C.J. Ives Lopez's Blog, page 20
August 19, 2021
Summer 2021 Must Reads
By Tilly Delane
https://smile.amazon.com/Brighton-Bad-Boys-Complete-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B092MR43ND/refPeople often assume that because I am a romance-thriller writer this also reflects me as a reader, but they couldn’t be more wrong.
My bookshelves house mostly modern classics, sci-fi, and children’s books.
Yet this summer my reading list will be surprisingly heavy on the ‘love stuff’. This is mostly due to a young lady called KG Smith. She has been bamboozling the romance scene with being one of the nicest, most professional FB group hosts around and is about to release her first romance novel – at the tender age of fourteen! I genuinely cannot wait to see what this ingénue has cooked up in “Heaven in Hiding”.
https://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Hiding-Lovers-Book-ebook/dp/B095KNN58Z/refAnother must-read also came from FB where I discovered Sally Dawes, a Brit like me who, like me, mixes romance with Brit-grit. I’ve already sampled some of her work, but have saved, The Vine Trilogy, for my summer holiday treat. I have a feeling it’s dark, sexy and profound – a combination I cannot resist.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JQDKYW7?searchxofy=true&binding=kindle_edition&ref
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JQDKYW7?searchxofy=true&binding=kindle_edition&ref
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JQDKYW7?searchxofy=true&binding=kindle_edition&refMy final must-read this summer? Back to my origins in 1984, I have biennial dates, and it’s time once more.
If you haven’t read it, you really should. It’s one of those books that gets more current every time.
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August 18, 2021
Suzanne Simonetti
Tell us about yourself.
SUZANNE SIMONETTI grew up in the New York suburbs, just outside of the city. After earning a BS in marketing, she spent several years writing press releases until she left her corporate job to focus on her passion for crafting fiction. She lives on Cape May Harbor with her husband. When not on her paddleboard or yoga mat, she can be found at the beach, trailing the shoreline for seashells, scribbling in her notebook, and channeling dolphins for meaningful conversation.
What genre do you write and why did you pick this genre?
I write upmarket women’s fiction which is also my go-to genre of books I enjoy reading. My debut novel, The Sound of Wings, released on May 4, 2021.
Tell us about your book
The story is set in Cape May, New Jersey, where I have lived for the last six years, and surrounds the lives of three principal characters. All of them are women, from different walks of life, varying in age, and struggling with their own life battles. They end up finding their way to each other and form unexpected, life-altering bonds. The key themes in the book are self-discovery, friendship, and freedom from the past.
How long, on average, does it take you to write your books?
I spend at least 1 year to 18 months or more crafting and editing a book, from the first word of the outline to the final polished draft. Since I am gearing up for my book launch, I have devoted all of my time to my career as an author.
What is the best money you have ever spent on your author career?
The best money I ever spent was with my publicist, Caitlin Hamilton Summie, who has guided me along these unfamiliar roads and taught me quite a bit about the industry.
What is the most challenging part of being an author?
The biggest challenge I have to face as an author is having to use both sides of my brain: one side for creativity and imagination, and the other for marketing and logistics. It can tire one out. I am better when I can just lose myself in crafting my story world and characters, but there really is no way to get around the business end of being a writer when you have a book to promote.
What is the best piece of advice you have for other authors?
My advice to those who are just starting out or floundering would be to try and find a mentor. There are classes you can take to meet fellow writers and teachers who can strengthen your writing skills and help you define a career path that meets your desired objectives.
My other piece of advice would be to read outside of your own genre. I recently read The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.S. Schwab which is a romantic fantasy, and I was completely taken by the story. I also just read The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, which is historical fiction, and found it to be brilliant. Sometimes, reading the work of another can whet your creativity and imagination in ways you never believed possible.
Follow Suzanne:
Home
https://www.facebook.com/SuzanneSimonettiAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/suzannesimonettiauthor/
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August 17, 2021
Tell Your Unforgettable Story
By: Award-Winning Actor Brenda Adelman
I grew up in Brooklyn with a Jewish ‘wanna-be’ Italian father who taught me how to drive a Cadillac at six and how to shoot a gun at ten. My Bohemian artist mother took me traveling with her all over the world and read Shakespeare to me as a bedtime story.
In 1995 my father, whom I adored, shot and killed my mother. Within a month he moved in with her sister, my aunt, and married her.
My life and my work are about sharing the power of forgiveness.
I’ve shared my story on stages worldwide. I have a one-woman show where I‘ve done 200+ interviews on multiple platforms.
You too can tell your story in a variety of formats and time segments. You can make your story impactful and memorable.
The craft of writing and presenting requires courage, plus creativity, tapping into your inner guidance, and developing your style.
In my SHOW Method, there are four steps.
S –Share your Sacred Story
It doesn’t have to be BIG like mine – however, it must be authentic and aligned with your life message.
H- Healing Your Story
You can’t tell your story if you are hiding parts of it. If you haven’t done the emotional work to heal or you are overly emotional, you will be too scared to share it.
O- Overcoming Obstacles
There is a structure to heroic storytelling. Set up the story by introducing juicy characters (you being one of them) and then clearly define the obstacles the protagonist faces.
W- Wow the audience
Show them how you made it or are making it to the other side of the circumstance. In this step of my method, you share your story ‘in the world’ to get notes. For example: in a class, with a coach, with an editor and/or director so you can get feedback and do the rewrites and rehearsing to make it the best story it can be and make you unforgettable.
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August 16, 2021
Luna Tibling
Tell us a little about yourself
.
Luna Tibling is a 27-year-old openly transgender and non-binary author of fiction and poetry who lives in the UK.
She specializes in semi-autobiographical LGBT+ works, presenting the community positively and accurately, and has been writing stories, poems, and plays since childhood. Her current literary series, ‘Beyond the Binary,’ tells the story of Skylar, a non-binary poet who struggles with depression and the difficulty of finding acceptance. The series features a polyamorous relationship, same-sex couples, and characters’ journeys before and after coming out of the closet.
When not writing, Luna enjoys acting and singing and is a member of two amateur dramatic groups. It thrilled her to see her works published. In her late teens, she went through a gradual realization about her identity and slowly built up the courage to come out to her close friends and family, and eventually the world.
Why Do you write?
It is mainly because it brings me a great sense of achievement to create something, especially on a subject close to my heart. It can also be an enormous emotional relief.
What genre do you write, and why did you pick this genre?
I’ve tried my hand at many genres throughout the years, but I’m now focusing on LGBT+ literary fiction. This will include the rest of the ‘Beyond the Binary’ series and possibly some separate books, too. I believe it’s crucial to contribute to diverse representation in the media and ensure that models of minority groups are positive, accurate, and sensitive. I want to show that people in the LGBT+ community are everyday people with everyday problems and experiences and don’t have to be the butt of a joke or a token character.
Tell us about your book.
This is the second full-length novel in the ‘Beyond the Binary’ series, which follows non-binary poet Skylar and their partners, Hugo and Dale. The series focuses heavily on how the three lovers support each other through life, especially Skylar’s struggles with depression and looking for acceptance. In this installment, Skylar reaches out to their younger cousin Kit, who has been noticeably distant since Skylar came out and tried to repair their relationship. We also revisit Skylar’s friend Ariana, who was rejected by her parents in the previous book for being trans, and see how she’s been coping.
How much time do you dedicate to your author career?
Until recently, most of my waking life! I left my job seven months ago to look after my mental health and launch my writing career. I’m now looking for a part-time job but still saving plenty of time for editing ‘How I Found Kit’ so the final version is ready in time!
How long on average does it take you to write your books?
At the moment, it seems I can get the first draft in about two months.
What is the best money you have ever spent on your author career?
Too early to tell, as I haven’t been able to start earning a substantial amount yet. The investment I’m hoping will be most worth it is my enrollment in the Self-Publishing Hero course, which has taught me a lot and helped me get my work out there.
What is the most challenging part of being an author?
Keeping motivation up when things aren’t going well.
What is the best piece of advice you have for other authors?
Write what you love and feel needs to be said, even if you don’t think anyone will want to read it. You’ll have an audience out there somewhere, and you just need to find it.
What is your favorite book?
I can’t choose a single absolute favorite, but I admire Jodi Picoult for her thorough and frank writing style. My favorite of her books so far is ‘Sing You Home,’ which follows a woman who is left by her husband and falls in love with another woman.
Follow Luna:
https://www.facebook.com/lunatibling.author/
https://www.instagram.com/luna.tibling/
Tweets by LunaTiblinghttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20462185.Luna_Tibling
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August 13, 2021
Friday Five: Copyright, reader groups & more.
1. Cold marketing
Hello, my friend, I have a great deal for you. I can get your book in front of thousands of people and promote you to my vast network. If you are interested, let me know because this deal will only last for so long.
Heard this before? I hear this every single day. The Authors’ Porch is in the marketing space for services; however, you will NEVER have us in your inbox trying to sell you something. This is becoming increasingly hard to deal with, especially in the author space, because many want to get their name out there. It’s frustrating, and it’s hard to sift through the REAL and the false. Rule of thumb, if they are in boxing, you for services, RUN! The reputable agencies who provide you with quality are not going to cold market you.
We all see the copyright statements at the front of books. So many questions come up in groups that we see about copyrighting. Authors want to know what rules apply to their body of work and if they should send it to the library of congress before they’re protected, and so forth.
WE ARE NOT LAWYERS.
I want to put that out there; however, there is hard fast information that you can count on. If you wrote it, it belongs to you. You hold the intellectual property the moment you put it into the world.
According to copyright dot gov: What is a copyright notice? How do I put a copyright notice on my work? A copyright notice is an identifier placed on copies of the work to inform the world of copyright ownership. The copyright notice generally consists of the symbol or word “copyright (or copr.),” the name of the copyright owner, and the year of first publication, e.g., ©2008 John Doe. While use of a copyright notice was once required as a condition of copyright protection, it is now optional. Use of the notice is the responsibility of the copyright owner and does not require advance permission from, or registration with, the Copyright Office. See Circular 3, Copyright Notice, for requirements for works published before March 1, 1989, and for more information on the form and position of the copyright notice.
Now, let’s talk about the Library of Congress. Suppose you believe your book will be picked up by libraries and be mass-marketed. In that case, this is a great resource to have it cataloged with the library of congress. Libraries are more likely to pick up your book. Here is some more information. (link in comments)
According to Library of congress dot gov: The Cataloging in Publication (CIP) Program creates bibliographic records for forthcoming books most likely to be widely acquired by U.S. libraries. The Preassigned Control Number (PCN) program assigns a Library of Congress Control Number to titles most likely to be acquired by the Library of Congress as well as some other categories of books. The two programs are mutually exclusive. (link in comments)
3. What problem are you solving?
As an author, you’re saying I don’t solve a problem. Why does this pertain to me? Let me tell you unless you’re solving a problem for a person; They are not interested in what you are selling. Point blank, people are self-serving. Even the servant leader serves themselves to some point. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, people prioritize the things they need first before helping others. They will seek food, shelter, security in some form or fashion, and then their minds are free to serve others.
So, ask yourself what problem are you solving, then target your market for your book? If you are selling a romance book, what problem are you solving for those readers? When you pinpoint that, then you can sell your books.
If you write YA fantasy, what problem are you solving? If this makes little sense to you, shoot us a message. We are happy to talk.
4. Reader groups
How many of you have reader groups? Do they help? I will say that reader groups are the best thing to have as an author. They are hard to cultivate because most times; they start as your friends and family. If you don’t have a strong network, you have a hard time getting one together, but you have to cultivate the group by adding people who will value what you are putting down. Ultimately, you can’t create something and leave it. You can’t write a book, publish it and watch the numbers grow. The same concept happens for a group. Find what works within the group. Sometimes you could post for a year, maybe two, before something picks up. You need to feed your group like you feed your kids. If you’re not willing to put in the work, why would the group members be involved?
I enjoyed this platform. This platform allows you to write your story and for readers to read along.
Some will be nervous because they’re scared someone is going to steal their stories. I don’t live in fear, so for me, it was a pleasant experience to have readers read as the story unfolded inside my head.
It also gives you insight into what people are reading. You can gain new readers, and it helps you develop your story because your readers can interact with you and give you feedback.
If you are a reader, this is a great place to read a story as it’s being written. This is a highly unique experience. I would recommend it to anyone.
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August 12, 2021
How To Repurpose Your Book
By Dr. Robert Garcia – The Warrior Strategist
You’re an author. You worked diligently to get your book published. It made some sales, maybe even got you on the news but then the inevitable slump occurred. The royalty checks got smaller and your book became a memory.
Time to start your next one…Or is it?
Repurposing is a GENIUS technique to bring back the glory of your book. Here are three reasons why you should consider breathing life back into your literary treasure:
1. Additional income – A resurgence of your work can attract new fans, new sales, and can lead to secondary income like consulting work or upsells.
2. Media interviews – Once you create your repurposed book, you can start a BRAND new publicity tour as if you created a new book!
3. SEO – Your activity around your new book will affect your Google rankings and your search results if you properly position the repurposing.
So how do we take an existing book and repurpose it for Round 2? Here are some techniques:
? – Position it to a new audience.
The book I’m holding above was my speed learning book, The Next Level Supercharged. I wrote it after I isolated 16 ways to do nearly any job or skill faster. When I first marketed it, I leveraged it towards entrepreneurs, but what if I took it and did a whole new campaign to educators, students, and administrators? I could have a WAVE of sales from people wanting the secrets of speed learning to get their degrees faster!
? – Additional content, chapters, and features.
Business coach and all-around good guy, Mike Michalowicz, did this with several of his business books for additional sales. It’s a great idea to take your existing work, upgrade it with new techniques and ideas, and then return it to the market as an enhanced version. (PS if you haven’t picked up The Pumpkin Plan yet, it’s time you did so. I hold it in very high regard.)
? – Include it as a bundle.
This is a GREAT option. Take your book, add on consulting, a PDF, some exclusive videos, and create a bundle pack that is a higher price point. The consumer gets FAR more info on the topic, you now have a higher-priced model, and everyone wins.
?– Start a speaking tour.
A LOT of people have the desire for this one, but have NO idea where to start. Think about your book topic or subject, then make a list of places that would have interest in hearing more. Pair the subject with the venue:
An inspirational book? – Rehab and faith-based orgs or institutions
Military themed? – Veteran groups, VFW, American Legion, etc
Educational? – Colleges, teacher’s groups, educational conferences
Next, pick up a copy of The No BS, No Fluff Guide to Getting Booked to Speak. It’s THE BEST RESOURCE out there for getting gigs. Air Force Veteran Sean Douglas did a GREAT job on this one.
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August 11, 2021
Mark David Gerson
Tell us a little about yourself
Mark David Gerson is the award-winning creator of The Legend of Q’ntana fantasy series and author of more than a dozen critically acclaimed books — from compelling fiction and memoir to transformational self-help books and popular titles for writers. A highly sought-after speaker, coach, editorial consultant, and media guest, Mark David, electrifies groups and individuals around the world with his inspiring stories and motivational talks and seminars.
I’m the author of 19 books and I’ve also written four screenplays, three of which have been optioned. I never wanted to be a writer. Or more accurately put, I never thought I wanted to be a writer. But my muse clearly had other plans, slowly and cunningly pushing me in an authorial direction until it was too late to turn back! If I’d been more observant, I might have noticed that my first typewriter, bought for me back when I was in high school, wasn’t a common brand like Underwood, Royal, or Smith-Corona. It was a Hermes, a Swiss-made machine named for the winged-heeled Greek god of communication! Still, I didn’t start my first novel (The MoonQuest), which would ultimately become the first book in my Legend of Q’ntana fantasy series, until I was in my late 30s.
Why do you write?
My usual answer to this question is, “because I can’t not”! It’s something I have discovered over and over through the past quarter century. But the following story, which I tell in several of my books, including my Acts of Surrender memoir and my The Way of the Fool personal growth book, is perhaps the most dramatic example…
It’s August 2013, and I have just completed a first draft of my stage-musical adaptation of The SunQuest, third story in TheLegend of Q’ntana. I have been at this nonstop for eight weeks now, and I’m beyond burnt out.
For more than 25 years, I have treated writing as a spiritual pursuit, writing from the deepest inner places I have been able to access. It’s also what I’ve taught. But on this day, I feel as though I have sacrificed too much for too little: My book sales are poor, my coaching income is negligible and the emotional pain of digging so deep has grown unbearable.
On this day, I declare to my closest friends that I’m on strike. “If I’m going to return to writing,” I insist, “something has to shift. Otherwise, I’m giving it up.”
I make one modest concession: I commit to editing and posting a “pre-strike” interview I had conducted a few weeks earlier with New York Times bestselling mystery author J.A. Jance.
About 30 minutes into our recorded conversation, as we’re chatting about craft, I tell Jance how much I love that she never outlines her books because I don’t either.
“I have to sort of step out with faith,” she says, “that if I can write the first sentence of the book, I can eventually get to the end of it.”
“Shit,” I exclaim to the recording. The moment Jance talks about the faith that carries her from her first sentence to her last, I know that my strike is over. My creative and spiritual lives have always been inextricably linked, and both have been built on a solid foundation of faith.
As Jance’s words echo in my heart and mind, I realize that if the deepest part of me has determined that I am a writer and that my writing (and all that derives from it) is the most important part of my being, I can’t walk away from it. I can’t give up. I can’t abandon my faith and I can’t stop surrendering to it.
I am a writer. Period.
Every time since, when I have been tempted to give up (and it has happened more than once!), I remember that experience…and I keep going.
What genre do you write and Why did you pick this genre?
I write in multiple genres — fantasy, literary fiction, memoir, spiritual/inspirational, personal growth/self-help and books on writing and creativity — although it was fantasy that started it all with The MoonQuest. As for how I pick my genres, I don’t. My genres pick me, as do my individual books. With The MoonQuest, for example, I was teaching a writing workshop in Toronto when uncharacteristically; I did the same exercise I had just given my students: an open-eye guided visualization based on a tarot card. The card I picked was The Chariot, and the result was the opening scene of a novel I knew nothing about and that I had no conscious plans to write. My second book and my first for writers, The Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write, developed out of journaled jottings I had done for myself when I was feeling blocked on The StarQuest, the second Q’ntana story. One day, it occurred to me that those jottings might form the basis for a book on writing. Turns out I was right!
Tell us about your book
The MoonQuest takes place in the land of Q’ntana, where stories have been banned, storytellers have been exiled or put to death, and the moon has gone dark. Legend has it that the moon, so saddened by the silence in the land, has cried tears that have extinguished her light. A reluctant young bard and his three companions are dispatched on a quest to return stories and vision to the land and light to the moon. In a time-twister of a plot, the main character of The StarQuest is that young bard’s daughter…but it takes place before The MoonQuest! Her son is the main character in The SunQuest. The Bard of Bryn Doon takes places centuries after the events of The SunQuest: When his remote village is destroyed and its surviving inhabitants dispersed, a young bard is thrust onto a perilous journey to save Q’ntana from the designs of an evil sorcerer and to return the fabled Stallions of Bryn Doon to their mystical and mysterious home.
How much time do you dedicate to your author career?
I am a full-time writer, writing coach, screenplay/manuscript consultant, and workshop facilitator. The time I spend writing depends on whether I’m at work on a new project.
How long on average does it take you to write your books?
There is no “on average”! LOL. My quickest first draft (The SunQuest) took three weeks; my longest (The StarQuest) took 11 years!! But my all-time record goes to The Way of the Fool: How to Stop Worrying About Life and Start Living It… in 12½ Super-Simple Steps!, which raced from conception to publication in a short 10 weeks.
What is the best money you have ever spent on your author career?
After my agent of two years failed to find a buyer for The MoonQuest, I decided to self-publish. This was before the days of quality print-on-demand and before I felt confident enough to do my own book design. So I hired a book designer and cover designer and contracted with a book printer. That professionally produced first edition made me feel like a “real author” for the first time; the response to it (including multiple awards) gave me the confidence to keep going.
What is the most challenging part of being an author?
The solitude. Unless you’re collaborating, writing is a solitary pursuit, even more so when you’re single. Until covid, I would often park myself in a cafe to write, just to be around other people. I haven’t yet returned to that practice, but I probably will at some point soon.
What is the best piece of advice you have for other authors?
Trust your story and, if you’re writing fiction, your characters.
If I have learned anything over my decades of writing, it’s that my stories are smarter than I am. Infinitely smarter.
Your story knows itself better than you ever will. Your story knows its ideal form, shape, and structure. Your story knows its characters, situations, conflicts, and settings. Your story knows its theme. I would even venture to say that your story knows its ultimate destination and fate. Your job is to get out of the story’s way — and your own — and let it have its way with you. Your job is to let it write itself.
If you let it, it will.
What is your favorite book?
Of mine? That’s like asking a father who his favorite child is! But if you promise not to tell, I’d probably have to say that it’s The MoonQuest, my first-born. When I reread it recently, for the first time in a long time, I was astounded at how good it was (even though I hope I’m a better writer after so many more books since!) and how deeply it still affected me.
Follow Mark David:
www.facebook.com/markdavidgerson.page
www.youtube.com/markdavidgerson
www.twitter.com/markavidgerson
www.instagram.com/markdavidgerson.author
www.instagram.com/markdavidgerson.photos
https://www.tiktok.com/@markdavidgerson
www.pinterest.com/markdavidgerson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdavidgerson/
www.amazon.com/author/markdavidgerson
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August 10, 2021
Viki Esther Chang
Viki Esther Chang has been a YouTube Channel interviewer and producer for her channels since 2016.
She believes we all should document our lives in the digital world for perpetuity as our legacy.
Viki uncovers important life stories of people with her series that include Education, Entrepreneurship, New Millennium Women, Faith Discovery, Mothers & Daughters, Tech Talks, The Global Pandemic, Pandemic in Your Country, Faith in the Pandemic, Love in the Pandemic, and many more.
Her book “Candles In The Wind, Dreams Of a Daughter” is a tribute to her dearly departed mother. The book honors the memory and legacy of her mother as she explores the three-year journey of grief and healing.
Hi Friends, Colleagues, Please Watch. You will be surprised that your life depends on this.. Share it forward if this means something to you.
Lifestyle TV USA, America’s No.1 Professional TV, is the Official Event TV Channel.
livecast From SingaporeIt’sMyLife
Event Launch & International Dialogue on Humanity 
I am a serial entrepreneur, a lecturer & trainer, a business developer, branding & marketing specialist, a wife, and a daughter. Most of all I am a child of God, a follower of Christ. I have lived many careers, and in my newest life, I am an Enterprise Podcaster.
Currently, I am developing an enterprise around my international podcast that has grown to various platforms and countries.
When my beloved mother went home to the Lord on October 25, 2015, I suddenly found I could not piece her stories together. I was suddenly thrown into a reality that she (or anyone) could have left without the world ever knowing them and that her footprints on Earth were lost. Imagine if those battles and struggles fought, those joys and tears, and a life that had meant so much could very soon be forgotten.
This thought pained me, on top of losing my closest and most beloved person on Earth. I started my YouTube and Podcast with the purpose of helping people talk and document their lives, in hopes that one day they would be glad they did. Of course, through those 3-5 years of grief, I kept writing about my mother.
I’m planning to digitally publish & podcast subjects that matter to humans including writing, and the whole business ecosystem & enterprise of it. I already have a line of projects in development.
This means, diversifying and expanding from my current business of real estate, both in France and Singapore.
My guiding philosophy comes from the Living Word of God, The Bible.
Follow Viki:
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August 9, 2021
Angelica Kate
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m the oldest of six kids raised in rural Wisconsin. I have been a lifetime scribbler, always keeping journals or writing stories. My lifetime dream was to publish something that others could read, and it thrilled me when that finally happened. I still read every review and email sent from readers as even the bad ones. I live with about five to six stories planning in my brain at all times and can’t imagine what I would do if writing was taken from me.
I write contemporary romances with powerful characters and inspiration to keep the readers coming back for more. I love strong female leads and the men that adore them, despite their scars and baggage. When not writing, I spent time on Florida’s sunny shores near my home in Sarasota, FL, with my puppies Tesla and Harley Quinn, my daughters, and a host of kooky amazing friends.
Why Do you write?
It’s like breathing to me. Jobs have come and gone; I’ve traveled, moved, had kids, and divorced. The only consistent thing in my life has been writing, through the pain, the joy, and those brief moments that create amazing stories. I live through these pieces I help bring to life when woven together. I can’t imagine not writing.
What genre do you write, and why did you pick this genre?
Romance primarily is what I write, though I like to dabble in many genres. I love romance because I enjoy telling stories of strong women that have overcome them. I don’t write alpha males, or I mainly like to keep women in charge of their destinies. That doesn’t mean that some of my stories have horrible storylines of abuse, tragedy, a child’s death, and other such themes. The joy in the human condition is that love can carry us through the highs and lows of life, and for that reason, I enjoy romance storytelling.
Tell us about your book.
Unknown origins are about a man who has it all and yet doesn’t know his backstory as he is adopted. His parents “found” him one night and, through foster care agencies, etc., ended up adopting him. When he gives the chance to dig into his past through DNA testing, he faces some harsh realities about what his life would have been like and who he would have been without that tiny twist of fate. His assistant is the tough one through it all, driving to find answers, protect him from the press, and for me again plays a huge part in this discovery process for him. Of course, they fall in love and all of that, but I hope the readers enjoy a few twists and turn in the story. This is one of six stories in this eventual anthology dealing with life-changing secrets torn from today’s headlines.
How much time do you dedicate to your author career?
I now write full-time, which means about 50–60 hours a week. Nearly half of what I write is my work, as I’m a prolific ghostwriter for several authors. I would also have to set aside about 10 hours a week to do social media, interviews, blogs for my site, and other tasks. This is a long-grueling job that I’m uncertain I could keep pace with if I didn’t love it so much. I am also incredibly blessed to live where I do, as writing on a beach can be a regular activity, so who wouldn’t do that all the time?
How long, on average, does it take you to write your books?
On average, the first draft to the final draft of a novella is a month if the editor is available. A novel I’ve had to go two years to get Discord done, and four months for some. The depth of research, sometimes the book’s emotional punch, and other factors can determine more frequent breaks, etc.
What is the best money you have ever spent on your author career?
I took classes by authors out there that I found at conventions. I love the inspiration, learning from them directly. There is just something about how passionate I find many of them that helped continue to fuel me. Sure, I’ve spent money on covers, editing, and marketing. Still, the classes where I get to engage and learn from someone in the industry are something I enjoy tremendously and give me a fresh boost of energy in the “write” direction.
What is the most challenging part of being an author?
Marketing. I wouldn’t say I like this aspect of having to keep up with various social media trends, marketing ideas and compete in what has become a bigger and bigger pond of works out there for readers to consume. I do many classes, research, and reading up on the latest and greatest and try to test to see what works and doesn’t work.
What is the best piece of advice you have for other authors?
If you are doing this to get rich, get a different hobby. Your chances of being the next billionaire author are as good as the lottery, and you need to be realistic despite all the programs that swear they can make you a big-time moneymaker. Sure, some make it, but disappointment after a single or even a second failure drives many from the business. If you write because you love it, you will find ways to make things happen. There are many opportunities to get your writing out there in this day and age, blogging, serial apps, books, ghostwriting, and many other options. Those who love writing will stick with it and help forge new paths for their work and passion.
What is your favorite book?
The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank by Erma Bombeck is still my all-time favorite book. I loved her humor and the effortless, fast, and relatable style of writing she had. When I have a rough day, I still read passages I have highlighted from this one to make me giggle.
Follow Angelica Kate:
Website: https://www.authorangelicakate.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AngelicaKate5
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorangelicakate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aknaff12/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/angelica-kate
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8203177.Angelica_Kate
Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.com/Angelica-Kate/e/B00JTL5MLI
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August 6, 2021
Friday Five: Blurbs, Newsletters & More
1.Book Blurbs
I recently read a book blurb, and I was so excited to read the book. After reading a few pages, I felt something was off initially, but I thought, maybe I’m just not far enough. I read the entire book, then realized the blurb had nothing to do with almost anything I had just read. Yes, you can hire someone to write your blurb, but it needs to fit the text. Book blurbs, sell books. Let me foot stomp that book, blurbs, sell books.
Why did I foot stomp that? You need to get the book blurb right since people don’t just start reading your book. The order in which they see the books is the cover, blurb, then the rest. If the blurb doesn’t entice them after the cover, 90% will walk away.
Above all else, make the blurb match the book. Unless you are only going to write one book, then you want people to trust you. I don’t think I will read another book by this author because now I don’t trust what is in the blurb, not to mention, I didn’t enjoy the melancholy of the book.
2.Free Books
Most authors are cringing right now. I get it; we work hard to put together carefully crafted works of art to make money and share with the world our creations. Here is the thing, a little kindness goes a long way. If you want to entice people to take a chance on you when publishers didn’t, wouldn’t, or haven’t tried, how will the general public, if you aren’t willing to give them something?
Before you unsubscribe, follow and want to choke me, hear me out. Write a short story about a character who has a small role in one of your more extensive books. Give the readers something to get their mouth-watering then you can funnel them to your bigger projects. They will come running if your work is good. This brings them in. This is your hook, so to speak.
3. Newsletter Swaps
Interact with other authors and build trust to share newsletters. It’s always good to get in front of different audiences. You have cultivated your list; I get that; you don’t want to share. I think it is good to expose your audience to new things as well. I’m not saying give your audience over to any tom dick or harry. Vet the people you want to work with. Make sure they are trustworthy and in the spirit of what you believe your audience will want to work with.
This doesn’t mean giving another author your whole email address listing. Still, it means they write something you can publish on your newsletter with a call to action to follow them if they wish and vice versa. You may get some new subscribers.
4.Pen Name or Not
Some use a pen name, and some do not. I think it will depend on what you want out of your career and what you are writing. I choose a pen name for my children’s books. I wanted something that felt like home to kids. “Auntie Nann” was born. I choose Auntie Nann because of my great-niece, who I asked if she could call me Auntie Nann because my grandmother was Nana, and I wanted to be Nann to honor her and, of course, since I’m the aunt. You get the picture. I choose CJ Ives Lopez as a play on my real name to honor myself, who I have become, and to have some kind of anonymity, so people don’t super stalk me at my house. Some use nothing at all. The bottom line is it’s a choice. I have known people who write super-sexy scenes and don’t want anyone to know that it’s them and the same with crime, horror, and fantasy. Think about how you will feel if someone read your work and knew it was you, then decide.
5.Above all else, be a good human.
I’ve said it before, and I will repeat it. Be a good human. I love it when people I see every single day are willing to constantly give back. I do not like when I see them giving, giving, and giving only to watch others take to gain without recognizing what they have received.
In this world, we only have each other. We rise together. Without the phenomenal people I’ve had to lift me up, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I want to recognize them becuase they are my tribe. If you don’t know them, you should, but trust me, tread lightly becuase they will not take any crap.
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