YOU CAN. I have them because the voice in my head sometimes likes to say things like You’re out of your league and You’re in over your head. I keep those notes close as a reminder & then I keep on writing.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Henry van Dyke: “Use what talents you possess, the woods will be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” I like it because it’s a good reminder that I don’t have to be the best out of everybody, that I just have to write the best I can.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc?
SJ: I am blessed to have some fabulous writer friends from grad school who also happen to be fantastically talented editors for my work. I trust them & respect their opinions; I listen to what they have to say & fix my writing accordingly. When you’re looking for an editor, make sure it’s a good fit. Make sure they know you and your work; make sure they won’t try to hijack your voice.
Fortunately, I have the skill-set to be able to do a lot of my own design/formatting/editing work. I haven’t outsourced much because I’m operating on a shoe-string budget. I’ve taken a lot of online classes & cruised through a lot of forums to learn how to do things, but it only cost my time or a nominal fee. I haven’t outsourced marketing yet because I’m standing back and observing for a time to see what works for other people and what doesn’t. I know a lot of people who have thrown a lot of money at trying to market their work to not have it be fruitful. So, at some point in the future, I may hire someone to help me do publicity/marketing, once I decide on what I feel will work well for my book.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
SJ: Yes, but it’s not a regular thing. I read other people’s work and give feedback. They read mine when my books are fully completed. I’ve found that getting feedback while I’m in the middle of a book is just not helpful for me. I need to have a complete draft done before I can go back and start editing/rewriting it. I don’t like rewriting chapters before I know the whole story. When I belonged to a regular writing group, where we met weekly/monthly, I found that it was distracting and made it harder for me to work. So now I have a couple of friends whose work I read as needed and they do the same for me. And I mentioned before about Twitter, but really that’s a fantastic place to just talk/listen to other writers when you need help/support.
Q: When did you first decide to become an indie? How much time did it take to get from an idea to a book on Amazon?
SJ: I chose to be an independent author early on, mostly because I got a substantial grant to do it. The Weisman Fund (the grant liaison, after reading only the first three chapters, believed in my novel so much that she fought for me to be awarded one of the grants) gave me money to start my own small press. I wanted to learn how to do it, so that’s the choice I made. It takes me 3 – 4 years to write a novel & have it edited/rewritten to where I’m happy with it. Tack on another 3 months or so for cover design and graphic design work. Fortunately for me, I’m not in a rush.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
SJ: No. I haven’t done my novel for free and probably won’t because I believe it’s worth more than that. There’s the expectation now that content should be free, I know. I may in the future put up a short story or two for free, so people can get a taste of my writing. I’m just not a fan of giving work away. Yes, I know I’m in the minority & I’m also not a book-marketing expert, keep that in mind. Lots of people have done it to great success & some people have done it and not had much success at all. If you’d like to go that way, please do. I’m just not a fan of it.
I read a post by someone (sorry I just don’t remember who it was right now) and she talked at length about how free and cheap prices lowered the expectations of your readers (because it was so cheap, they would expect not to like it) as well as made your work look like it was on clearance. While I personally love clearance sales for most things, I don’t know how highly that speaks of your writing, what the perception is if you’re willing to give it away for free. And especially in my case because I write literary fiction for the most part, and the perception there is a more highbrow (sorry, but it’s true) kind of writing. Anyway, that’s my opinion.
I also just read a post by J.A. Konrath about the need to give some of your work away for free. I see his point, too, that there are so many books out there and you’re more likely to gain a following if you give people a taste for free. I wish I were a pricing expert but sadly, I’m not. Here’s my opinion of which I have no real data to back it up: I think free books are probably great if you have other titles you’re charging for; it gives people an idea if they’d like you or not and then they’ll go buy your other titles. I’m not sure how much it helps you if you only have one book out and it’s going to be a while (years) before your next book is ready.
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the indie or self-published communities?
SJ: Please, please, please, whatever you do, don’t go in hollering BUY MY BOOK!!! There’s nothing that turns me off faster to somebody than when they bombard me with tweets, links, DMs, emails about how to buy their books before they even get to know me. Hang out, add to the conversation, show your personality, build relationships, give your opinion, blog about things other than your book, and then start talking about your book.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
SJ: @novelpublicity & @emlynchand Emlyn’s the owner of Novel Publicity, which has been the single best thing I’ve been involved with to get connected to other writers, get marketing and publicity advice, have a place to ask questions and get answers, and learn about what I need to do to position my book and myself for success.
@jakonrath. J.A. Konrath, I love this guy, truly. Never met him but I did live in Chicago & did hear him do a reading once. He’s also got a great blog with lots of advice about self-publishing and how to do it right. He’s got a lot of supportive things to say, also, that help you keep going when you’d rather throw in the towel. I’m not sure how much he tweets to be honest but if I were you, I’d sign up to follow his blog.
Q: What is coming up for you in the next few months?
SJ: I am finishing my third book (darn it, I am!). I’ve had a few hiccups lately with moving and some family issues so I’m happy to be writing consistently again. That’s all I’ll be doing the next few months.
Q: Do you have (or are planning to make) any audio books?
SJ: No plans at this point.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
SJ: I have not done a blog tour. From everything I’ve heard from others who’ve done them, it’s a ton of time-consuming work so be prepared for that. I’ve also heard from some people who’ve done it that you need to make sure the bloggers you use: 1. have a large audience of readers & 2. that audience would have an interest in your genre of book. Sorry but I can’t give you any advice other than that.
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
SJ: No. Outlines don't work for me. What I love most about writing is getting surprised by the story, having it veer off in a direction I never anticipated, never planned for, & so I'm just as shocked as a reader would be about what happened. Anyway, I find that outlining doesn't allow for that in my case. I know too much about what's going to happen, or worse, I don't let the story do what it wants because I'm trying to stick to the outline.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
SJ: Usually not. I have a hard time keeping the characters straight if I’m working on two separate manuscripts.
Q: Do you use specialty software?
SJ: No. Just Microsoft Word. And if I’m having a hard time figuring out what I want to say then I go back to a notepad and a pen & write longhand.
Q: Tell us about some of the hurdles you've cleared on the path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
SJ: I’ve been rejected more than 100 times. I kept sending my work out; I just simply stopped counting after 100. There have been years ~ yes, you’re reading that right, years with an s ~ I made a grand total of $0 (yes, zero) from my fiction writing (so, yes, I still have a day job). In total, I’ve spent thousands more on my writing than I’ve actually made. I juggle a lot ~ working, taking care of my family, cooking nearly all the meals, cleaning the house, paying the bills, writing novels, reading, blogging, keeping my social networking sites updated, parenting my kids ~ and sometimes it’s just exhausting. The traditional publishing route doesn’t seem open to me, so I changed my vision & am now an independent author.
I wanted to make my novel, Small as a Mustard Seed, available as an eBook & I had a shoe-string budget, which meant I had to do most everything myself. I broke it down into tiny do-able steps (do my website, start a blog, make a Facebook fan page, get a Twitter account & learn how to use it, do the cover, format the book, etc.) that I did one at a time. I, who knew nothing about HTML, CSS, jQuery, or any kind of web-design language, cruised through forums & learned & made a website myself (www.shellijohnson.com) that I think turned out pretty good. I took an online class and learned Facebook & Twitter (& am still learning). I learned about royalty-free vs. rights-managed images & licensing agreements for cover photos. I took another online class when the formatting of my novel into an eBook fell to pieces a week before the book was due. Really, I know I’m plugging them, but I can’t say enough good things about Lynda.com for online training (cheap & in-depth & easy to access) when you need to learn how to do something.
No, I didn’t know at the start everything that the process entailed. I still don’t to be honest. I keep learning new things everyday, which is a good thing.
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
SJ: Tom Clementson from the Kindle Book Review recently posted this review: “This is a story that will run you through an emotional marathon at a sprinter’s pace. Rarely do you find a novel or a writer than can reach inside the reader to evoke such strong feelings but Shelli Johnson’s ‘Small as a Mustard Seed’ is that one in a million story . . . You will rarely find a story that can captivate your feelings and touch your soul like this one. I’ve not read its match in evoking so much emotional power and circumspection since Mitch Albom gave us ‘Tuesday’s With Morrie’. This is a must read for any adult looking for a real story. It is far and away one of the most significant reading experiences I’ve ever had.”
This is one of the most moving reviews of my work that I’ve ever read. Honestly, it nearly made me cry.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
SJ: 1. If I loved a previous book by the author. 2. If I downloaded a sample and I loved it. 3. If the reviews were stellar. 4. If someone recommended it to me. 5. If I met the author on social media & he/she was fabulous; the flip side of this, too (& yes, it’s happened) that I won’t read any of their work, ever, if they were on social media being obnoxious or bombarding me with BUY MY BOOK messages.
Q: Thank you, Shelli, for sharing your publishing experiences with us. We wish you continued success, and hope you'll come back and share updates with us in the summer.
SJ: Thanks again for having me Ashley. It’s lovely to be a part of your blog.
*****
Purchase Links
AMAZON: Small as a Mustard Seed
NOOK: Small as a Mustard Seed
Author Shelli JohnsonBio: Shelli Johnson has been writing for as long as she can remember. After receiving an undergraduate degree in journalism, she worked as a sports journalist at a major metropolitan newspaper (winning several awards for her reporting) then as a freelance editor for many years before finally following her passion and pursuing her MFA in fiction writing. Her award-winning novel, Small as a Mustard Seed, is available now as an ebook.
WEBSITE: www.shellijohnson.com
BLOG: www.shellijohnson.com/blog
FACEBOOK: Shelli Johnson
TWITTER: Shelli_Johnson
GOODREADS: Shelli Johnson
GOOGLE+: Shelli Johnson
BOOK BLOGS: Shelli Johnson
Q: Welcome, Shelli! Thanks for being here today. What is your genre? Why did you choose it?
SJ: Hi, Ashley! Thanks so much for having me on your blog. I write primarily literary fiction. It also tends to be historical in nature. To be honest, I think it more chose me. That’s the kind of books I lean toward reading and so that’s what I ended up writing.
Q: How many books have you published? Are they traditionally published, indie-published, or a combination?
SJ: One book published. Another scheduled for publication soon. Small as a Mustard Seed, my first novel, was indie-published. I have my own small press so most likely I will be publishing my future work through that small press.
Q: You have a Bachelor's degree in journalism and a Master's degree in fiction writing. Has this specialized education had any impact on the manner in which you research, design, and write a novel?
SJ: The journalism degree has helped tremendously in teaching me how to interview people. I’m also not shy about asking people for what I need because of my professional training. Journalism taught me, too, how to research: where to look, who to ask, how to fact check, that kind of thing. I also learned graphic design in college: spatial relationships, typography, and how to use the software to do it so I was able to create my own website and book cover.
The fiction writing training helped me slow down. Being a journalist on deadline means that you write fast and maybe miss certain less-important details because you’re trying to get to the main point. You don’t necessarily get to know people. You interview them, sure, and hear what they have to say, but that doesn’t mean you know why they do what they do, what makes them tick. There’s usually not that kind of time. What makes fiction real for the reader are the little details. Grad school taught me to slow down, to see everything that was happening in a scene, to delve deeper into the characters and understand their motivations. It also taught me to follow a story to its absolute end, however messy that may end up getting.
Q: Do you sell copies of your novels, or other works, directly from your website?
SJ: No. Some things I felt would be better handled by a third party & the actual distribution of my novel is one of those things.
Q: How much time do you spend on Twitter each week? Do you have a Facebook Author Page?
SJ: When I first joined Twitter, I wasn’t even sure I would like it. At first, I thought it was pointless; you know, what do I have to say in 140 characters or less? Nowadays, I probably spend a good 7 – 10 hours on Twitter every week. It’s a great place to meet other writers, to get some support when you need it, to just talk to people instead of being holed up by yourself all the time, to let people know about what you’re working on, and finally to learn new things that will help your own writing.
I do have a Facebook Author Page. I think it’s imperative that, at a minimum, authors have a website, are on Twitter, and have a Facebook Page. Somewhere I read that Facebook has something like 800 million users. That’s an enormous potential audience for your work. Times have changed & the first thing that people do when they want to know something about you is check out the web. I read a blog post a little while ago from a reader who loved a book & wanted to contact the author. When she found out the author didn’t have much of a web presence, she wasn’t as excited about that author anymore. Maybe that isn’t fair, but that seems to be the way things are now. Yes, it takes time to set things up so they look professional, but it’s absolutely worth your time to do it.
The Indie Book Collective does free social media training, which I haven’t tried out but it’s free so I thought I’d mention it. I took some paid online training at Lynda.com.
Q: I very much enjoyed your blog post "Stepping Out In Faith," about taking risks and following dreams. What would you say to writers who are staring at that new horizon, indie publishing, and thinking to themselves, maybe now is the time?
SJ: First, read J.A. Konrath’s blog, A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing. Second, have faith. If this is what you want to do, that you’d rather go indie than traditional or maybe the traditional way just isn’t working for you, then step out and do it. It involves risk, but so does leaving your house in the morning. It’s going to be a lot of work, but so does anything worthwhile. You’ll probably be out of your comfort zone a lot, which means you will grow and achieve things you never thought yourself capable of. Expect obstacles from the start and they won’t derail you when they finally show up. Be professional. Write quality work. Have it edited. Put your absolute best foot forward. And finally: Don’t give up. A lot of people expect instant success (meaning weeks or months) and when that doesn’t materialize, they give up. Sometimes, success takes a long time. Sometimes, it takes writing four books and countless hours of promotion and missing your kids/family and maybe it will take years. Keep your eyes on the prize. I’m going to say that again because it bears repeating, plus I need to hear it, too: Keep your eyes on the prize.
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite quote you turn to on tough writing days?
SJ: I have two little post-it notes tacked up on a cork board near my computer. One says, YOU ARE CAPABLE and the other says, YES YOU CAN. I have them because the voice in my head sometimes likes to say things like You’re out of your league and You’re in over your head. I keep those notes close as a reminder & then I keep on writing.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Henry van Dyke: “Use what talents you possess, the woods will be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” I like it because it’s a good reminder that I don’t have to be the best out of everybody, that I just have to write the best I can.
Q: Have you outsourced editing, cover design, formatting, web design, marketing, etc?
SJ: I am blessed to have some fabulous writer friends from grad school who also happen to be fantastically talented editors for my work. I trust them & respect their opinions; I listen to what they have to say & fix my writing accordingly. When you’re looking for an editor, make sure it’s a good fit. Make sure they know you and your work; make sure they won’t try to hijack your voice.
Fortunately, I have the skill-set to be able to do a lot of my own design/formatting/editing work. I haven’t outsourced much because I’m operating on a shoe-string budget. I’ve taken a lot of online classes & cruised through a lot of forums to learn how to do things, but it only cost my time or a nominal fee. I haven’t outsourced marketing yet because I’m standing back and observing for a time to see what works for other people and what doesn’t. I know a lot of people who have thrown a lot of money at trying to market their work to not have it be fruitful. So, at some point in the future, I may hire someone to help me do publicity/marketing, once I decide on what I feel will work well for my book.
Q: Do you work with a writing group?
SJ: Yes, but it’s not a regular thing. I read other people’s work and give feedback. They read mine when my books are fully completed. I’ve found that getting feedback while I’m in the middle of a book is just not helpful for me. I need to have a complete draft done before I can go back and start editing/rewriting it. I don’t like rewriting chapters before I know the whole story. When I belonged to a regular writing group, where we met weekly/monthly, I found that it was distracting and made it harder for me to work. So now I have a couple of friends whose work I read as needed and they do the same for me. And I mentioned before about Twitter, but really that’s a fantastic place to just talk/listen to other writers when you need help/support.
Q: When did you first decide to become an indie? How much time did it take to get from an idea to a book on Amazon?
SJ: I chose to be an independent author early on, mostly because I got a substantial grant to do it. The Weisman Fund (the grant liaison, after reading only the first three chapters, believed in my novel so much that she fought for me to be awarded one of the grants) gave me money to start my own small press. I wanted to learn how to do it, so that’s the choice I made. It takes me 3 – 4 years to write a novel & have it edited/rewritten to where I’m happy with it. Tack on another 3 months or so for cover design and graphic design work. Fortunately for me, I’m not in a rush.
Q: Have you published any of your work for free? Why or why not?
SJ: No. I haven’t done my novel for free and probably won’t because I believe it’s worth more than that. There’s the expectation now that content should be free, I know. I may in the future put up a short story or two for free, so people can get a taste of my writing. I’m just not a fan of giving work away. Yes, I know I’m in the minority & I’m also not a book-marketing expert, keep that in mind. Lots of people have done it to great success & some people have done it and not had much success at all. If you’d like to go that way, please do. I’m just not a fan of it.
I read a post by someone (sorry I just don’t remember who it was right now) and she talked at length about how free and cheap prices lowered the expectations of your readers (because it was so cheap, they would expect not to like it) as well as made your work look like it was on clearance. While I personally love clearance sales for most things, I don’t know how highly that speaks of your writing, what the perception is if you’re willing to give it away for free. And especially in my case because I write literary fiction for the most part, and the perception there is a more highbrow (sorry, but it’s true) kind of writing. Anyway, that’s my opinion.
I also just read a post by J.A. Konrath about the need to give some of your work away for free. I see his point, too, that there are so many books out there and you’re more likely to gain a following if you give people a taste for free. I wish I were a pricing expert but sadly, I’m not. Here’s my opinion of which I have no real data to back it up: I think free books are probably great if you have other titles you’re charging for; it gives people an idea if they’d like you or not and then they’ll go buy your other titles. I’m not sure how much it helps you if you only have one book out and it’s going to be a while (years) before your next book is ready.
Q: What tips or advice would you offer to writers who are about to join the indie or self-published communities?
SJ: Please, please, please, whatever you do, don’t go in hollering BUY MY BOOK!!! There’s nothing that turns me off faster to somebody than when they bombard me with tweets, links, DMs, emails about how to buy their books before they even get to know me. Hang out, add to the conversation, show your personality, build relationships, give your opinion, blog about things other than your book, and then start talking about your book.
Q: Is there another writer (or two) in the Twitterverse that you would recommend newbies follow?
SJ: @novelpublicity & @emlynchand Emlyn’s the owner of Novel Publicity, which has been the single best thing I’ve been involved with to get connected to other writers, get marketing and publicity advice, have a place to ask questions and get answers, and learn about what I need to do to position my book and myself for success.
@jakonrath. J.A. Konrath, I love this guy, truly. Never met him but I did live in Chicago & did hear him do a reading once. He’s also got a great blog with lots of advice about self-publishing and how to do it right. He’s got a lot of supportive things to say, also, that help you keep going when you’d rather throw in the towel. I’m not sure how much he tweets to be honest but if I were you, I’d sign up to follow his blog.
Q: What is coming up for you in the next few months?
SJ: I am finishing my third book (darn it, I am!). I’ve had a few hiccups lately with moving and some family issues so I’m happy to be writing consistently again. That’s all I’ll be doing the next few months.
Q: Do you have (or are planning to make) any audio books?
SJ: No plans at this point.
Q: Have you done a blog tour? Any advice or cautions?
SJ: I have not done a blog tour. From everything I’ve heard from others who’ve done them, it’s a ton of time-consuming work so be prepared for that. I’ve also heard from some people who’ve done it that you need to make sure the bloggers you use: 1. have a large audience of readers & 2. that audience would have an interest in your genre of book. Sorry but I can’t give you any advice other than that.
Q: Do you create an outline before beginning a new book?
SJ: No. Outlines don't work for me. What I love most about writing is getting surprised by the story, having it veer off in a direction I never anticipated, never planned for, & so I'm just as shocked as a reader would be about what happened. Anyway, I find that outlining doesn't allow for that in my case. I know too much about what's going to happen, or worse, I don't let the story do what it wants because I'm trying to stick to the outline.
Q: Do you work on more than one manuscript at a time?
SJ: Usually not. I have a hard time keeping the characters straight if I’m working on two separate manuscripts.
Q: Do you use specialty software?
SJ: No. Just Microsoft Word. And if I’m having a hard time figuring out what I want to say then I go back to a notepad and a pen & write longhand.
Q: Tell us about some of the hurdles you've cleared on the path to becoming an author. Did you have any idea at the start what the process really entails?
SJ: I’ve been rejected more than 100 times. I kept sending my work out; I just simply stopped counting after 100. There have been years ~ yes, you’re reading that right, years with an s ~ I made a grand total of $0 (yes, zero) from my fiction writing (so, yes, I still have a day job). In total, I’ve spent thousands more on my writing than I’ve actually made. I juggle a lot ~ working, taking care of my family, cooking nearly all the meals, cleaning the house, paying the bills, writing novels, reading, blogging, keeping my social networking sites updated, parenting my kids ~ and sometimes it’s just exhausting. The traditional publishing route doesn’t seem open to me, so I changed my vision & am now an independent author.
I wanted to make my novel, Small as a Mustard Seed, available as an eBook & I had a shoe-string budget, which meant I had to do most everything myself. I broke it down into tiny do-able steps (do my website, start a blog, make a Facebook fan page, get a Twitter account & learn how to use it, do the cover, format the book, etc.) that I did one at a time. I, who knew nothing about HTML, CSS, jQuery, or any kind of web-design language, cruised through forums & learned & made a website myself (www.shellijohnson.com) that I think turned out pretty good. I took an online class and learned Facebook & Twitter (& am still learning). I learned about royalty-free vs. rights-managed images & licensing agreements for cover photos. I took another online class when the formatting of my novel into an eBook fell to pieces a week before the book was due. Really, I know I’m plugging them, but I can’t say enough good things about Lynda.com for online training (cheap & in-depth & easy to access) when you need to learn how to do something.
No, I didn’t know at the start everything that the process entailed. I still don’t to be honest. I keep learning new things everyday, which is a good thing.
Q: What is the best comment/compliment you have received about your work?
SJ: Tom Clementson from the Kindle Book Review recently posted this review: “This is a story that will run you through an emotional marathon at a sprinter’s pace. Rarely do you find a novel or a writer than can reach inside the reader to evoke such strong feelings but Shelli Johnson’s ‘Small as a Mustard Seed’ is that one in a million story . . . You will rarely find a story that can captivate your feelings and touch your soul like this one. I’ve not read its match in evoking so much emotional power and circumspection since Mitch Albom gave us ‘Tuesday’s With Morrie’. This is a must read for any adult looking for a real story. It is far and away one of the most significant reading experiences I’ve ever had.”
This is one of the most moving reviews of my work that I’ve ever read. Honestly, it nearly made me cry.
Q: Let's flip things around for a moment. As a reader, what factors do you consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a book?
SJ: 1. If I loved a previous book by the author. 2. If I downloaded a sample and I loved it. 3. If the reviews were stellar. 4. If someone recommended it to me. 5. If I met the author on social media & he/she was fabulous; the flip side of this, too (& yes, it’s happened) that I won’t read any of their work, ever, if they were on social media being obnoxious or bombarding me with BUY MY BOOK messages.
Q: Thank you, Shelli, for sharing your publishing experiences with us. We wish you continued success, and hope you'll come back and share updates with us in the summer.
SJ: Thanks again for having me Ashley. It’s lovely to be a part of your blog.
*****
Purchase Links
AMAZON: Small as a Mustard Seed
NOOK: Small as a Mustard Seed
KDP Select Redux
There seems to have been a flurry of internet activity during the past week regarding Amazon’s KDP Select program. Several notable events took place, and these may have stimulated the resurgence in debate. One, the December earnings-per-book number was published; and, two, happily, Amazon has increased their monetary contribution to the program.
On my blog, I posted some thoughts and questions about KDP Select, and I asked for help with understanding the pluses and minuses of this new Amazon program. I have received feedback, in various forms, from fellow writers sharing their perspectives on the value of KDP Select.
Thanks to their input, I am able to see KDP Select through a different lens.
An email arrived this morning from my good friend and colleague, Collette Scott, and it carefully detailed her approach to enrolling in the KDP Select program, and her thoughts on how the experience is going, overall.
After I read it, I immediately asked Collette if I could post her honest, informative letter on my blog. She graciously agreed. I would like to point out that Collette is sharing her sales numbers and data in order to provide concrete measurements and relatable values for those of us not in the KDP Select program.
Here is her exact language: "Sharing is caring, and I'm all about sharing what has worked for me! We're all in this together, and my biggest triumph would be seeing others find success."
One last thing: Collette is an engaging and friendly author, and, after reading her letter, you may ask yourself, is she really as nice as that?
Yes.
If you find the information she shares in her letter to be helpful—a private letter that she is letting me post here, publicly—then I hope you’ll take a moment to reach out to her and let her know.
Here are some of the places you will find Collette: website, blog, Twitter, Facebook Page, Facebook Group, Nook page, and Amazon page.
And now, ‘KDP Select Redux.’
On my blog, I posted some thoughts and questions about KDP Select, and I asked for help with understanding the pluses and minuses of this new Amazon program. I have received feedback, in various forms, from fellow writers sharing their perspectives on the value of KDP Select.
Thanks to their input, I am able to see KDP Select through a different lens.
An email arrived this morning from my good friend and colleague, Collette Scott, and it carefully detailed her approach to enrolling in the KDP Select program, and her thoughts on how the experience is going, overall.
After I read it, I immediately asked Collette if I could post her honest, informative letter on my blog. She graciously agreed. I would like to point out that Collette is sharing her sales numbers and data in order to provide concrete measurements and relatable values for those of us not in the KDP Select program.
Here is her exact language: "Sharing is caring, and I'm all about sharing what has worked for me! We're all in this together, and my biggest triumph would be seeing others find success."
One last thing: Collette is an engaging and friendly author, and, after reading her letter, you may ask yourself, is she really as nice as that?
Yes.
If you find the information she shares in her letter to be helpful—a private letter that she is letting me post here, publicly—then I hope you’ll take a moment to reach out to her and let her know.
Here are some of the places you will find Collette: website, blog, Twitter, Facebook Page, Facebook Group, Nook page, and Amazon page.
And now, ‘KDP Select Redux.’
Hi there and good morning!
I read your blog post, was going to leave a comment, and then realized that my comment would be way too long. LOL I thought I'd email you instead to share my experience with KDP Select.
Okay. I enrolled If We Dare to Dream after hearing about one author's experience. She had over 7,000 copies downloaded on a free day. While I freely admit I was dead set against it, I talked about it with my family and we decided why not try it with one title. So, I did. I pulled the new book off of Smashwords. It was still new, didn't have reviews with Barnes and Noble or Smashwords yet *with the exception of Linda, who's probably my biggest fan*
Well, during my first free day, I had over 2,000 downloads. I initially did two days, and I noticed that was a waste. Spread them out if you do it. However, with that being said, I ended up finishing December with over 3,000 downloaded. Now I'm not a fan of giving away all my hard work, but Ashley, I reached more readers in the three free days that I did in December than I have in the year of working 15 hour days writing, editing, and then marketing the darned books. I also managed to get four 5* reviews - from readers! Not friends, bloggers, authors, etc. These were from readers who enjoyed the book enough to write me reviews. To me, that's a success. Also, it had helped with my other titles. Readers that have made their way through are coming back and reading my other two. That's loyalty! Also a great sign.
January slowed down a bit for all of my titles, but I did another free day and had almost another 1,000 downloaded. I've been in the bestseller lists in both the UK and USA under paid - not free - paid! The way I see it is that it's free advertising. I've found that the "average" reader doesn't scour the blogs or Twitter to find an author. They browse Amazon. How will they find you if you're book is so low in the rankings that you don't make any lists? I don't have a budget to spend because I do make so little with the writing, but Amazon has helped me reach so many people that I can't say it's been a failure.
The downside: Okay, I know that there are a bunch of readers who just go through and download the books. Will they read mine? I don't know. But again, even if 10% read it and like it enough to buy my other titles, I'm on my way to gaining a loyal group. Over time maybe that will grow enough for me to earn a steady monthly income. Maybe not millions, but I don't really care about that. I'd love to just be able to make enough to keep me afloat.
The lending: I had priced all of my books for .99 during December and had a ton downloaded (again, from the exposure of the free book). I hated doing that since I only earn .34/book. But Amazon sent an email saying that those that were lent would be earning 1.70 for each borrow. That's more than the book was priced for the month, so I'm not complaining. The way they figure the price to pay is via the amount borrowed, not enrolled. So if you have no borrows, you don't get paid.
Will I re-enroll after the 90 days? Probably not. I do have some Nook readers waiting for If We Dare to Dream, so I want to give them the opportunity to pick it up. However, once my 90 days with IWDTD is up, I may enroll book two. I'll keep you posted.
Is KDP for everyone? No! If you're doing okay and selling fine without needing the exposure, don't do it. Don't limit yourself. I'm not established enough yet to be a familiar name, so for me it's worth it.
Is everyone a bestseller? No. I have seen some authors have free downloads of 20k and others with only 200 for their free day. It depends on the book, genre, reviews, etc.
Have I remained a bestseller? Yes and no. I'm still doing well in England, but it varies. I'm not seeing 60 purchases a day like some other authors, so I fall off the lists and then get back on. I don't know how
I've seen a ton of criticism from other authors who feel that giving away your book is hurtful for everyone, but personally I don't see it that way. If you hook in a reader, they will come back and buy your books. Giving them away is like an incentive to buy if your writing is strong and you tell a good story. As I said, I have three titles, two of which are not free, and they're selling too. Not bestsellers, but still higher than they were before.
You have to have a good, well-written story to succeed in hooking them. Hopefully the ones who have my book will like my new ones... time will tell.
I do hope this helps explain it a little. Yes, it's frightening, but it's also a great way to get your name out there if you need it. A small price to pay, in my opinion! Just some food for thought for you. Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll try to help. I'm not a pro by any means, but it has helped me a lot.
Hugs,
Collette
Kreativ Blogger Award
Melissa Foster is a touchstone for the indie publishing community.
- Her novels top the charts
- Megan's Way is currently being adapted into a movie
- Her Women’s Literary Café (@WomensLitCafe and #WLC) site is a respected and ever-growing launch pad for new writers and recently published authors, and is rapidly growing off-shoots into specialty areas
- The list of awards she has won, and the articles, mentions, and guest posts she has created or been featured in, is miles long.
- She is a primary architect, both skilled and innovative, in the design of this emerging industry.
But the best part? It's not listed above.
It’s this: Melissa Foster is the real deal. Every day, she is out here, in the trenches, sleeves rolled up, cheerful and energetic, as she engages, supports, and creates. She is out in front, navigating the unknown, clearing a path, and setting up sign posts to ensure that all members of the self-published and indie published community have a clear opportunity to walk that same path.
She is not just opening doors, she is installing them.
When I found out Melissa had included me on her nomination list for the Kreativ Blogger Awards, I was…electrified.
I have come to know several of the nominees over the past year, and all are intelligent, community-centric gamer-changers. Melissa's lovely comments about each person can be read in full here.
Stacy Eaton
Nicole Humphrey Cook
Daisy Hickman
Laurie Carlson
Christine Cunningham
Micheal Rivers
Maria Snell
Accepting this nomination, so kindly extended to me by Melissa, requires two parts. The first is to list ten things readers might not know about me. For a point of reference, Melissa has thirteen items on her list—I’m grinning over that—and my favorite of all of them, far and away, is number eleven.
Here are ten things you many not know about me:
1. I think Ray Charles sings the most beautiful rendition of America the Beautiful that I’ve ever heard.
2. I come from a long line of serious Gin Rummy players.
3. I performed once at the Kennedy Center.
4. I’ve been to 32 of our 50 United States…so far.
5. I am passionate about golf carts.
6. I can cook anything except bacon. Burnt in the middle. Raw on the ends. Gross.
7. My brother taught me how to play Ladder Golf. His mistake.
8. I drink tea every day.
9. My hair is big. HUGE. My sincerest thanks to whomever it was that invented the hair dryer.
10. When I sing, I sound nothing like Adele. Unfortunately.
And now for the best part of the Kreativ Blogger Award, passing it on. This is accomplished by nominating six new people, and by offering insight into each choice. And how was it, narrowing this vibrant, welcoming, self-publishing and indie publishing community down to six nominations? Hard.
In the end, I picked people who, like their work, reach into my spirit.
These are special people, each unique in his or her own way. If you haven’t already met them, I hope you’ll take a moment to introduce yourself, here or on their blogs, Twitter, or Facebook pages, and that you’ll come to know them through their novels, short stories, and poetry, too.
Chicki Brown, I know how much you have to teach—I’ve read your books. New members of the self-publishing community would be wise to observe your marketing methods, to learn from your choices and innovations, and to emulate you. I wish the Internet had a place for afternoon tea, one where we could sit down together at a beautifully dressed table, sip from flowery porcelain cups, and nibble on sandwiches that look more like art than they do food. There, in that place—in this, my wish—you could talk and I could listen to, learn from, and enjoy your wisdom. You are a pillar in this emerging industry, and I am honored by your friendship.
Kellianne Sweeney, you are a relentlessly positive force for your fellow self-published and indie published writers. You are also positively relentless in your determination to keep your eye on the goal, to do things the right way, and to be gracious each and every day. Watching the manner in which you interact with your colleagues and fans, it is obvious that you enjoy your life, and that you are filled with positive energy and positive thoughts. Your innovation, #TeaserTrain, is a major gift of opportunity to emerging writers in this community. Thanks for letting me become a part of it.
R.S. Guthrie, there is nothing more appealing than a tough guy—the good kind, the best kind—with a tender heart. Your actions speak to honor, just as your writing speaks to the struggle between good and evil that surrounds us, and that, sometimes, is in us. Right alongside your mystery, thriller and horror novels, perhaps even sitting hand-in-hand with them, are the sweetest and gentlest stories of a father’s love. I wish you chart-topping success. More, so much more, I wish you joy.
M.J. Kane, you are one of the most excited—and exciting—almost-published authors in the Twitterverse! When I am reading your blog posts, I feel as though I’m front row in the stands, going wild, as you take that last corner, as you fly toward that finish line giving it everything you’ve got. Sometimes, you get moving so fast that I think I need a seat-belt just to watch you in action! It’s awesome. Why? Despite the pace and the intensity, you are confident, sure-footed, focused on your objective to become a successful, multi-published author. Congratulations, friend—you’re well on your way!
Carl Purdon, you are the colleague and friend that every author—new or legendary—hopes will be present at every event and memorable moment in his or her career. When the little achievements happen, the ones that become bricks in the foundation of a writer’s success, you are always there, mortar in hand, saying, “That is a mighty fine brick.” You are supportive and engaging as you move through this online world with funny tweets and deep poetry. There is a calm sensibility that surrounds you, and a wit that is not so much dry as it is poignant. When I read your work, especially your poetry, I think to myself, Mark Twain would have found a kindred spirit in you.
Deborah Batterman, you make me smile. You have a worldliness about you, an evolved perspective that shines through everything you write—published works, blog posts, guest posts, tweets, even Facebook comments. Beautiful words come naturally to you, flow from your mind and fingers, filling blank spaces with images that lure the imagination and fill new writers with hope. You have an ability to find just the right words, at just the right time; an ability to set the pace, the tone, with the gentle, guiding hand of a woman, a mother, an artist, who understands the value—and magic—of discovering one’s creative self.
