E. Rachael Hardcastle's Blog, page 8

How To Organise An Indie Book Signing

To some, being successful means selling tons of paperbacks, signing them and seeing someone reading them on public transport. To others, just having someone purchase a paperback book is enough. But to get those books in the hands of your readers, here are some free and easy steps to arrange a book signing of your own.Find A VenueYou've written and published your novel and you're looking for somewhere to set up and sell them. Most large book shops or chain stores won't take a chance on an indie author, but local bookshops and libraries might. your Some libraries aren't doing great at the moment, and it's probably because of ebook sales and online retailers or a lack of funding. My local library is run entirely by volunteers on money they raise via book sales, donations etc, so you can imagine how hard they work. Think about local library. Are you guilty of neglecting it? You're an author, so it's important to build a relationship with like-minded people and library staff are, of course, on that list. But you're probably asking yourself why all this matters...This event is not just about you and your books. It should be about the venue and those hosting you. How can you make this event matter as much to them as it does you? What can YOU do for THEM? How can you help them to raise funds and draw people in?Fundraising - when you set up your book signing, have a 'donations' pot, or donate a percentage of your royalties that day to the library. If you're selling merchandise, for every $1 you make, donate 20c and advertise this to encourage your readers to help. More sales for you. More donations for the library. If your venue is an independent bookshop, they will likely take 30-40% of the royalties for each book.Advertising - advertise months in advance. Set up blog tours and inform local media. Tell them what you're doing to help the library and why local media coverage will help. The more people who turn up and the more media coverage, the better the above fundraising idea will work. If your venue is an independent bookshop, set up an event on social media and connect to their platform/s to attract their frequent customers.Donating - donate a signed paperback to the library or give them a few to sell on as and when they deem fit. Those funds can be used to support the library. If your venue is a bookshop, gift a copy to the owner. You should leave a supply of books with them to sell following the event. Be sure to agree on the arrangements and their royalty cut beforehand.Participating - can you offer your spare time for future events to help the volunteers at the library and ease the pressure? Alternatively, can you attend their other events as a guest to show your support? If your venue is a bookshop, be sure to visit and buy from them frequently.Event ProposalYou need to write up an event proposal to explain what you want to do, how much it will cost and the benefits for both sides. The benefits to the venue should outweigh the benefits to you, and you need to be as approachable and present as possible. Provide contact details, but if you can, arrange this in person rather than by email. Look presentable, take your books, and provide a copy of the proposal for them to keep and look over. Remember, they may not be able to decide immediately so make a memorable, positive first impression. What should you write in an event proposal. A professional header with your name and contact details.The date and timeof the proposed event and how long you will need to use the venue for.How much the event will costthe venue (hopefully nothing).What actually is the event- what's going to happen and why?Why their venue?Benefits to the venue.Benefits to the author.How will you market it? Will you notify local media, will there be any special guests etc?A thank youand a reminder of your contact details.Sign it and hand deliver it, or post it if you don't live locally and follow it up with a phone call or email.What should it look like?Use segments or headers, black size 12 Times New Roman font with aligned edges. If you need to use fancy text for your header, be sure it reads clearly.Watch the videoI talk about writing event proposals in my free 30 minute book marketing webinar, which you can access via this link or on YouTube. If you enjoy this content, please give it a thumbs up and consider subscribing to my channel.AdvertiseYou need to attract people to the event. You can use other local events to advertise your book signing, for example near-by literature festivals, carnivals, markets etc and if you're writing a suitable genre, be sure to tell them it's family-friendly.Set up a Facebook event and invite your friends - get them to share it.Advertise on social media platforms with a digital leaflet and use # (hashtags) to expand your reach. Here is my digital leaflet.Approach bloggers in your area and ask if they would be interested in a guest post around that time.Word of mouthPrint leaflets and ask if local businesses will put them on noticeboards.Provide the venue with marketing matierial such as leaflets, posters, bookmarks etc.Have freebies or giveaways handy. Notify/ invite local public figures or celebrities via social media.Write to a newspaper.Write to a magazine.Inform local travel and event websites or companies who can inform their followers of ideal 'days out' in their local area.Put it on your website. You can use a countdown clock and Google Maps to make this more attractive.Talk about it on a podcast, vlog, blog or in an interview.Add a second venue to increase interest and hype.Check in and chase a responseDon't be afraid to check in with your venue to update them with who will be attending and of any media coverage. You can ask them to let you know of ideas they may have, but may not be able to action. Be friendly and accommodating, but be professional. If you don't get a reply, send a polite reminder or pick up the phone. It is always better to attend in person, however. TemplateDear (VENUE)I would just like to check you received my email/ letter about the event I am hoping to host on (date/ time). I have re-attached the details for your convenience and would be pleased to speak to you in person or over the phone at a suitable time. I can be contacted on (telephone number). Thank you again and I look forward to hearing from you.Regards,(Your Name)Still struggling?If you'd like help writing your own event proposal, please contact me to book your one hour coaching session today or click this link for more information. You can also find lots of free, helpful resources online.As always if you need advice or clarification in relation to this content, please feel welcome to get in touch with me. - Read my #1 Amazon US Bestseller FREE on your device today at www.books2read.com/findingpandora -

How To Write A Mission Statement

What is a mission statement?Your mission statement is an opportunity to outline who you are, what your goals are, your morals, values, ethics, culture, and what you have to offer. Imagine you're introducing yourself at a public speaking event or someone at a book fair asks about your publishing company. What are you going to tell them? How are you going to squash all the important bits into a short, snappy introduction?Why do I need a mission statement?A mission statement tells the reader who you are, what you do and why you do it. It's a fantastic way to make a first impression on your website, blog or on any printed documentation you're sending out. To write my mission statement, I used Google to search for 'how to write a mission statement' and was overwhelmed with the results.How should I structure my mission statement?I used the below segments as inspiration to write my mission statement, then reformatted and edited to make it relevant to my business. Here's how I structured the topics:Who am I?What do I do?Why do I do it?What do I believe in?What are the benefits to others?What problems do I solve?What do I want for the future?When you're writing your mission statement, be honest but be professional. You need to show people who you are beneath the exterior 'writer' label. What makes you special and by following you, what will that person gain? ExampleHi, I'm Rachael, a high fantasy and post-apocalyptic fiction author from West Yorkshire, UK. A short, snappy, opening sentence to introduce myself. Who am I? What do I do? Where am I from?I'm a dreamer, a deep thinker, a bookworm and grammar nerd. I write poetry between imaginative high fantasy, post-apocalyptic and science fiction novels.An expansion of the description to give a bit of personal information. When they read this introduction, what will they have in common with you? You need the reader to feel they can trust you and your service/s. I believe that through writing we face our darkest fears, explore infinite new worlds and realise our true purpose. I write to entertain and share important morals and values with the world, but above all, I write to be a significant part of something incredible.Why do I write and what do I believe in? I had to be really honest with myself and the reader here. I had to sit and effectively analyse my books and who I am to figure out why I do what I do. I now better understand my audience.All my fantasy and post-apocalyptic books face our planet's struggles because I believe that together we can build a stronger future for the human race.This is something I discovered when writing the above. I added this line as an extension.I support independent publishing so all my stories are written, edited, formatted and published by me, offering a low-cost, epic adventure and a memorable escape from reality for my readers.What are the benefits to others? What problems do I solve? Here I tell my readers that I support indie publishers and do everything myself. This is hopefully to inspire and encourage them to give it a go too, but also to let them know I'm an ideal person to contact if they have questions in the future. By 'solving problems', this means what do I offer them that others may not? I like to keep my prices low, and I want the reader to feel they have been on an adventure when they read my books. Visit my 'Books' page for more information. A call to action/ invite to look elsewhere on the website.TemplateMy name is (NAME) and I'm a (GENRE) writer from (COUNTRY). I believe that (BELIEF/S) because (REASON). My books are (DESC) which you can find by visiting (LINK). I support (WHAT?), because (REASON)/ so I (ACTION).Watch the videoI talk about mission statements in my free 30 minute book marketing webinar, which you can find by clicking this link or visiting my YouTube channel. If you enjoy this content, please consider subscribing to my channel and giving the video a thumbs up.Still struggling?If you'd like help writing your own mission statement, please contact me to book your one hour coaching session today or click this link for more information. You can also find lots of free, helpful resources online.As always if you need advice or clarification in relation to this content, please feel welcome to get in touch with me. - Read my #1 Amazon US Bestseller FREE on your device today at www.books2read.com/findingpandora -

How To Write A Press Release

What is a press release?A press release gives information on a particular matter and is written as a statement, then issued to newspapers (and/or other media).What should be included in a press release?There are several sections in a press release, and the basics are:- your contact details at the top- the heading and subheading beneath that (centred)- location and date of press release in capitals- the body of the press release- any links you wish to add (these can be throughout the body)- a call to actionWhat should it look like?Here is an example of a press release I circulated in relation to a book signing (July 2017). I have colour coded the sections (as above) so you can see how I've formatted the press release, what it said, and the length. Please feel welcome to follow this format. Example:CONTACT DETAILS GO HEREBOOK SIGNING EVENT WITH AUTHOR E. RACHAEL HARDCASTLEDate - July 1st 2017Time - 1100-1430 hoursLocation - Wrose Library, Wrose, Shipley (UK)BRADFORD, UK - JULY 1ST 2017 - In November 2016, local Bradford author E. Rachael Hardcastle visited Low Ash Primary School in Wrose, Shipley to deliver a creative writing workshop to their Year 6 pupils. At no charge to the school, E. Rachael Hardcastle ran several hours of idea-generating activities tailored to their topic of study, which resulted in the children writing short stories of their own.Later that month having received and compiled the children's finished work, two independently published books titled 'Children of War' were published and delivered for the school's library, creating over 50 young authors in less than eight weeks.At the end of January 2017, E. Rachael Hardcastle returned to the school with further copies of 'Children Of War' for the children to take home. It wasn't long before their story was picked up by a local television station, Made In Leeds, who interviewed E. Rachael Hardcastle and the children on The Lowdown Leeds show in February 2017.To meet her local readers and aspiring writers, E. Rachael Hardcastle contacted Wrose Library, Wrose, Shipley to arrange a book signing event. She hopes to encourage the community to visit the library more often and to meet the hard-working volunteers there.The event will take place on July 1st 2017 between 1100-1430 hours to celebrate both Wrose Carnival and Bradford Literary Festival. E. Rachael Hardcastle will be taking along copies of her brand new high fantasy release 'Finding Pandora' and her post-apocalyptic novel 'Aeon Infinitum: Run For Your Life' to personalise and sign for her guests.Entry to this events will be free of charge. For more information about E. Rachael Hardcastle, her books and her workshops, please visit www.erachaelhardcastle.com.Social Media:www.facebook.com/ERHInspiredwww.twitt... the video?Press releases are covered in my 30 minute free marketing webinar, available at this link or on YouTube. If you enjoy this content, please consider subscribing to my channel and giving the video a thumbs up! Still struggling?If you'd like help writing your own press release/s, please contact me to book your one hour coaching session today or click this linkfor more information. You can also find lots of free, helpful resources online.As always if you need advice or clarification in relation to this content, please feel welcome to get in touch with me. - Read my #1 Amazon US Bestseller FREE on your device today at www.books2read.com/findingpandora -

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to all my loyal readers and followers around the world. It's been a while since my last update; I've had tons going on leading up to and following the release of my brand new visionary novella, Noah Finn & the Art of Suicide (Dec 2nd), which - exciting news - is on sale until January 1st 2018... but we'll get to that.First of all, some well-deserved thank yous are in order to some amazing people who have supported me this year. To my family and friends, as always, for encouraging me to keep writing and for helping out at events (and keeping me organised and as relaxed as possible!). To the radio and television stations and their hosts for kindly interviewing me, supporting this year's releases and helping to spread the word and of course to the local media and everyone else who wrote about/ shared and promoted my work. To the Lord Mayor of Bradford and his staff for taking time out of his very busy schedule to visit me on Dec 17th, the schools who invited me to work with their talented children and to everyone who hosted and attended one of my signings. Finally, to all the independent retailers who have stocked my books this year, the independent authors I've interviewed and my lovely readers.You have all helped to make my writing dreams a reality, and I hope we can continue to work together and support one another in 2018. And as an additional thank you, I've been lowering the prices of my author services and books over the past few days. There's up to 75% off my services (including my marketing workbook, consultation & coaching sessions, interior formatting and more), and money off both signed copies of Noah Finn & Pandora. Plus, you can also save £1 on USB wristbands. Signed Books & Merchandise: http://www.erachaelhardcastle.com/merchandiseAuthor Services: http://www.erachaelhardcastle.com/servicesI'll be sending out my Nov-Dec newsletter, so if you're not already on my mailing list or a member of my fan club, you can join by clicking 'contact' and the link beneath the form.I'd like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year from my family to yours.

The Author Interviews: Ant Richards

About Ant:I was born at St. Mary Abbots Hospital in Kensington, London, however spent the formative part of my life in Caracas, Venezuela. For some reason unknown to the general public the hospital no longer exists. After finishing High School and clueless as to what I wished to become professionally, I eventually heard the calling and trained as a recording engineer, working in leading dubbing and voiceover studios in my adopted hometown. In the mid nineties, and looking to widen my horizons, I returned to my native London where I ended up working in the Travel Industry. Despite it no longer being the glamorous career it was portrayed to be, I was still able to indulge in my other passion, which is travelling. Unable yet to become a millionaire and live the debonair lifestyle I craved, the dormant writing talent in me began to flourish. Or so I believed. At first, I thought it could be a rash.​ For better or for worse, I began a new side career as an accomplished travel writer, reviewing destinations, accommodation, flights and other unrelated nonsense. ​It was only a matter of time before I seriously considered writing my first novel. After many failed attempts, years of solitary confinement (in pubs, cafes, airport lounges, hotel rooms... and more bars) IN YOUR DREAMS came to life, and terrorised the literary world, again with a with a varying degree of success - within my neighbourhood and local pub in Lee. ​I currently live in South East London with my family. I support Liverpool; therefore, I am definitely a hopeless dreamer.Ant writes short stories and fiction. His latest release is DAMNED IF I DON’T (Short thrills).Website: https://www.antrichards.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AntRichardsAuthor/?ref=hlTwitter: antrichards2014What made you want to become a writer?I have always been drawn to all things creative, be it music, literature, design and I have a nomadic spirit so to say. I love travelling, discovering new places, meeting new people, talking, socialising. My love for music drew me to the technical side of it, hence my becoming a recording engineer. Unfortunately, I was never disciplined enough to follow the musical path, so I think writing was the natural progression for me.What are your thoughts on the indie vs traditional publishing argument?Indie publishing gives you more control of your work – not to mention the royalties – and you are basically, your own boss. That has its pros & cons, of course. You have to become pretty much a one-man-band. Traditional publishing, provided you are lucky enough to get the break and join a decent Publishing Company, obviously gives you the support, both financial and logistical, but only a few chosen, lucky ones get that break.Indie on the other hand has helped the likes of people like me for example to reach a wider audience. It is however, up to me, to make it work in my favour. That said, it’s also fertile ground for vanity writing and sometimes the content quality is not all that good.Tell us about your latest novel.DAMNED IF I DON’T. This is a collection of short stories, seven of them, which explore human’s fickle and sometimes indecisive nature. The ‘what ifs’, ‘should I’, ‘maybe if...’ that we fall into during the course of our lives. There are different genres in it – romance, humour (very dark, by the way), a bit of crime, and soul-searching. It’s the choice between opportunity and regret, playing it safe or going on a wing and a prayer.Please give us your top 3 marketing tips.I’m still learning the trade, but if I had to choose it would be:Engage with your readers.Write, write, and keep on writing.Talk about what you’re doing. Even if you have to throw in the odd bull*** occasionally, keep the engine running, so to say.Please give us your top 3 productivity tips.Be selfish – when you need to write, put yourself first, second and third.Set deadlines – make yourself panic if you don’t meet it.Stay clear of the internet.Tell us about your typical writing day.That’s a good one... I can’t say I have a typical writing day as they tend to be random for me. But if I had one it’d be usually, when I am away from family and friends – holidays, sneaking out to my local pub or café. No internet. Phone in my ruckie (only call me if you’re dying, or discover I am about to die).What is your definition of success? Would you say you are a successful author?Regardless of financial gains (which why not, we all want that in the end), it’s recognition for the right or wrong reasons through my craft. I’d rather a reader hate me for the way I ended a story or twisted a plot than a lukewarm ‘yeah, it’s ok...’Am I successful? I’m probably not the right person to judge that quite yet.Share some of your writing goals with us. Have you met any of them yet?I published my first book three years ago and am in the process of publishing my second on 28 November. I would eventually like to make a living out of my writing – not necessarily be a best seller, but be able to pay my bills and secure my future through my writing.How do you deal with negative reviews and criticism?Depends. If it’s negative for the sake of it, just ignore it. If it’s constructive, take a deep breath and if it is well based, take it as a learning step.Do you have a favourite author for fiction and non-fiction? Why are they your favourite and which of their books would you recommend? Why?Right now I am into Rock n roll autobiographies (you know, me & my music) but I am a huge fan of Peter Robinson, Karin Slaughter, Charles Bukowski, Iain Rankin and Jeffrey Archer. Recommendation? From Peter Robinson, all the Inspector Banks series, of the others... I just can’t think of a favourite right now. Just read ‘em all!Where do you get your ideas/ how do you find inspiration?Personal experience sometimes. Listening to people. Travelling. My first book however, came from a dream I had (and some personal experiences I added as a cathartic way of dealing with them).Can you share any free resources or tools you have found helpful?Go out. See the world. Talk. Listen.Please give us your top 3 world-building tips.Read as much as you can. Broaden your interests. Get a hobby.Do you outsource your work (editing and cover design specifically)?I did with this book (editing, proofreading and cover design). Sometimes, we need different eyes, fresh point of views to avoid setting in our own bad habits.Are you a plotter or a pantser? Please tell us why and what your pre-writing processes are.Probably a plotter. I love building up a story, making the reader comfortable, gaining their trust, then... exacting the coup de grace.Why do you write?Because through my written word, I can get away with things I couldn’t in real life.What is your mission statement?Do what makes you happy without damaging others. Chase your dreams. Don’t take life too seriously; you ain’t getting out of it alive.What do you love the most about writing and why?It’s liberating, cathartic, and well, I just love telling stories.What do you dislike about writing and why?It can be lonely sometimes and requires a lot of discipline.Do you ever visit other authors' websites and if so, what do you look for? Why?Oh yes, I definitely do. I look for ways to improve my writing, I just want to learn from the best.In order of importance (most important first) when shopping online, what do you look at first? Cover design, formatting, reviews, description, price, publisher, author name, page count, preview, formats available.Description 1Cover designs 3Reviews 2Author name 4Preview 5Formatting 10Price 8Formats available 6Page count 7Publisher 9I agree that indie publishing gives the author more control. YesI agree that indie books should be difficult to identify amongst traditionally published books. NoIn order of usefulness (most useful first) when marketing your book, which techniques do you recommend from these options? Social media. Media coverage (newspaper, TV, podcasts etc). Blog tours. Perma-free/ giveaways. Writing more books.1. Social media2. Writing more books3. Blog tours4. Media coverage5. Perma-fee giveawaysWriting is my dream. YesI agree the ideal price for an e-book on Amazon is 99c-$2.99. NoI have suffered writer's block in the past. YesCause of writer's block: Usually distractions around me. Anxiety.How you resolved it: Go to the gym, take a walk, listen to music (if at home), get away from people for a while so I can brainstorm with myself.I use: Microsoft Word.I tried and failed to get a publishing deal and/ or literary agent or had one in the past. NoI outsource my editing. YesI outsource my cover design. YesI outsource my formatting. NoI write to a specific word count every day. NoI set goals and frequently review them. YesI write across genres. YesDAMNED IF I DON’T (Short thrills)“DAMNED IF I DORecovering unexpectedly after a long illness can be hard to accept. A painful decision made over a decade ago eventually has its consequences. A life-changing opportunity missed can lead to bitter disappointment. Settling old scores can mean having to make brave choices. Love sometimes requires brutal compromises. You never appreciate what you have, until it gets you arrested. Memory loss and a missing mobile phone, what can possibly go wrong?DAMNED IF I DON’TThese seven tales will take you on a tour of the human psyche, showing you both sides of that old adage. Buckle up and prepare for a bumpy ride as life, friendship, love, loyalty, passion, revenge, and fear meet at every twist and turn resulting in the difference between opportunity and regret.Where would you turn at that fork in the road? Do you follow your heart and make a deal with the devil, or play it safe and just take the high road?But hurry, you won’t always get a second chance...”From the author: I would like to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of those who have supported my writing career, either by buying my first book, by helping crowdfund my second one, and basically those of you who have believed in me, encouraged me to challenge myself further and never give up.I hope you enjoy reading DAMNED IF I DON’T as much as I enjoyed writing it.I also hope to continue entertaining you for many more years (and books) to come.

Lots Going On!

It's been a while since my last blog post, and for that I must apologise. There's so much going on!Noah Finn & the Art of Suicide UpdatesPublishing Noah Finn & the Art of Suicide has been both exciting and stressful, and I've hit a few bumps in the road to getting the paperback uploaded, ordered, and on my doorstep. But (touch wood), those issues are behind me and Noah is now ready to meet my readers. In fact, it's even available for pre-order at www.books2read.com/savenoahfinn on various platforms including Amazon, B&N and Kobo. Paperbacks, however, won't be available to order until its release date - Dec 2nd 2017.Merchandise will be available in December for the new novella, which will include pins, bookmarks and Noah's handkerchiefs from the story.You can also enter to win a signed first edition of the book on my website - scroll down to the bottom of my home page for a link.Four Stockists!Equally as exciting, Millers Book Exchange, Keighley are now stocking Aeon Infinitum: Run For Your Life, my post-apocalyptic adventure book and the first in a planned trilogy (see image below). And, as my fourth independent stockist, Dudley's Bookshop, Shipley Market Hall, Shipley are now stocking Finding Pandora: The Complete Collection. It's an amazing feeling to know my paperback books are now in store at four different locations!Millers Book Exchange, KeighleyWhitby Bookshop, WhitbyMillers Book Exchange, BradfordDudley's Bookshop, ShipleyMore Media!Alongside being featured in the Bradford Review earlier this year, the Telegraph and Argus newspaper also printed a short article, talking about my upcoming signings at both the Oastler Shopping Centre, Bradford and Keighley Market Hall, Bradford, to celebrate the release of Noah Finn & the Art of Suicide. On the social media side, I did my very first 30 min Facebook live event on Friday 10th, which was a lot of fun. I answered 11 FAQs during this time, joined by over 40 live viewers throughout the duration of the video. You can now watch this back on my YouTube channel, or below:That's about it for updates, and if you're already subscribed to my fan club you'll have received the majority of these in my monthly newsletter, so apologies for any duplication.I would like to take this opportunity also to thank everyone who BETA read or are currently ARC reviewing Noah Finn & the Art of Suicide.To read three advanced reviews/ public figure endorsements, please visit the home page of my website.Thanks!

The Author Interviews: M. K. Williams

I was lucky enough to chat with M.K. Williams, who is the author of two novels and one collection of short stories. An Indiana-born, Philadelphia-raised, Florida-transplant working and living beneath the sunny, and often rainy, skies of Tampa. Published works include Nailbiters, The Games You Cannot Win, and Enemies of Peace. Williams’ writing influences include a lifetime of watching suspenseful mysteries and action movies and reading Stephen King, Margaret Atwood, Ian McEwan and J.K. Rowling. She writes literary fiction and suspense.Website: https://nailbitersnovel.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1mkwilliams/Twitter: https://twitter.com/1mkwilliamsWhat made you want to become a writer? I had stories that I had been working on here or there for fun. I always liked putting stories together, but without any aim to publish them they took forever or they didn’t go very far. Once I decided to publish them, I was able to find the motivation to finish the stories and polish them. I love making the stories and giving the characters the answers that they need.What are your thoughts on the indie vs traditional publishing argument? I am very proud to be an indie author. I love the freedom that I have to create on my own timelines and the ability to reach a broad audience.Tell us about your latest novel. Enemies of Peace is a contemporary suspense novel that has strong hints of satire. I had a lot of fun writing this book and some of the over-the-top characters. Enemies of Peace literally starts with a bang: an explosion captured by two teenage girls of a house engulphed in flames. In the summer that lead up to the explosion, the Hydroline Corporation hired Timothy Lawson and his firm to represent them in a class-action lawsuit. While juggling his caseload, he and his wife Cynthia decide to buy their first house. It should have been the happiest summer of their lives. Nevertheless, their date with death was looming. Who could have possibly done it? Could it be the corporation that Timothy was defending, did he uncover one secret too many? Could it be the cousin that Cynthia has forbidden Timothy to talk with anymore? Could it be the other man who is in love with Cynthia, his jealous rage driving him to kill? Or, could it be the quiet neighbors next door, the unsuspecting extremists living in American suburban splendor?Please give us your top 3 marketing tips. 1. Hustle 2. Hustle harder 3. Hustle some more. I am always trying to think of new ways to get my books out to people and finding the courage to ask someone that I think is unattainable to read or review my books. I am constantly learning and growing through the process.Please give us your top 3 productivity tips. 1. Set a to-do list each day for your books. Even if it is to just re-read what you worked on the previous day, always do something. 2. Give yourself a quiet space to get things done in. If you can shut off your internet connection that is even better. 3. Do the work in short sprints. I know my attention will start to wander after 45 minutes, so I try to get as much done as I can before that happens.Share some of your writing goals with us. Have you met any of them yet? I’ve been putting out one book a year which has been great. I think my next book will take longer to do so I am giving myself a more generous timeline on that project, especially with the marketing for the three books that are out still taking up my time. I want to see if I could make the jump from a writer with a day-job to making this my full-time profession. That will be the next big goal to hit.Can you share any free resources or tools you have found helpful? Yes, I actually just discovered CoverVault.com and they have some great templates to use for getting cover art promotions out the door.Do you outsource your work (editing and cover design specifically)? Editing yes, I always outsource. For the cover design, I have worked with established graphic designers and I have done my own as well.What is your mission statement? I aim to write literature that will stand the test of time and that will keep my readers thinking about the characters long after they finish the last page.In order of importance (most important first) when shopping online, what do you look at first? Cover design, formatting, reviews, description, price, publisher, author name, page count, preview, formats available.1.Cover design2.Price3.Description4.Reviews5.Author Name6.Preview7.Formats Available8.Formatting9.Page Count10.PublisherI totally judge books by their covers. I know I’m not supposed to, but I still do it.I agree that indie publishing gives the author more control. Absolutely it gives me more control, although it does mean I am doing a lot of legwork. I feel that I have learned so much about the process now, that I wouldn’t want to hand over control to someone else.I agree that indie books should be difficult to identify amongst traditionally published books. Yes, I think that most readers wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between indie and traditionally published books if they were willing to give them a chance.In order of usefulness (most useful first) when marketing your book, which techniques do you recommend from these options? Social media. Media coverage (newspaper, TV, podcasts etc). Blog tours. Perma-free/ giveaways. Writing more books.1.Social Media2.Writing More Books3.Media Coverage4.Blog Tours5.Perma-free/giveawaysI have been following the model of writing a new book each year because I know readers will look to see that I am established. The more I can write, the easier the marketing will get.Writing is my dream. YesI agree the ideal price for an e-book on Amazon is 99c-$2.99. YesI have suffered writer's block in the past. YesCause of writer's block: Lack of enthusiasm for the story, lack of direction for the character.How you resolved it: Picked up another book idea that I had been working on.I use (Word Processor):Microsoft WordI tried and failed to get a publishing deal and/ or literary agent or had one in the past. I tried to get an agent and a deal for my first books that are still unpublished today. I found that the process was very cold, I even had one local author, who I had hoped would be able to provide some kind of encouragement, tell me that I was too young to have anything worth saying in a book. That experience was demoralizing and I let that negativity stop me from pursuing my dream for a few years. I’m so glad that I found the resources to self-publish.I outsource my editing. YesI outsource my cover design. I’ve done a bit of both.I outsource my formatting. NoI write to a specific word count every day. NoI set goals and frequently review them. I have the overarching goal of one book a year, but I try not to rush the story or myself.I write across genres. My first novel was a sci-fi thriller and my latest is contemporary fiction. I don’t think authors should be held to only one genre.If you hold a bestseller status, please tell us which book this relates to, in which categories, what kind of bestseller you are and how you achieved this. Sadly, I don’t have this status… yet.***Enemies of PeaceContemporary Fiction, SuspenseEnemies of Peace literally starts with a bang: an explosion captured by two teenage girls of a house engulphed in flames. In the summer that lead up to the explosion, the Hydroline Corporation hired Timothy Lawson and his firm to represent them in a class-action lawsuit. While juggling his caseload, he and his wife Cynthia decide to buy their first house. It should have been the happiest summer of their lives. Nevertheless, their date with death was looming.Who could have possibly done it? Could it be the corporation that Timothy was defending, did he uncover one secret too many? Could it be the cousin that Cynthia has forbidden Timothy to talk with anymore? Could it be the other man who is in love with Cynthia, his jealous rage driving him to kill? Or, could it be the quiet neighbors next door, the unsuspecting extremists living in American suburban splendor?EBook and Paperback - eBook is available for pre-order now. The book will be released on November 9, 2017 when you can purchase either format. If you have Kindle Unlimited you will be able to read for FREE through February 2018!Leave a comment or note of thanks for your readers?I would like to say...thank you for taking the time to read my work. I know you have an infinite number of options when it comes to reading and that you chose to spend time with my characters means so much!Would you like to download and review a free, #1 bestselling e-book, Finding Pandora: World at your leisure?If so, please feel welcome to download it FREE from any of these distributors.

The Author Interviews: Ian Nathaniel Cohen.

My next author interview is with Ian Nathaniel Cohen. Ian Nathaniel Cohen is a native of Miami, Florida, where he grew up immersing himself in swashbuckler literature and film. He graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2003 with a BA in Radio/Television Production and a Minor's Certificate in Applied Computer Science. He also received his MA in Asian Studies from Florida International University in 2006, where he teaches the course Asia Through Film as an adjunct lecturer, in addition to working in IT for the Government Publishing Office. In 2010, his essay "Heroes & Villains of the East", analyzing the evolving depiction of the Japanese in Chinese and Hong Kong martial arts cinema, was published in FIU's Japan Studies Journal. He also writes a guest blog, the INCspotlight, on the website Channel Awesome, reviewing classic films, comic books, and video games.Website: http://iannathanielcohen.weebly.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IanNathanielCohen/Twitter: https://twitter.com/INCspotlightWhat made you want to become a writer?Writing is one of many things I’ve had an interest in and enjoyed doing, and it's an interest that's been encouraged by family, friends, and teachers alike.  It’s a skill I’ve been able to market in various ways, from working as a writing tutor to authoring process documents and training materials – including (but not limited to) an online course and its content.  As for fiction writing, I'm always coming up with ideas for all sorts of written works, novels included, and the encouragement I’ve received over the years led me to just finally go ahead and try my hand at actually jotting stuff down. What are your thoughts on the indie vs traditional publishing argument?The traditional publishing model undoubtedly has its advantages, such as distribution and advertising.  However, publishers are unlikely to take a risk on a rookie author and/or a genre outside of whatever ones are currently trending - and honestly, I can’t say I blame them for that. That being said, indie publishing allows for more writers to get their work out there, paving the way for more diverse genres and new voices alike.  While such easy access makes it hard for some new authors to make themselves distinctive and stand out, it’s still an easier way to get one’s work out there and read, rather than being at the mercy of a literary agent or publisher. Tell us about your latest novel.My literary debut, THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLACK FLAG, takes place in 1721, when the newly-United Kingdom is threatened by pirates, Jacobite rebellions, and economic crisis. The protagonist, Michael McNamara, is having a rough time of it career-wise when we first meet him.  First he was wrongly discharged from the British Royal Navy after thirteen years as an officer. Now he’s lost his job as a fencing instructor, thanks to various factors beyond his control.  With no other prospects in England, he sets sail for the up-and-coming city of Kingston in search of a new start. Thanks to some lucky breaks, he makes the lovely Dona Catalina Moore and – much to McNamara’s disappointment – her fiancé, Captain Stephen Reynard.  Once the most feared pirate in the Caribbean and beyond, Reynard is now hunting pirates to earn a royal pardon and prove himself worthy of Catalina’s love. Eager for the adventure and the opportunities it could bring, McNamara joins Reynard’s crew and his quest for redemption.  His travels pit him against untrusting shipmates, bloodthirsty buccaneers, and an insidious conspiracy that threatens countless innocent lives…including Catalina’s.The Brotherhood of the Black Flag is basically a love letter to the classic literary and cinematic swashbucklers I grew up on as a kid, and it’s a story I’ve spent at least twelve years turning into a finished novel.Please give us your top 3 marketing tips.Know who you’re writing for.Be persistent without making a nuisance of yourself.You have to believe in your story, or you won’t be able to persuade anyone else to.Please give us your top 3 productivity tips.Even if you’re not actively writing, plan and brainstorm in your head when you get the chance to – work commutes, while exercising, that sort of thing.I’ve found that totally immersing myself in the genre or topic I’m working in – reading books, watching movies and TV shows, and playing video games – does a lot to get the wheels turning.Take your chances to write when you can, but balance those opportunities with other needs – work and family, for instance.Tell us about your typical writing day.I don’t really have what I’d call a typical writing day.  Between work and family responsibilities, I take my opportunities to write when I can, and the inspiration doesn’t always come – and even then, inspiration comes in short bursts, and I have to take advantage of opportunities to write when I can.What is your definition of success? Would you say you are a successful author?Completing a novel to the point of actually getting it completed and published is undoubtedly a mark of success for any author.  We can't control whether people buy or read our work, regardless of our marketing strategies, or whether we'll win any kinds of awards for our writing.  However, it's up to us whether we can follow through with the process of taking a hazy idea for a story and turning it into a finished book that someone else can actually read.  Any author who can do that, in my opinion, is a successful author.Share some of your writing goals with us. Have you met any of them yet?Getting THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLACK FLAG completed after at least twelve years, from kicking around an idea for a swashbuckling adventure story with lots of swordfights to having a finished book that people have actually purchased, was definitely one of them.  I have other books in the works, and with BLACK FLAG published, I'm now thinking that if I could do it once, I can do it again, hopefully in less time.Another writing goal I was able to meet was maintaining a weekly output for my blog, the INCspotlight, which is hosted on the website Channel Awesome.  After my first reviews were posted, I was determined to meet a weekly schedule for as long as I was able to.  And for the first 100 reviews, I was able to.  I think I only missed one week due to travel, but when I first started, two of my reviews were posted on the same day, so I guess things balanced out.  These days, due to additional time constraints, I try and post at least one review a month, and if I’m lucky, I can sometimes pull off two.How do you deal with negative reviews and criticism?As of the time I'm writing this, I've yet to receive any reviews for THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLACK FLAG, positive or negative, and that’s harder to take than any negative reviews.  I have to keep reminding myself that the book is still new and reviews take time. When negative criticism comes, as it inevitably will, I'd like to think I'll take it in stride and learn from mistakes I've undoubtedly made.  As for criticism from beta readers and editors, the point of that is to catch any issues I've overlooked and to make the final draft as close to perfect as I can. Do you have a favourite author for fiction and non-fiction? Why are they your favourite and which of their books would you recommend? Why?For fiction, my favorite author is Rafael Sabatini.  Not only does he write exciting swashbucking adventure novels, the kind that have inspired my own works, but I simply enjoy his lively banter and the sheer audacity of his protagonists, such as Captain Peter Blood or Andre-Louis Moreau, in terms of the risks they take and how they use their wits as well as their blades.  For these reasons, I would recommend Captain Blood and Scaramouche to any historical fiction fan (the latter is one of my favorite novels).  The 1935 film adaptation of Captain Blood is a delight to watch, and the 1950 adaptation of Scaramouche should be avoided like the plague.When it comes to nonfiction, I like historians who also understand how to be storytellers, such as David McCulloch and David Cordingly. McCulloch’s John Adams and anything Cordingly has written about pirates are on the top of my recommendation lists.Where do you get your ideas/ how do you find inspiration?Most of my stories are tributes in one way or another to favorite literary or movie genres.  I like to take different elements and try and find interesting ways to piece them together that I haven’t seen done before, or untapped potential in various works that I’ve come across.Can you share any free resources or tools you have found helpful?For researching, fandoms, re-enactment societies, and online communities are an invaluable resource if you’re looking for very specific information, or you want to identify the most useful sources if a lot of information is already out there.  The people who are members of such communities tend to be sticklers for accuracy, which is a boon to any author who cares about this sort of thing.Another one is internet critics, particularly the reviewers – past and present – of Channel Awesome and Chez Apocalypse.  Not only have I gotten a lot of enjoyment out of their work, but the hilarious way many of them highlight recurring writing issues in so many of their reviews – too much or not enough exposition, character inconsistencies, continuity errors – has really stuck in my mind.  (To the point where I can actually picture being shredded for them while self-editing.)  More importantly, they’ve also raised my awareness of certain tropes that I would rather not invoke, and I’m grateful to them for said awareness.Please give us your top 3 world-building tips.Strike a balance between giving a reader as much information as they need to picture the setting and set up the plot without killing the pacing of your story.Never underestimate the value of minor little details. Not only do said details give a sense of authenticity to the world you’re building, I’ve built entire character arcs and changed the entire premise of an in-progress book based on a stray sentence tucked away in a book I’m reading or a minor little detail a research resource wanted to make me aware of.Try and think of your world as a place that feels lived in, rather than just a backdrop for the action. What’s it actually like to live in this setting?How do people spend their days, and how does history and geography shape that?Do you outsource your work (editing and cover design specifically)?Editing and cover design, definitely. We all need another pair of eyes on our own work to catch the things we overlook.  Also, because of my lack of a systematic method of writing and tendency to make drastic changes, I need someone to make sure everything still fits together and there aren’t any inconsistencies.As for my cover, I wanted something that would look reminiscent of a movie poster from the 1930s and 1940s, rather than Photoshopping random images together.  My cover artist, Luke Reznor, and I have been best friends since 1999, and when I decided to self-publish, he was my first choice for doing the cover.  He’s (all too) familiar with my love of classic swashbuckler movies, and understood precisely what kind of aesthetic I was going for.Are you a plotter or a pantser? Please tell us why and what your pre-writing processes are.I don't think I have any sort of definable process, and I'm inconsistent as to whether I'm a plotter or a pantser.  Sometimes I'll mull over a certain aspect of the story or someone's character's development for weeks on end.  Other times, I'll throw stuff in on a whim or from a sudden flash of inspiration and hope it works out.  The only thing I do consistently is write out of order.  Just as filmmakers don't usually shoot movies consecutively, I'll write the scenes I have the inspiration for, put it all together in some semblance of an order, and see if anything needs to be added or removed.  But to say I have a process for doing any of that is an exaggeration at best.Why do you write?I have different reasons for writing different works.  Sometimes an idea will just pop into my head, and I’ve just got to turn it into something and get it down on paper.  I started the INCspotlight partially as a way to share my love of classic movies and comic books, among other things, and encourage my readers to give them a try.  Also, given that THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLACK FLAG is a tribute to classic swashbucklers, I wanted to give myself some credibility as a fan of said genre.What is your mission statement?As much as we need new stories, new protagonists, and new storytellers, we shouldn’t forget about authors that have come before us.  There are so many classic books and movies out there that only hardcore enthusiasts know about, and they deserve to be remembered and appreciated by newer audiences – while also recognizing that they may have some serious issues that need to be confronted, rather than swept under the table and forgotten about.What do you love the most about writing and why?I love the alchemy of writing, taking various elements and trying to find interesting ways to piece them together.  It’s especially fun when working with mythology and folklore, and there are so many versions of the same story – how do you pick and choose, and how do you deal with conflicts and contradictions?What do you dislike about writing and why?Honestly, there isn’t anything about it I dislike, although I wish I was faster when it came to fiction writing.  I see people able to write book after book after book, and I can’t help but wonder how they do it.Do you ever visit other authors' websites and if so, what do you look for? Why?Sometimes I do, mostly to see how they market themselves and their work, to see what I can do better or to see how I can stand out – an essential part of any serious attempt at marketing.In order of importance (most important first) when shopping online, what do you look at first? Cover design, formatting, reviews, description, price, publisher, author name, page count, preview, formats available.1. Description2. Formatting3. Preview4. Price5. Author Name6. Reviews7. Cover design8. Formats available9. Page Count10. PublisherI agree that indie publishing gives the author more control.Y/NI agree that indie books should be difficult to identify amongst traditionally published books.Y/NIn order of usefulness (most useful first) when marketing your book, which techniques do you recommend from these options? Social media. Media coverage (newspaper, TV, podcasts etc). Blog tours. Perma-free/ giveaways. Writing more books.1. Social Media2. Blog tours3. Media coverage4. Perma-free/ giveaways5. Writing more books (time-permitting)Writing is my dream. Y/NI agree the ideal price for an e-book on Amazon is 99c-$2.99. Y/NI have suffered writer's block in the past. Y/NCause of writer's block: Obsession over perfect wording or getting stuck on a plot point.How you resolved it: For the perfect wording obsession, just continuously chipping away at it until it’s something I’m happy with.  For the latter, I rely on trusted beta readers to bounce ideas off of.I use (Word Processor):Microsoft WordI tried and failed to get a publishing deal and/ or literary agent or had one in the past. Y/NI outsource my editing.Y/NI outsource my cover design. Y/NI outsource my formatting. Y/NI write to a specific word count every day. Y/NI set goals and frequently review them. Y/NI write across genres. Y/NAbout Ian's book:Pirates. Jacobite rebels. Economic crisis. England in 1721 is a good time to be skilled with a blade. Unfortunately for Michael McNamara, wrongfully discharged from the Royal Navy, not even his expert swordsmanship can secure him employment. With nothing for him in England, he sets sail for Jamaica to find new opportunities. His capture of a gang of brigands makes him a local hero, earning him all sorts of attention. Among his new admirers are the lovely Dona Catalina Moore and - much to McNamara's disappointment - her fiancé, Captain Stephen Reynard, a former pirate. To earn his pardon, Reynard has sworn to capture seven pirate captains, and he only needs one more. Seeing this adventure as a ticket to fortune and glory, McNamara earns his place on Reynard's crew thanks to his his fencing prowess, despite his new captain's odd reluctance. The hunt pits him against treacherous seas, untrusting shipmates, and bloodthirsty pirates...and ensnares him in a conspiracy that threatens thousands of lives, including his and Catalina’s.Leave a comment or note of thanks for your readers?Thank you to everyone who took a chance – or who is willing to take a chance - on a first-time novelist!  I hope you enjoy The Brotherhood of the Black Flag as much as I enjoyed writing it!

The Author Interviews: Alan Seeger

The next Author in my series is Alan Seeger. Million dollar question, are you working on another book?Just one? I generally have seven or eight on the back burner at any given time. Don’t you? The next one on the schedule is 13 BITES, Vol. V, a horror anthology that I am editing. We do four short story anthologies each year, of various genres. It’ll be out October 15, and will mark our fifth anniversary.What do you think about the ebook revolution?I love ebooks. I use my phone as my ebook reader, and I love the fact that I can carry a library containing a thousand or more books in my pocket.Do you have a day job in addition to being a writer? If so, what do you do during the day?I edit books for other indie authors.Have you thought about joining with another author to write a book?I actually am working on a science fiction epic about the colonization of the galaxy, with Lacey Ellyna.Planner or pantser?I’d say I’m definitely a pantser. I try to plan stuff out, but I always end up taking off and just writing up a storm.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?You have to just shrug it off, and realize that you can’t please everyone. Even when you get ten five-star reviews, that one single-star that says that this is the worst book they ever read just CRUSHES you… but you have to go on.What do you find difficult about writing?Forcing myself to spend the BiC time (butt in chair).

Indie Eden Book Club read Finding Pandora!

This month, the Indie Eden Book Club on Facebook read Finding Pandora: Book One (World) and discussed several aspects including plot, character and theme. Hosted by Jessica Scott, here were some of the questions and responses in the group.You can join their book club here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IndieEdenBookClub/What were your first impressions of the book?One member commented 'It's very interesting' and another added 'It's a 'thinker', There's a lot of information to absorb.' It sounds like Earth doesn’t fare too well in the future... Do you think our planet is currently headed the same way as is predicted in the book? Or do you think we can turn things around?All commenting members seemed to agree that unfortunately we're headed for a similar future. 'We are headed in the same direction. I think we can turn things around, but we are unwilling.' A second member said, 'The biggest problem is that people don't want to change... if nothing changes, nothing can improve.'If you had been in Arriette’s place, would you have left with your ex-boyfriend on a dangerous journey to help the girl he cheated on you with?The first comment was 'Probably not. He sounded like a jerk... I think Arriette felt sorry for Susan', however another member followed this with, 'I thought maybe he could have been sincere... but I personally wouldn't have believed him.' The final comment for this topic was, 'For Susan's sake, yes.'There is a lot of discussion in Finding Pandora: Book One about the politics and social structure of Haeylo. How does it compare to today’s (Earth) society? How is it similar/different?Interestingly, one of the comments said, 'I feel like the Everlasts are like politicians today in the US, never leaving office... And Humans are the lowest rung.'If you were in Pandora’s place, would you have been tempted to open that box?Firstly, a member replied, 'Probably...maybe?... It seemed to me she'd been contemplating on opening it for a while.' A second reader added, 'Isn't that part of the appeal of the myth? I think we can all empathize with Pandora; in a way, she couldn't stop herself because of her human nature.'What did you think of all of the different supernatural beings in Finding Pandora? Was it hard to keep track of them all? Or did you like that each being had its own history and powers?The first comment said, 'I liked the main categories of Supes', closely followed by a comment from another reader, 'The Time Travelers seem really interesting!' A third member admitted, 'I got a little overwhelmed by all the introductions of different types of creatures all at once'.What do you think of the “Power Scale” in Finding Pandora? Do you think it’s a fair ranking of which creature has the most (or least) power? If you had written the scale, would it be in the same order?The first comment agreed with the power scale, stating, 'The power scale works... it helps to convey the politics of Haeylo. I don't think I would have done the ranking any differently.' The final comment added, 'It's a scientific way to measure things that aren't necessarily scientific.'Still thinking about the power scale and all of the magical beings and creatures on Haeylo, I’m curious: If you could have any of the powers listed on the scale, which would you choose?This sparked a lot of discussion. I admitted I'd love to be a Dreamer. Another member quickly agreed, 'I was thinking I would like to be a Dreamer too! When Arriette accidentally dreamed her clothes away, though, I thought "Hmm... I'd have to be careful with that..." A Retainer would probably be my second choice, or maybe an Angel, since they can fly.' When advised of a Retainer's purpose and an Angel's responsibility, the same member added, 'In that case I would stick with being a Dreamer... I can't handle those kinds of decisions.' A second member soon agreed with Retainer or Dreamer, but interestingly, a third said, 'I might want to be a Dreamer or an Everlast. Being youthful forever might not be so bad.'While you were reading, did you think that Casper and the group really, genuinely cared about Arriette? Or did you think they were just using her to meet their own goals?Firstly, a reader commented, 'They genuinely cared about her, but entangled with that is the fact that she's this person that they need. If she were someone else, they wouldn't have cared so much', followed by another reader's agreement, 'I think they started out needing her (and put in the extra time and effort because they needed her), but I think that maybe they genuinely came to care about her too.'If you had been in Arriette’s place, would you have been able to trust Casper, Baby A, and the others in the group that found her in the woods, especially after all she had been through?Immediately someone said no. 'Way too suspicious for me.' Another member also agreed, saying, 'I would have found it hard. They wanted her participation without telling her the whole story. And I think she could sense that.'Arriette’s greatest power was that she was a voracious reader, and someone who loves to learn. What did you think of her character? Could you relate to her?After a funny Disney GIFF had been posted, one of the members said, 'I liked that she's smart. Too many female leads are not. She overthinks sometimes, but who doesn't?'Which character do you most identify with in Finding Pandora, and what makes them so relatable to you?The first comment said, 'I think Rihaana. I've always felt as if I were struggling to choose my own path versus walking the one laid out for me. Then again, that could be said for all of the characters.' Another reader then commented, 'I didn't like Rihaana as much at the end of the book, but I still think that she is the one I have the most in common with.'What did everyone think of the ending of Finding Pandora: Book One: World? Did it end the way that you hoped? Did it leave you wanting more?All members of this group are entitled to free e-copies of the following books in the series to satisfy their curiosity. 'I was a little disappointed in the ending. I thought that there would be something more satisfying. It definitely seemed like a cut-off ending, although it did leave me intrigued to read more.'What do you think of Tobias from Finding Pandora? Do you think he is a good match for Arriette? (And can we discuss that scene where she used her Dreaming powers the first time by accident?! Talk about embarrassing...)The first comment (followed by some cheeky emojis), was, 'I like Tobias. He's definitely better than Kalvin.' A second reader, although in agreement, said, 'I feel like he's still kind of a mystery at this point in the series.'How would you have reacted if you found out that you suddenly had four different types of magical powers? Would you have wanted them? Or would you have been reluctant to accept them, like Arriette?Someone jumped in and admitted, 'I would be nervous but excited! I think Arriette was afraid to use them because she wasn't sure she could control them' and a second said, 'I've been waiting for magical powers since I read Harry Potter!'How did you come up with the Haeloean language? Is it based on another language?I answered, 'It's a mix of other languages and the use of semiotics (and some made up words)! It was good fun but I only wrote the parts of the language I needed.'If you would like to read Finding Pandora: Book One (World) and answer these questions yourself, please visit www.books2read.com/findingpandora where you can download the book free of charge.I'd like to invite the members of the book club, and anyone else who has read and enjoyed the book, to leave a short review on their favourite retailer's website. A huge thank you to those who participated!