C.A. Milson's Blog, page 182
October 16, 2016
Creatives On The Couch, Filming Season Two BTS
Some BTS snaps from filming on the weekend.
Enjoy
October 3, 2016
Creatives On The Couch ~ Guest C.A.Milson
http://www.c31.org.au/episodes/5645
Filed under: Interviews Tagged: #asj_publishing, #C.A.Milson, C31 Melbourne, Christine Madafferi, Creatives On The Couch
September 19, 2016
VBT ~ DARK COMMUNION
Dark Communion
by CJ Perry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: epic fantasy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
The minotaurs have kept Ayla and Deetra’s people in chains for 200 years. With nothing left to live for, and a death sentence in her womb, Ayla trades her soul for a chance to break the curse which holds her people in slavery. Armed only with her faith, she and Deetra start a revolution, and bring about the return of the Goddess of Darkness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOOK EXCERPT
The woman’s lips curved up in a smile but no lines formed in her cheeks. She looked like a living statue, and not one bit like her mother.
“Who are you?” Ayla asked.
The stranger leaned over Ayla, resting her palms on the altar. Her voice took on a hollow yet resonant quality. Her breath suffused the air with a heady fragrance like scented oils.
“I am the dark corner that hides those in need. The eternal ruler of the Abyss.”
“You’re a God?”
“I was once their Queen.”
“Am I dead?”
The Goddess kissed Ayla on the forehead with cold lips. “You are at His doorstep.”
“Where’s my mom?”
“The dead cannot hear your pleas. I have come in her stead, my child.”
Ayla never believed in the Gods. And if they did exist, she wanted nothing to do with any who would leave their people in chains.
“I’m not your child.”
The woman grabbed Ayla under the jaw, fingers digging into her cheeks. Her icy eyes remained impassive but her voice lowered threateningly.
“You are the daughter of Steelhorn, the grandson of Tor, who is my son. I am not just your mother, but the mother of every woman born from a breeding cabin.” The Night Goddess let go of Ayla’s jaw. The closest brazier’s flame shone blue in the Her black tresses. “I have waded through the River of Dreams to answer your call, and this is how you thank me?”
“I’m dreaming?” Ayla asked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
My deep and abiding love of fantasy began when I was six when I first saw the 1981 film Dragonslayer on VHS with my father. He loved fantasy movies too, but didn’t have the courage to be a dork about it like I did. That movie was a gateway drug that led me straight to the hard stuff – CS Lewis. I was far too young for such potency but by the time I was ten I had read the whole series. That’s when I found my first Dungeons and Dragons group. When I started playing, my friends and I used pre-made campaign settings and published adventures, but I quickly grew restless with their limitations and trite story lines. I needed my own persistent world: something adaptable to my whim and that no one else owned.
Back in my day, there was no internet, so I took out every book about castles and medieval history from the school library and read them in Math class (I’m still terrible at math as a result). I came up with an entire world and brand new history. I read books on cartography and hand drew maps of my new world. I created a cosmology, a hierarchy of gods, and the tenets of their religions. I read the Dungeon Master’s guide a dozen times, and every fantasy novel I could get my hands on.
Then, one day, I sat down and told my friends, “Hey guys, wanna try my story instead?”
Even 15 years after the original D&D campaigns ended, former players tell me that they share our incredible stories with their children. I’m honored to say that most of those players still have their original character sheets 16-20 years later, and a couple have even named their children after them.
Now, I’m 39 years old and a loving father of 2 girls, and I still play those games on occasion. My passion has evolved into putting those ideas and amazing stories on paper for the whole world to enjoy. My first novel took me and co-author DC Fergerson 10 years to write and topped out at 180,000 words. Being too long and too complex, I finally ended the project and took its lessons to heart.
I learned that Dungeons & Dragons did not translate well into a novel. D&D made for great times, but also for some meandering plot lines, pointless encounters, and poor character motivations. No matter how memorable some of the moments were, if I wanted anyone to read my story, I needed to learn a lot more about writing.
I threw myself into being a full time student of novel crafting. I read every book on writing by Dwight Swain I could find. I paid Chuck Sambuchino (Editor for Writer’s Digest) to critique and edit my older work. I took James Patterson’s Masterclass, went to college, and joined online writing communities. All the while, I read my favorite fantasy novels again, only this time with a mental highlighter. I reworked my stories, outlined them, and decided to start from the beginning.
Many, many years later, I am in the final edit and proofreading stage of Dark Communion, the first installment of the Shadowalker Chronicles. My role as a father of two girls heavily influenced the characters I’d known for over 20 years, shaping them into women that my own daughters could respect. My characters took on a depth and quality that brings them off the page and into the minds of readers, because they have become all too real. I was privileged enough to work on two careers at the same time to accomplish this feat – a fun-loving and involved stay-at-home dad, and a full time writer.
Links:
https://artofthearcane.wordpress.com/
http://www.cjperry.net/
https://twitter.com/DarkCommunion
https://www.facebook.com/DarkCommunion/
Amazon pre-purchase link:
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Communion-Preview-Godswar-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B01L2T0LU6/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
CJ Perry will be awarding a $10 and a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to two randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $20 or $10 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/09/vbt-dark-communion-by-cj-pery.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CJ, Thanks for being here today. Tell us about you.
My answer might be a bit controversial for some people. See, Im bipolar, but Im not supposed to say that. The politically correct wat to say it is, “I have bipolar disorder.” Person-first language is really stressed by people in mental health and teaching. (My wife is a special education teacher) They say no one should be defined by their disorder. In my case: I disagree.
Im defined by my bipolar. For the past 25 years, it has shaped everything about me either directly or indirectly. It gives or inflicts strengths and weaknesses that I would not have if I were “normal.” It forced me to weave my personal growth and even my thoughts around those twisty obstacles like depression, mania, impulsivity, hypersexuality (yeah, I said it), and wanderlust. I can get so depressed that it is detectible in the Cortisol levels in my blood and is labeled “Psychotic Depression.” I can get so manic that that I don’t sleep for days and then move my whole family to another state. (Yes, that really happened) Today, Im manic. Expect long answers.
September 12, 2016
Monash One Act Play Festival
ASJ Publishing is a supporter of the Monash One Act Play Festival this year. This year, ASJ Publishing is awarding the second prize
Photos coming soon
Filed under: Events Tagged: #asj_publishing, Monash One Act Play Festival
September 6, 2016
VBT ~ Recall
Recall
by David McCaleb
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Contemporary Thriller
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Meet Red Harmon, a special ops veteran who learns he never left the call of duty . . .
To a trio of muggers, Red looks like just another suburban dad. But when they demand his wallet at knifepoint, something snaps. In the blink of an eye, two muggers are dead, the third severely injured, and Red doesn’t remember a thing. Once an elite member of the Det, a secret forces outfit whose existence is beyond classified, Red thought his active service was over.
But his memory is coming back—and a lethal killing machine is returning to duty . . .
Facing an unthinkable nuclear threat, a volatile international power play, and a personal attack against his family, Red has no choice. He must rejoin his old team, infiltrate the enemy camp, and complete the biggest mission of his life . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
Tony “Red” Harmon yawned as he rubbed burning, fatigued eyes with a palm. His cuff slipped back from his watch. 9:47 P.M. Too late for the family to be out. Nick dragged his feet on concrete, cheeks puffy, hand gripping Red’s index finger. So tired he didn’t even ask for a treat as they walked out of Walmart, past the candy machines. He looked up, snot glistening under a pink nose. Red winked at him, surprised yet again how his son looked like he’d cloned his mother’s eyes.
The shopping cart was full of things they needed, but didn’t want. School supplies and vegetables. A wheel with a flat spot clacked a steady cadence as Red pushed it under a rush of warm air blowing from above, into the January chill outside. How’d he always end up with the broken ones? He pushed with one hand, straining his wrist to keep the thing straight, pulling Nick with the other. He stepped slowly, careful not to slip on the frozen pavement. Just ahead, little Penny held Jackson’s hand so tight his fingers were turning blue. Her head was high. She was obviously pleased Dad thought she was mature enough to guide her younger brother through the perils of the parking lot.
Hope his fingers don’t go numb, Red thought.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
David McCaleb was raised on a rural farm on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. He attended Valley Forge Military College, graduated from the United States Air Force Academy, and served his country as a finance officer. He also founded a bullet manufacturing operation, patented his own invention, and established several businesses. He returned to the Eastern Shore where he currently resides with his wife and two children. Though he enjoys drawing, painting, and any project involving the work of hands, his chosen tool is the pen.
Recall is the first novel in the Red Ops series. Please visit David McCaleb on Facebook or at www.davidmccaleb.com.
Buy the book:
https://www.amazon.com/s/?field-keywords=9781601838629
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/recall/id1088652661?mt=11
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/recall-4
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
David will be awarding a digital copy of Recall to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a copy of the book – a Rafflecopter giveaway
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/08/blurb-blitz-recall-by-david-mccaleb.html
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #bookexcerpt, David McCaleb, Goddess Fish Promotions, Recall
September 5, 2016
VBT ~ Monsterland
About the Book
Title: Monsterland
Author: Michael Phillip Cash
Genre: Horror / Action
Welcome to Monsterland – the scariest place on Earth. All guests can interact with real vampires in Vampire Village, be chased by an actual werewolf on the River Run, and walk among the dead in Zombieville. Wyatt Baldwin, a high school student and life-long movie buff is staring bleakly at a future of flipping burgers. Due to a fortuitous circumstance, Wyatt and his friends are invited to the star-studded opening of Monsterland. In a theme park full of real vampires, werewolves and zombies, what could possibly go wrong?
Author Bio
Michael Phillip Cash is an award-winning and best-selling novelist of horror, paranormal, and science fiction novels. He’s written ten books including the best-selling “Brood X”, “Stillwell”, “The Flip”, “The After House”, “The Hanging Tree”, “Witches Protection Program”, “Pokergeist”, “Monsterland”, “The History Major”, and “Battle for Darracia” series. Michael’s books are on the Amazon best-seller list and have also won numerous awards. Additionally, he is a screenwriter with 14 specs under his belt. Michael resides on the North Shore of Long Island.
Links
Amazon Direct Link: https://amzn.com/1517180678
Website: http://www.michaelphillipcash.com/
Blog: http://www.michaelphillipcash-officialblog.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelPhillipCash
Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelpcash
Book Excerpt
What were the interlopers doing here? Billy thought furiously. This was their territory. The humans didn’t belong in the swamp. The moon continued its trip to the heavens, the familiar agony beginning in his chest. Billy fought the demons churning within his body, feeling the pain of metamorphosis. He curled inward, hunching his shoulders, the curse of his nature making his spine pull until his tendons and muscles tore from their human positions to transform into something wicked. A howl erupted from his throat, followed by another, and then another. Grabbing handfuls of dirt, he tried to fight the awful change, but, as the sun dipped to its fiery death, the moon took control of his life, and the unnatural force tore through his unwilling body. Reason fled; his heart raced. Falling on his hands and knees, he let loose a keening cry as his face elongated, his body changing into a canine, fangs filling his mouth. He raced in a circle in a demented dance, knowing his fellow pack members did the same thing. Slowing, he regulated his labored breathing, forcing the icy calmness he needed to keep some semblance of reason. He peered through the dense brush. Lights from the search party bobbed in the distance. The odor, the stench of humanity, filled the clearing.
He turned, digging furiously on the ground, throwing dirt on the flames, hiding their existence. It was no good. Discovery would ruin everything. No one could live with their kind. Humans brought disease, humans brought anger, humans brought hatred. They were there; he could smell them, see their clumsy bodies invading his home. “They’ve found us,” he growled in the special language they used. “Run!” he barked as he turned to his pack, watching his friends’ naked skin transform until it was covered with the same silvered fur. They cried out in unison at the pain, howling with the injustice, and then ran in fear from the interlopers threatening their habitat.
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #michaelpcash, Book Excerpt, Enchanted book promotions, Michael Phillip Cash, Monsterland
September 3, 2016
Cover Reveal ~ SEASON OF DECAY
About the Book
Title: The Season of Decay
Author: Michael W. Garza
Genre: YA horror
Our world decayed and a new world arose from the ashes of the old.
The Canaan tribe formed from the ruins of their oppressors, struggling to build a new world for themselves, challenged by the rise of a threat within and a familiar foe at their doorstep.
Mia’s position among the tribe has put her at odds with Rowan and their former way of life. Rowan is determined to strike out on his own, but his loyalty to Mia has become a constant battle. The lives of all the members of the Canaan tribe hang in the balance as the council struggles with a path forward. A horde of the dead push toward Canaan driven by the infected, and Mia must choose between the people she loves and the tribe she has sworn to protect.
Evolution always finds a way…
Author Bio
Michael W. Garza often finds himself wondering where his inspiration will come from next and in what form his imagination will bring it to life. The outcomes regularly surprise him and it’s always his ambition to amaze those curious enough to follow him and take in those results. He hopes that everyone will find something that frightens, surprises, or simply astonishes them.
Links
https://www.facebook.com/mwgarza
Pre-order on Amazon
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
Filed under: Cover Reveal Tagged: #mwgarza, Cover Reveal, Enchanted book promotions, Michael W. Garza, SEASON OF DECAY, YA Horror
August 31, 2016
Release Blitz ~ In The Tower of the Wizard King
About the Book
Title: In The Tower of the Wizard King
Author: Michelle Miles
Genre: Epic Fantasy
In the Age of Wizards, Time is a commodity more valuable than gold. When Aoife (EE-fa) stumbles upon an antique trunk in the attic, it calls to her with an ancient magic. Inside she finds a stairway leading into darkness and cannot resist stepping onto that first stair. It leads her to dark truths her mother never wanted her to uncover and love so powerful she walks through time to save it.
Her magic is dormant.
When Aoife Burke rushes home after the unexpected death of her father, she discovers her mother has vanished amidst inexplicable circumstances. She returns to her childhood home to search for clues of her mother’s whereabouts but another shock awaits her. Sean O’Connell, the object of her girlhood crush, has purchased the family home. She senses Sean is hiding something from her, refuses to let her inside and does everything he can to keep her out. A determined Aoife breaks inside and stumbles upon an antique trunk in the attic. When she opens it, instead of the normal musty clothes and ancient letters, she finds a stairway leading into darkness. It calls to her and she cannot resist stepping into the trunk and onto that first stair where it leads her to magical truths her mother never wanted her to discover.
His magic is dangerous.
Sean O’Connell has been assigned by the Inter-dimensional Portal Protection Agency to keep Aoife and her mother out of Faery. But when she breaks into the house and disappears through the portal in the trunk—like her mother—he has no choice but to follow her, even though stepping into Faery will force him to face his past. Keeping her safe and out of the hands of the Wizard King also becomes a fight to save Aoife’s life from her own mother, who has discovered a time portal in Faery leading her back in time to alter her past mistakes, putting Aoife’s life in peril. Sean is willing to do anything to make sure she’s safe. Even if it means he has to tap into his dangerous magic to do it.
Author Bio
Michelle Miles grew up in North Central Texas in a rodeo town but was far more interested in nerdy things like Star Trek and Star Wars. She started writing fan fiction in high school. When being an archeologist like Indiana Jones or a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader didn’t work out, she decided writing was her gig and has wanted to write her own stories ever since.
Her love of romance started when she picked up Victoria Holt and Daphne du Maurier and was immediately smitten with the genre. But she also found another love in the fantasies of Patricia A. McKillip and Anne McCaffrey. Since she couldn’t decide which genre to pick—and because she’s a true Gemini—she decided it would be super fun to write contemporary and fantasy romance. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and has served on the board of several chapters as president and treasurer.
In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, reading, cross-stitching and watching movies. A Native Texan, she loves castles, dragons, fairies and elves and is an avid Game of Thrones fan. She can be found online at Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Goodreads.
Links
iBooks | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords
Find me on the Web:
Website/Blog | Newsletter Sign Up | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Plotting Princesses
Filed under: Release Blitz Tagged: #MichelleMiles, Enchanted book promotions, In The Tower of the Wizard King, Michelle Miles
August 30, 2016
Book Blast – PRODIGAL SON
Prodigal Son (Sister Christian, 4)
by Lisa Beth Darling
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GENRE: Contemporary Fiction
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BLURB:
In the final installment of the Sister Christian Series, the Court has demanded a hearing regarding Hannah’s capacity. Hannah and Nick are falling deeper and deeper in love. Looking forward to a bright future together they begin planning their life together. A shadowy stranger from the past has set his sights on Hannah and her 3.5 million dollar trust fund. Is he really Rick MacNeill, the son Hannah thought died in the terrible fire at Saint Anne’s? Is he someone sinister? The last of the family secrets come to light in this roller coaster ride of suspense, love, betrayal, and faith.
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BOOK EXCERPT
Walking up the front walk to the small house, Mason slid his key into the outer door, “A date with Spaulding, what’s next? You gonna let him and Jackson fight over you after school?” Once inside he threw his keys on the desk and then started sorting through the mail. “What the–? Geez, I hate junk mail.” He threw an envelope with the E*Trade logo on it into the trash still thinking of how his sister may be on the verge of having a better romantic life than he’d had in decades.
“Oh, no,” Hannah dove for it as though he’d tossed it into flames. “This . . .this. . .isn’t garbage.” She stuttered picking it up and dusting it off to hold out to him.
“I don’t have an E*Trade account.” Mason countered. “Of course it’s garbage.”
“Well, now, don’t be so hasty.”
“Hasty? What?” Hannah took him by the arm and led him over to the couch where she sat him down. “What’s going on, Hannah?”
Hannah was nervous and she didn’t quite know how to explain but she did her best. “I wanted to do something nice for you, to thank you for all you’ve done for me. So, well, here.” She handed him the envelope. “Open it.”
With somewhat of a sinking feeling Mason opened the envelope to find the check. “What the hell is this? Where did you get this money?”
“Don’t be angry.” Hannah got up and retrieved the motorcycle magazines she’d brought him while he was in the hospital from the desk. “I know you want a new bike and that’s exactly enough money for the one you picked out.” She gave him the magazines.
“You’re buying me. . .a motorcycle?” Mason was so stunned he found it very difficult to get the words from his head to his throat. “Are you serious?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Lisa Beth Darling is 49 years-old, lives in her hometown of New London, CT with her husband of 30 years, Roy and is mother to their two daughters. She is the author of more than fifteen novels along with several short stories and non-fiction books. When she’s not writing she likes to garden and is an avid movie buff.
Author web links:
Website: http://www.lisabethdarling.com
Blog: http://lbdarling.wordpress.com
Twitter: @lb_darling
Facebook: http://facebook.com/lbdarling
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1577311.Lisa_Beth_Darling
Purchase Links:
Kindle/Amazon (paperbacks available on Amazon)
https://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-Son-Sister-Christian-Book-ebook/dp/B01HSD5NTE/ref=asap_bc#nav-subnav
Nook
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prodigal-son-lisa-beth-darling/1124249452
iBooks
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/lisa-beth-darling/id411650358?mt=11
Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lisadarling
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Lisa will be awarding a digital copy of Prodigal Son to 3 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a copy of the book – a Rafflecopter giveaway
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-blast-prodigal-son-by-lisa-beth.html
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #lb_darling, Goddess Fish Promotions, Lisa Beth Darling, PRODIGAL SON, Rafflecopter giveaway
August 27, 2016
VBT ~ Building Your Author Platform
About the Book
Title: Building Your Author Platform
Author: Tiffany Shand
Genre: Nonfiction
Becoming an author in today’s world has never been easier with the self-publishing revolution. But how does an author stand out in a crowded market?
Setting up and building your author platform before you even publish your first book is the best way for building a solid platform that will last and help you grow your tribe of fans. This book contains all the fundamentals from creating your author website, to choosing your route of publishing and much more!
Author Bio
Tiffany Shand started writing short stories when she was a child. After doing a creative writing course in her teens, she discovered her love of nonfiction writing and is now a freelance writer and professional editor.
She writes both non-fiction and fiction, and is the author of the urban fantasy Excalibar Investigations Series. When she’s not writing, you’ll usually find her reading.
Tiffany lives in Essex with her family, two very spoiled cats and a hamster.
Links
Amazon buy link
Tiffany’s Blog
Tiffany’s Author Website
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon
Goodreads
Book Excerpts
Excerpt 1
When I first started my publishing journey back in early 2014, I had no idea what an author platform was or how to build one.
So what is an author platform? An author platform, as the name suggests, is a launch site from where all your book marketing takes place. A platform encompasses everything from a website, social media to readership. A platform is basically the number of people you can broadcast your message to.
Publishers don’t usually gamble on new authors who don’t already have a platform and an audience ready and waiting. If you already have an established platform and a readership, they are much more likely to take an interest in you.
Essentially, a platform is built out of a website and/or a blog, social media channels, and an email newsletter. It’s a direct link to your readers.
It’s the amount of influence you have over your readership, the level of visibility and authority you have in your particular genre, and your connection to your readers.
Authors can easily reach their fans on a global scale, thanks to the Internet. Gone are the old days of having to write letters or press releases. Now you can reach readers with a click of a mouse.
Excerpt 2
Do you need an author platform?
My answer would be: yes. In my opinion, every author needs a platform, whether they are writing sword-fighting fantasy, historical romance, children’s books or business guides. Every platform is different for each author, depending on their genre.
New authors need to have a strategy to launch their book and create a hype for it. Without any kind of strategy, it will make it harder for you to sell books or gain any real readers and long-time fans.
Some authors may say that they don’t need an author platform to sell books, and this may have been the argument for authors 50+ years ago. Writers aren’t just authors nowadays, especially if you are an indie author. Now authors have to be marketers and entrepreneurs. Having a solid author platform can help you market your book and leave you able to write more in the meantime.
When should you start building your author platform?
Ideally, it’s best to start building your author platform as soon as you start writing your book or at least before you publish your first book. Many authors don’t do this. I didn’t start building my own author platform until after I had published my first novel and this definitely made things harder for me to start growing my audience and building a readership. So the time to start building your platform is right now!
It’s common for non-fiction authors to establish their reputation based on speaking events, articles, guest posts or having their own niche website. They grow their audience by building interest in their books and selling them to their target audience.
If you write fiction, it can be easier to gain interest in your book by posting teasers and snippets of your book before publication on your website and social media channels.
An author platform is something that is forever growing and changing and something you will never stop building. It’s part of your long-term strategy and almost everything you do related to your book business.
What steps do you need to take?
One of the most common things I have heard is: how do I start building my author platform? Which is why I’m writing this book in the hope it will help other new authors to avoid some of the mistakes I made, and build their platforms much quicker. Your platform is the bridge between your books and your readers. So take the time to build a strong one.
Excerpt 3
Your author brand is your promise to your audience. Branding is how authors market themselves. Many writers don’t do this, but it is an important step before you build your platform and market your book. If you can’t show what you have to offer by making your work and writing unique, you won’t be able to connect with your audience.
Identify your target audience
This is a very important step in building your platform.
Who is your ideal reader? What are their wants, needs, interests and desires?
A lot of authors say that everyone is their ideal reader, but this definitely is not the case.
You need to target your audience.
Male or female?
What age are they?
What age group do they fit into?
What are their interests?
What are their beliefs? This is important when it comes to political or religious works
Where do your ideal readers hang out online?
I found that a lot of my fiction readers spend time on Facebook and Twitter. But younger readers usually spend more time on Instagram.
What do your ideal readers want?
With fiction, they want to be entertained and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Reading a book takes them away from everything.
With non-fiction books, readers want to learn something new. What do they want to know? What kind of problem do they need fixing and how could you solve it?
Understanding what your readers like and need is an important step, and is something that most authors often miss when they are first starting out. Taking the time to get to know your readers and their needs can be very challenging, but it’s worth the effort in the long run.
You must recognise the fact that not everyone is going to like your book. It’s not a “must-read” for everyone and won’t appeal to every single person on the planet.
How to determine your author brand
Some good ways of doing this are asking yourself:
Why do you write what you write?
What message are you trying to share?
How do you want to be perceived and why is that important to you?
Identifying your target audience requires an understanding of the characteristics of a particular group of people and the relevance they have to your work before you do anything to promote yourself or your book. You must be able to know why you write what you write and who cares about what you write.
The key is to identify and research what the target audience cares about and recognise what you have to offer in order to benefit your ideal reader.
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #tiffanyshand, author platform, Building Your Author Platform, Enchanted book promotions, Tiffany Shand
