Ronda J. Del Boccio's Blog: Writing is pure Bliss, page 34
January 30, 2015
Who You Truly Are Is What Matters!
January 27, 2015
Free Mini-class for Authors: How Do I Set Up and Use the Facebook Call to Action Button on My Author Page?
Send to KindleThis week’s training: Thursday, Jan. 29 at 11:01 AM-11:21 AM ET
How to Set Up Your Facebook Author Page Call to Action Button
Facebook has a really cool new way to get customers right from Facebook. It’s called the “call to Action Button.”
Facebook now lets authors add a call to action button to your author page. This video invites you to a short, actionable training on:
How to set up your Facebook author page call to action button
How to decide where to send people from that button
An under-used ways to get more traffic and exposure right in your Facebook page or profile cover (in under 2 minutes)
Sell more books with the call to action button
This week’s class: Thursday, Jan. 29 at 11:01 AM-11:21 AM ET
YES, the training is recorded! So please do sign up.
But if you’re not there, you can’t get personalized help!
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See you ther!
Follow your BLISS,
Ronda Del Boccio, best selling author, speaker & top reviewer
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Pinterest for Authors Video Training: How Do I Use Pinterest to Sell More Books?
Send to KindleThis is a video training about Pinterest for authors.
You’ll discover:
How to set up boards.
How to follow someone without drowning in their pins.
How to use Hashtags to connect with readers.
How to link pins to your money pages.
and more.
Save the video to your ‘watch later” playlist! .
Need more help with social media marketing for authors? Effortless Social Media teaches you simple ways to connect using social media.
Get instant access now for only $7 for a limited time at WriteOnPurpose.com/social.
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Book Marketing Tips: Does Your Book Have a Call to Action?
Send to Kindle"The End" is not the end. It is just the beginning. Do you have a next step, a call to action, in your book? Here's some great advice from +Book Marketing Tools to help.#bookmarketing #bookmarketingtips #writingtips
Reshared post from +Book Marketing Tools
Put Calls To Action In The Back Of Your Books To Sell More Books – Readers reach the end of your book… then what? If you aren't sending them somewhere specific, you may lose the reader for good. Here are some tips on calls to action you can use: http://bookmarketingtools.com/blog/put-calls-to-action-in-the-back-of-your-books/
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Writing a Novel: After the First Draft
Send to KindleTHis month I #amrevising my #wip They All Died SmilingAs I go through the book start to finish, I'm so happy with where it went. No huge blunders. Yay!
Looking for ways to enrich scenes. When I write dialogue-heavy scenes, I often just write the words. Now, the #editing phase, is when I go back and add gestures or other details.
I also read through for consistency, pacing, and character development.
I found a little pacing error that was easily enough fixed. I didn't want Kassidy catching on to something right away, but her intuition had to start nagging at her a bit.
So that's my update for They all Died Smiling!
Follow your BLISS,
Ronda Del Boccio
Best Selling Author and Speaker
#paranormalromance #paranormalsuspense
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Book Review of Suspense Thriller Copperhead Cove by Ron Parham
Send to KindleWelcome back to another Write On Purpose book review. Each week I review a well-written book, highlighting what makes it good from the reader’s perspective and what writing skills and techniques make it an irresistible read. Thus, each review serves both writers and readers.
This week’s excellent read is Copperhead Cove, a suspenseful story in which a cheerful and relaxed fishing guide finds himself in a heap of trouble,
Here is the description:
The stillness of the warm, Kentucky afternoon on Copperhead Cove is shattered by the echo of a high-powered rifle, sending birds flying and two famous basketball coaches to a watery grave. Bo Paxton, their fishing guide, becomes collateral damage, thrashing through the murky waters of Quail Hollow Lake for his life while a Chicago hit man hunts him down, beginning a life-and-death manhunt for Bo and a marked member of the Chicago mob.
Ethan Paxton and Jake Delgado, from far-off California, search the unfamiliar Kentucky hill country for Bo, but they aren’t the only ones looking for him. In a race against time and the Chicago mob, Ethan and Jake must battle an unforgiving lake, a thunderstorm and poisonous snakes to decide Bo’s fate. Can they reach him before the mob enforcers?
While devouring this book, I couldn’t wait for reading time each day. This was a can’t-put-it-down tale of misadventure, full of realistic characters, humor, suspense, fear, and a vivid setting.
Prologue – Meeting the Villain First:
“Good Old Days” of Organized Crime
The prologue struck me as chilling ad comedic at the same time. Tonelli bemoans the bygone days when a mob guy could gain for killing someone. I could imagine “Glory Days” playing in the background.
Copperhead Cove begins with the villain, and thus it start with a prologue rather than chapter one. This is a subtle signal to the reader that you’re getting something “extra” and not diving into the protagonist right away.
A prologue is where you’ll typically either meet the villain, glean a piece of essential backstory (also done here), and/or gain insight into a key person or situation you’ll encounter during the book.
Including Sensory details
I love how Ron Parham included smells. So many authors forget about smells and tastes. Here is a great example:
“Frankie Farmer walked into Tonelli’s office, smelling of garlic, using his sleeve to wipe marinara sauce from his chin.”
I’m Italian and from Chicago. Reading that made me want pasts! Lots of great restaurants in Chicago. But I digress.
This one sentence does double duty: it includes the senses and gives insight into Frankie’s slovenly habits.
Sense of Place
Have you ever read a book and thought it all happened in a dark closet? That’s what it feels like when an author fails to put the reader right into the scene, smelling the smells, seeing the sights, and sampling all the local color.
Sense of place is so important in a story, and Ron Parham brings the reader right into the setting of Copperhead Cove.
A good writer such as Ron Parham makes you visualize, hear, feel, even smell and taste the scene because you know precisely where you are at all times. You’re never left to try to figure out what the author meant.
You’ll feel the stillness as you begin reading chapter one. You’ll feel the bug bites later in the story. Sensory details and sense of place go hand-in-hand.
Where to Begin the Story in a Novel
While reading the prologue, you’ll see the busy city office. Chapter 1 brings you right into the cherry-red bass boat with the two brothers whose lives are about to change.
Some book openings reveal character or plop you into the middle of a battle. This one gives you a sense of place and lifestyle.
The two brothers sat motionless in the cherry-red bass boat, staring at their respective fishing lines like hawks circling the landscape for their next meal. The water was as still as mirrored glass, with no ripples or abstractions, reflecting the setting sun.
This opening defies the common wisdom to start with action. And there’s good reason to flaunt The Way It’s Done in this case.
Because of the prologue, the reader knows trouble’s afoot. Once trouble comes to Bo,, the brother who is about to get into a pickle, the reader has been part of a relaxing day in his near-perfect life.
Parham deftly causes the reader to care about his protagonist Bo and even about the way o f life he enjoys in Kentucky.
Building suspense
Some suspense noves follow a single character throughout, never changing point of view. Others, of which Copperhead Cove is one, move between several people’s perspectives while telling the tale.
What makes this switch work is sticking completely inside one head at a time. ONe person at a time has a chance to be your eyes, ears and perceptions during a given scene.
Right when you really want to know what happens next, you’re at a new scene or chapter and inside some else’s head for a time. Fabulously suspenseful.
Whether you’re a reader who loves suspense or a writer wanting to hone your craft, Copperhead Cove will keep you at the edge of your seat.
About author Ron Parham
After thirty years in the global logistics and high-tech industries, Ron Parham retired on his birthday in 2011 and immediately began penning his first novel, Molly’s Moon. He hasn’t looked back and will soon finish his second thriller, Copperhead Cove. His novels incorporate his many unusual experiences while traveling around the world on business. He writes in the seaside town of Carlsbad, CA.
Buy Copperhead Cove
Buy Copperhead Cove from Amazon
Buy from pen-L Publishing website
About Ronda Del Boccio
Ronda Del Boccio is an award-winning and best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction. She tells transformational tales and helps visionary authors turn their dreams and imaginings into published books. See and order Ronda’s books on Amazon.
Join Ronda’s readers for free stories, sneak peeks at her next books and more at WriteOnPUrpose.com/read
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If you are an author or publisher desiring a review, here is everything you need to know:
Each Tuesday, read a book review on WriteOnPUrpose.com. I delve deeper in these than I do for what I post on Amazon
Focusing on what makes a good read, these reviews benefit authors and readers alike. Each contains helpful hints to help authors make their books more compelling.
Before posting here, I first write a review on Amazon, and I am an Amazon Top Reviewer; read my reviews at WriteOnPurpose.com/reviews.
If you are an author or publisher wanting a book review, go to my Review Request Page at WriteOnPurpose.com/reviewrequest and complete the form.
You will need to provide a digital copy of your book and be willing to accept my honest review or the possibility that I may choose not to review your book at all. My aim is to showcase good writing, and I won’t know if your book measures up until I read it.
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January 26, 2015
Social Media Marketing for Authors: What Size Should My Image Be?
Send to KindleImages make a post POP – assuming they look right! Images can help you with #bookmarketing , connecting with your reader, and showing off your beautiful (hopefully) book cover. But it can be frustrating…Have you ever posted an image in social media only to see it come out much differently than you expected?
Have you ever wondered what's the best size image that works well in Pinterest?
Have you ever gone into a network to add a photo, only to find that the cover image guidelines have changed?
+Peg Fitzpatrick knows her stuff, and here she shares the guide to teach you all you need to know about images in social media. Thanks so much!
Take Peg's advice, and be sure to grab her book co-authored with +Guy Kawasaki , http://smile.amazon.com/Art-Social-Media-Power-Users-ebook/dp/B00O4RHN8M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1422289317&sr=1-1&keywords=art+of+social+media&pebp=1422289321532&peasin=B00O4RHN8M
Follow your BLISS,
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author, speaker & Top Reviewer
Reshared post from +Peg Fitzpatrick
Attention bloggers! The Essential Cheat Sheet for Social Media Image Sizes via +Rebekah Radice"Just when you feel comfortable with the most recent updates, along comes a whole new round.
One area that continues to evolve is social media images. From cover photos to the exact right photo dimensions for posts, keeping up can feel impossible.
To help you make the most of your online presence, Rebekah put together an essential list of social media image sizes for the top eight social networks.
You’ll also find best practices and examples that show you how to leverage graphics to build awareness, interest and engagement."
Read it all here: http://rebekahradice.com/social-media-image-sizes/
Pin it for later: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/232779874465750131/
#socialmedia #visualmarketing #DIYdesign #visualmedia #artofsocial
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Book Marketing tips: Authors: Why Use Hashtags?
Send to KindleI’ve noticed a lot of confusion among my author friends about hashtags. What are they really? Should I bother with them? Are they important?
So here’s the 411 on hashtags for authors.
What are hashtags?
They’re an organizational tool. Put the hashtag into any social network and you’re instantly taken to a list of posts using that hashtag. They are clickable links.
Search #cookierecipes #HistNovel or #BookMarketingTips, or something relevant to your writing..
Are Hashtags only for Twitter?
No. Go into Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Tumblr, Google+…any of them…and see what happens when you use one.
Why Hashtags for Authors?
They make it easy for you to target your material and also to connect with other readers.
Posting
If you write young adult novels, #YaLit is a good tag for you.
If you write paranormal romance, use #paranormalromance when you post.
Connecting with Readers by Genre & Interest
Put the #s into search that represents your genre, such as ##MGLit for middle grade literature.
Put a term relating to the topic or interest of your book, such as #Scotland, #Baking, etc..
Here’s an example.
Sorchia DuBois wrote Just Like Gravity, an awesome #ParanormalRomance about #reincarnation taking place in Scotland featuring #LaPhroaig Whiskey. She can use those hashtags to connect with readers by both genre and interest.
Video Tutorial about Hashtags for Authors
Genre Hashtags
#Biopic
#Book
#Comedy
#Cookbooks
#Cooking
#Crime
#DarkFantasy
#Dystopian
#Erotica
#KidLitChat
#FanFic
#Fiction
#FlashFic
#Food
#Historical
#History
#HistFic
#HistNovel
#Horror
#KidLit
#Literature
#LitFic
#MGLit (Middle Grade Lit)
#MemoirChat
#Mystery
#NonFiction
#Novel
#Paperbacks
#Paranormal
#Recipes
#RomanceWriter
#Romance
#Romantic
#RomanticSuspense
#RWA (Romance Writers of America)
#SCBWI (Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators)
#Science #Fiction
#ScienceFiction
#SciFi
#SciFiChat
#Short
#ShortStories
#Short #Stories
#ShortReads
#ShortStory
#SteamPunk
#Suspense
#TrueStories
#UrbanFantasy
#WomensFiction
#YA
Here’s a huge list for hashtags for authors.
I hope the tutorial helps demystify hashtags. More, I hope you’ll use them to connect with readers and influencers.
More Social Media help for Authors
The multimedia self-study course called Effortless Social Media for Authors helps you quickly master social media. You’ll learn:
A simple way to hit all your networks in 10 minutes a day.
Insights into how each networks so you connect without getting in trouble
Quick and easy tutorials like this one.
Videos, audios and text to support your preferred learning style.
Right now, Effortless Social Media for Authors is only $7. Go to WriteOnPurpose.com/social and get started right away.
Follow your BLISS,
Ronda Del Boccio
#1 best selling author and speaker
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January 25, 2015
Feeling stuck? There is a way out.
Send to KindleFeeling stuck? There is a way out.
Reshared post from +Spirituality
Nothing ever goes away..
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January 23, 2015
Writing a book with Evernote
Send to KindleWriting a book with Evernote
Reshared post from +Training Authors
Would you consider using Evernote to write your book? Here's one author that shares how he did it…http://www.businessinsider.com/how-i-wrote-a-90000-word-book-using-evernote-from-start-to-finish-2014-9?op=1
How I Wrote A 90,000 Word Book Using Evernote From Start To Finish
I just wrote a 93,000 word book. It’s called…
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Writing is pure Bliss
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