Fiona Ingram's Blog, page 59
May 24, 2010
Podcasting and Promotion, Part 1 of 2
Podcasting and Promotion, Part 1 of 2
This is an excellent post/link by Lillian Cauldwell explaining the difference between podcasts and audio interviews, and how to get the very best out of this marketing format. I've had several podcast interviews and although it's initially nerve-wracking, once you're in the hands of a good interviewer, it's a piece of cake! Many people have said how much they enjoy hearing a favorite author speak, and explain things about their work that perhaps have never...
This is an excellent post/link by Lillian Cauldwell explaining the difference between podcasts and audio interviews, and how to get the very best out of this marketing format. I've had several podcast interviews and although it's initially nerve-wracking, once you're in the hands of a good interviewer, it's a piece of cake! Many people have said how much they enjoy hearing a favorite author speak, and explain things about their work that perhaps have never...
May 23, 2010
Generality Is the Death of the Novel
Generality Is the Death of the Novel
Another great post by K.M. Weiland and one that is particularly pertinent to filling in the blanks in one's novel for the reader, or else making a character jump from flat to full. In this post the writer discusses how tiny, perhaps inconsequential details, make up the portrait of a scene or a character, filling it out and breathing life into those pages. Is it important that your character does certain things, likes a particular kind of biscuit with his te...
Another great post by K.M. Weiland and one that is particularly pertinent to filling in the blanks in one's novel for the reader, or else making a character jump from flat to full. In this post the writer discusses how tiny, perhaps inconsequential details, make up the portrait of a scene or a character, filling it out and breathing life into those pages. Is it important that your character does certain things, likes a particular kind of biscuit with his te...
May 20, 2010
To Blog or Not To Blog
To Blog or Not To Blog
Having just mastered the art of creating blog posts (actually creating the blog itself is a blog post all on its own) I was intrigued to read Jolene James' post about blogging. Why do we blog? Does it increase book sales? Are we hoping to rack up 2 million plus followers like Ashton Kucher's Twitter site (or is it Demi who has so many?)? I must confess that having slavishly followed all the marketing gurus' commands about getting one's profile out into cyber-space, blogg...
Having just mastered the art of creating blog posts (actually creating the blog itself is a blog post all on its own) I was intrigued to read Jolene James' post about blogging. Why do we blog? Does it increase book sales? Are we hoping to rack up 2 million plus followers like Ashton Kucher's Twitter site (or is it Demi who has so many?)? I must confess that having slavishly followed all the marketing gurus' commands about getting one's profile out into cyber-space, blogg...
May 19, 2010
Author Cissy Hunt & A Rose Blooms Among the Thorns
Say hello to my seventh guest on the Virtual Book Tour: author and poet Cissy Hunt. Cissy's book A Rose Blooms Among the Thorns is a special testament to Cissy's own life experiences, and how she has turned these into a means of enlightening and helping others. Before we find out more about Cissy, let's take a look at her book.
Cissy says: "It is about a woman's journey from domestic abuse through healing to forgiveness. Though it is a fiction book, it is taken from my own life. It was a very ...
Cissy says: "It is about a woman's journey from domestic abuse through healing to forgiveness. Though it is a fiction book, it is taken from my own life. It was a very ...
May 15, 2010
A Tribute to Bree O'Mara
Who is Bree O'Mara? I do not know Bree O'Mara personally but I too am a South African author and was shocked and dismayed to hear of her untimely death. South Africa's award-winning author Bree O'Mara is one of at least 10 South Africans who died in a plane crash in Libya on Wednesday.
Ms O'Mara, who also had Irish nationality, was reportedly on her way to London to sign a second book deal. It seems so unfair that at this incredible turning point in her career, a point where she was poised fo...
Ms O'Mara, who also had Irish nationality, was reportedly on her way to London to sign a second book deal. It seems so unfair that at this incredible turning point in her career, a point where she was poised fo...
May 14, 2010
Find Your Passion: Omegia Keeys Did!
Today I'd like to welcome my sixth guest on the Virtual Book Tour: Omegia Keeys, the author of Passionate Playmates, Seduction.com, and Can You Keep a Secret? (due out early next year). She started out writing short stories about her siblings as a way to keep herself busy when they all moved out the house, leaving her behind. Being the youngest child of seven, she was lonely when all her siblings took off in their own directions. In high school, her English teacher noticed she always had a...
May 12, 2010
Readaholic: Author Graham Parke: 2010's only novel without sexy vampires
Readaholic: Author Graham Parke: 2010's only novel without sexy vampires
This is one of the funniest interviews I have read in a long time. In fact, I found it so amusing I just want to rush out and buy Graham Parke's new novel "No Hope for Gomez." I was privileged to be interviewed on Readaholic last year and I enjoy reading about other authors. My only complaint is that the interview is far too short - why, Mr Parkes wasn't asked if there were zombies, werewolves, vampire hunters masqueradin...
This is one of the funniest interviews I have read in a long time. In fact, I found it so amusing I just want to rush out and buy Graham Parke's new novel "No Hope for Gomez." I was privileged to be interviewed on Readaholic last year and I enjoy reading about other authors. My only complaint is that the interview is far too short - why, Mr Parkes wasn't asked if there were zombies, werewolves, vampire hunters masqueradin...
May 11, 2010
Scott Turow Offers Novel Writing Advice: "Persistence Is Critical"
Scott Turow Offers Novel Writing Advice: "Persistence Is Critical"
This Galleycat note popped into my email box just at the right moment. How many of us have reached a point where you think, "What am I doing this for? I must be mad!" Your life is bound up with a writing project that is all-consuming. You are starting to bore your friends and loved ones with blow-by-blow details of the working of the various characters populating your imaginary landscape ... and then AAAAARGH! You read (yet aga...
This Galleycat note popped into my email box just at the right moment. How many of us have reached a point where you think, "What am I doing this for? I must be mad!" Your life is bound up with a writing project that is all-consuming. You are starting to bore your friends and loved ones with blow-by-blow details of the working of the various characters populating your imaginary landscape ... and then AAAAARGH! You read (yet aga...
May 10, 2010
Books taking on all comers
Books taking on all comers
Maybe the title of this post/link should be why people still like a good old-fashioned read. It seems that despite the inevitable onward march of technology, people of all ages enjoy a 'real' read. Not everyone wants a digital book; people aren't going to dump their beloved books for something electronic. How many readers love to survey their little kingdom called 'my bookshelves?' From tattered old classics that somehow still haven't found their way to the charity d...
Maybe the title of this post/link should be why people still like a good old-fashioned read. It seems that despite the inevitable onward march of technology, people of all ages enjoy a 'real' read. Not everyone wants a digital book; people aren't going to dump their beloved books for something electronic. How many readers love to survey their little kingdom called 'my bookshelves?' From tattered old classics that somehow still haven't found their way to the charity d...
May 5, 2010
The Rainbow Child & Her Paper Mom
Anyone who has read some of my articles will know that one of my passions in being a children's author is child literacy. I can't imagine any author not being concerned with literacy. Literacy is a skill that has to be learned, and this simple skill can deliver a child from a life of drudgery to a life filled with opportunity. Living in South Africa, I have become so aware of the deficiencies in our education system. The number of final year scholars not making the grade has become worse than...
