Lavinia Thompson's Blog: Seeking reviewers! , page 28

Update: Spellbound

September 15, 2011. That's going to be the biggest day of the year for me. It's the day that Spellbound by Fire sees the light of day, speaks to the world with a voice that is no longer silenced and never again will be.

I already announced the date on both Facebook and Twitter, though have been rather busy and updating the blogs is a priority that has gotten neglected. My next two weeks look as follows: Practicum to finish until May 13, moving to a new town in between that time, social life, start new job (which is a summer position) in new town on May 16. For the next three and a half months, life will consist of new job, social life, working on Spellbound II, and preparing for the release of Spellbound by Fire. September 15 is the big day, and end of August also means I need to find a new job and place to live. It means I'll be keeping rather busy.

As for an update on Spellbound II: I am working on chapter 5, hit a rough spot where I wasn't too sure what was happening but I've got it worked out. I'm hoping to post a new excerpt soon on the Spellbound blog (http://laviniathompson.wordpress.com/). I'll also be working on some marketing and promotional stuff for Spellbound by Fire.

In the meantime, I'll keep everyone updated. Happy writing, peace and love.

Watercolour Flowers of a Sombrous Earth

Where are watercolour flowers dripping purple wine?

Paintbrushes of satiny petals

across a sombrous earth.

Lovely gypsy of grace; runaway in strange shades.

Rain down on me astounding colours through my hair

trickling down the sidewalk to the gutters.

Just to see the eyes of the painter,

the face of genuine propriety,

symphonies of gentle movements

across the soft lit room. It's in shades of petals

melting through hands; to be more

than anything you've ever known,

textures of vibrancy soaking flower stems

while dreamers count each petal that lands in their hair.

This is more than a place. It is wherever you are.

We are like portraits whispering secrets upon

the canvas which we are painted on,

smudging blooms of pinks, blues;

every other hue at soul tips. We are poets.

Our words enliven the moon dusted flowers,

tinge the strangers of crimson

for the skies to drip silvery lyrics, each one elegantly poetic.

So soak me up like rain.

We are all artists of eloquent destinies,

children of watercoloured flowers,

runaways of paint dripping stars. Thriving glances

of the patchwork gypsy, petal sewn silk in your hands

raining through my hair, astounding dreams

to be every shade of everything I could ever dream…

Somewhere in surrealism is simplicity of a sombrous earth.

Spellbound- getting published!!

Yesterday was a big day for me. Huge.

Hellfire Publishing emailed me back and told me they want to publish Spellbound by Fire. No words say exactly what that feels like.

I believe with all my heart in the Spellbound series. Aside from opening every blood vein possible and bleeding  every word of this novel from the depths of some dark places that I never anticipated visiting again, it has been a part of my life since I was a young age. I started Spellbound as an escape from my young life, when I would rather have forgotten about many things that were happening. Writing was always that lifeline.

To say it has risen from the ashes is only ironic. My original copy of Spellbound was destroyed in a housefire some years ago. To see it as a completed manuscript now is an incredibly exhilarating feeling. I never thought I'd see it at this point. After a few rejections it begins to feel like no one understands what you have to say and no one really gets your story. Many writers feel this way. They bleed in words and they breathe the very essence of which creates their stories.

Having someone say that there's an audience out there for it makes everything worth it; the late nights, supporting the coffee industry like no one else could, spending days in front of a computer and forgetting that life actually exists outside the walls that enclose you…

So Spellbound by Fire has found a home. I will be hearing about a release date sometime in the next week or so. And in the meantime before that release date, I will be working away on the sequel.

Book Marketing Part III: More on press kits

Last time, we discussed blogs, websites and press kits. This time, I'm going to get into some more details about press kits because they are a very effective and budget-easy tool for publicizing yourself and your book.

Electronic press kits can be found on websites and blogs. You can make one available to download as a PDF or in a zip folder on your website.

Print press kits can be kept in a briefcase and taken with your wherever you go, mailed off to media outlets, book reviewers, publishers and so on.

Both versions serve the same purpose. To review, a press kit includes:

- Author photo- a high quality image that can be published online or in print.

- Author biography- A little bit about you, your career, what you've accomplished, where you want to go, and who you are.

- Author Q&A- A question and answer page. Include FAQs and how you'd answer them, things about you as a writer, what readers might ask about you or your book.

- Book cover image- This should also be high quality and publishable for print or online.

- Catalog copy of your book

- Book trailer

- Copies of reviews, praises and blurbs about your book- Third party agreement about how good your book really is always helps your cause and encourages publicity.

- Reader guide- a list of questions to assist book clubs and reading groups in understanding and discussing your book. It gives a central focus on the aspects that you'd like people to discuss and look at.

- Synopsis

- Sell sheet- Lists where bookstores, customers and libraries can purchase your book.

Those are the basics. Remember to keep your press kit updated with awards, if you accept a movie deal, new reviews, upcoming public appearances, release of new editions or sequels, or if it is being published in other formats like eBook or audio books. Also include a press release of your book launch and business cards. Since you are already including where to buy the book and for how much, it also makes sense to include when readers can buy it. It is also important you have your contact information with it as well.

A writer can get creative with press kits, but always keep it professional and organized, whether in a folder or clipped together in hard copy. It should also look presentable and professional in PDF format and it should print off in the same way. Make it readable and easy to download. Having it available on your website or blog makes you more accessible to media and people who want to know about you. However, having it in hard copy means that people you come across on the street or at public appearances won't have to remember your website for when they get home. You have the press kit right there to give to someone.

Press kits can be personalized to the writer. It can tell the story of the writer and their book. It is the package which sells you and your masterpiece. Don't underestimate what being ready with a press kit can do for your marketing.

Next time, I'll be talking about how writers should be professional and ethical.

 

Book Marketing Part II: The writer behind the chapters

Last blog discussed online book marketing that utilized social media and joining online writer communities. I hope it helped some of you!

We are continuing the online theme by discussing websites, blogs and electronic press kits.

Blogs

I just went through the process of revamping my own blog. I dreaded it beause the first time trying to customizing a WordPress blog didn't work so well. But I love how the revamp came out and it was easier than last time.

To get to the point, blogs don't have to be complicated. They are amazing tools to get your thoughts out. A blog is also a great book marketing tool, as most writers know. It gives freedom to connect with readers and other writers in a variety of creative ways.

Blogs can be ideal for that interaction. How you use that interaction is, like many things, only limited by your creativity. You can utilize contests, post book excerpts to intrigue potential readers, perhaps even write your blog from the point of view of your main character to give it some personality other than your own. I seen one blog where the lady actually posted a page listing the supplies she used up while writing her book. It included the type of pens and colour she used, eight notebooks,and so on.

Personally, I thought that was kind of cool. Readers like that a personal touch from writers they like. One could easily twist that into making a list of writerly quirks they have, what do they like to eat or drink while writing, or their favourite way to wind down after writing intense scenes. Your every post doesn't have to be about your book. Readers like seeing the writer behind the chapters.

Keep in mind that not only do you want something attractive while capturing your writer's spirit, potential publishers will be looking at it as a marketing tool. A blog that has been put together in a sloppy, haphazard fashion won't draw much attention. Treat your blog like you would your personal space. You want it to look elegant with traces of your own personality. Let yourself shine through in both your posts and the way it looks, but always keep it professional.

Websites

Websites are different from blogs in that they're a bit more complex to put together. Building a website involves purchasing a domain name, finding a hosting service and making it a  professional site from which to build your fan base on.

I have yet to make a website, though I have taken such classes in college. When an assignment to build a journalism portfolio was given, we were used Adobe Dreamweaver to build these sites. It was complicated and agonizing. It's not something I would pet myself through again. If you're a professional at making websites from scratch and you're good at it, then by all means do it yourself.

If you're not so tech savvy, there are easier ways to go about this process. A simple Google search of "building a free website" brings up a variety of sites that can assist you in building your website. There are many templates out there that are free and many "how-to's." I'm no expert by any means in this field (anyone who is, feel free to leave a comment and leave some pointers on websites!) Otherwise, there are always people you can hire to make your website should you have the money.

Website appearance is the same as blogs. It should be clean and professional while capturing the essence of who you are as a writer. Think of it as another way of being creative and graphically expressing your work.

Electronic press kits

These are  just what they sound like: an electronic version of press kits. For those who don't know what is entailed in a press kit, they are used as contact with the media to create publicity for your book. Electronic press kits often include (but not necessarily limited to):

- Author photo- a high quality image that can be published online or in print.

- Author biography- A little bit about you, your career, what you've accomplished, where you want to go, and who you are.

- Author Q&A- A question and answer page. Include FAQs and how you'd answer them, things about you as a writer, what readers might ask about you or your book.

- Book cover image- This should also be high quality and publishable for print or online.

- Catalog copy of your book

- Book trailer

- Copies of reviews, praises and blurbs about your book- Third party agreement about how good your book really is always helps your cause and encourages publicity.

- Reader guide- a list of questions to assist book clubs and reading groups in understanding and discussing your book. It gives a central focus on the aspects that you'd like people to discuss and look at.

- Synopsis

- Sell sheet- Lists where bookstores, customers and libraries can purchase your book.

Electronic press kits are great to have ready for the media. It saves time for both you, so you can get back to your passion, and for journalists who juggle deadlines and are always cramped for time. Take it from a soon-to-be journalism grad- reporters like it if you can save them time. We live by deadlines.

At the same time, you won't be scrambling whenever someone asks you for an electronic press kit. You'll always have one ready and that reflects on you professionally. You want to appear professional as a writer.

Next time, I'll be elaborating more on press kits, electronic and print, and the distribution of them.

~ Happy writing ~