Shelli R. Johannes's Blog, page 16

Finding the Emotional Truth in Historical Fiction (Vicky Alvear Shecter)

 Today, Vicky Alvear Shecter (author of Cleopatra's Moon) is here to talk about historical fiction.





=================




“All novels are emotional autobiographies.” I can’t remember who
said that, but it hit home when I heard it.




So
true.

And yet, finding the emotional
truth in historical fiction—in places and times very different from our own—can
be a challenge. When I started on my YA historical fiction novel, Cleopatra’s Moon for example, I remember
thinking, how could I possibly have
anything in common with an ancient teenage princess of Egypt whose mother was
Cleopatra and whose father was the famous Roman general Mark Antony?

Physically? Not a damn thing.
Emotionally? To my surprise, quite a bit. Let me explain with some examples:




-      
Cleopatra Selene, my main character, is ripped
from everything she knows and loves when she is sent from Egypt to Rome. She
never returns to Egypt (as far as we know). I evoked my own memories of
displacement when my mother, for various soap opera-ish, moved us from Ecuador
to Miami without any warning or preparation.  If I hadn’t experienced such a life-altering
move, I would’ve called upon my reactions to moving to a new school or new neighborhood
to imagine what it felt like for Selene.




-      
As a result of the upheaval, Selene becomes even
more fiercely attached and protective of her brothers.  My brothers and sister and I experienced an
intense “closing of the ranks” during our across-the-world move, which affected
how I expressed Selene’s response. Any “us versus them” childhood experience
could be called upon.




-      
 Cleopatra
Selene worries that she might not ever be as striking and charismatic as her
mother (Cleopatra was no beauty but her magnetism and charm were legendary).
She fears she won’t measure up and that, somehow, she’ll end up disappointing
everyone.  I too had (have) a beautiful,
elegant mother and when, as a teen it became clear that I would never be as
tall or as thin, I had similar fears. Teens often worry that they’ll never live
up to the expectations others have for them.  What were yours?




-      
The first time Cleopatra Selene is taken to see her
mother after learning about the death of a family member, she wants to run. It
terrifies her to see her mother so wracked by grief. I drew on my memories of a
similar grieving experience.  But I
could’ve also recalled what it felt like to witness a grown-up expressing any strong
emotion for the first time.




-      
Cleopatra Selene struggles with spirituality. I
imagined that she was brought up with faith in both the Greek and Egyptian gods
and that she had a special affinity for Isis. When she learns about the
Judeo-concept of free will, she wrestles with its implications. That struggle becomes
the focal point of her emotional growth. When I was a teen, I too struggled
with making sense of the different religions in my life—Catholic in Ecuador and
Jewish in my grandmother’s house. Even if your faith has never wavered, you
could draw upon your emotional reaction to the first time you heard something
that directly contradicted everything you’d ever been taught. 




-      
Cleopatra Selene falls in love with an important
historical character who also happens to be a brilliant writer and scholar.
This, I don’t need to explain. Haven’t most of us fallen for the hot, brooding ‘English
major’ type at least once in our high school or college lives? ;-)




When you have no direct experience
to draw upon for a scene, create one. For example, observing my own reactions
to reading about the experiences of girls in radical Muslim countries helped me
articulate Selene’s outrage to the restrictions she faces when she is forced to
live in Rome.

Mining your “emotional
autobiography” is important in all fiction, of course, but it’s even more so in
historical. The emotional connection to the protagonist is the bridge by which
we travel back in time. And, hopefully, what keeps the reader turning pages.







Vicky’s novel, Cleopatra’sMoon, won the Southern Breeze Crystal
Kite award and was named to Bankstreet's list of Best
Books of the Year for 2012. In the upcoming WIK conference, Vicky will share
more of her secrets for transforming dry facts into juicy stories. You can find her hanging out online at her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.







 What historical character/figure do you think you connect most with?



http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...

Marketing ebook and my WIP

In Breaking News



My marketing book, "Marketing My Words - a writers guide to bestselling book promotion", is finally available. 



I did this book mostly for my blog followers who have asked me to put my posts and interviews and tips - all into one easy guide. It comprises revised marketing posts as well as brand new articles and topics. It also includes over 20 interviews from the industry's top agents, editors, and authors. (thank you to all of them for granting permission ;)



The book covers basics of branding, online marketing, social networking, and how to create a marketing strategy from scratch. It is available Kindle and Nook. It will also be available in paperback in a couple days for those who like to have references on hand at their desk.



This is not pages and pages of marketing theory. This is an easy guide - specifically for writers - on how they can get started on their own marketing. In this industry, writers are expected to wear more than a writers hat.



Amazon

Barnes and Noble (should be up soon)



Hope you like it!



================

WIP



When I sat down about 6 months ago to write Uncontrollable, I must say I was not looking forward to getting into it. You see Untraceable took me three years and over 10 revisions to get to where it is today.



This time - I did it differently. This time I spent time plotting. Then went on a week retreat to focus on my book 24/7. It is amazing what you can get done 1) without kids and 2) when there is nothing pulling away your attention (laundry, cooking, pta, kids, dr appts). It was one long week, writing 12 hour days. Awesome!



And if I do say so myself - I came out of that a great draft. I've sent it off to 4 beta readers over the last few months and besides some cleaning up and expanding out points, the plot was solid. Now, as I sit in final edits before it goes off to copyeditors, I've realized how much further I have come as a writer.



What took me three years before has taken me less than a year. But more importantly, my first draft was 50% there. The characters, the plot, and the setting all fell into place. Now granted, this could be because (1) it is a series so I know Grace's voice and who she is (2) I'm a better writer that I was 5 years ago when I started Untraceable or 3) just pure luck.



But I did sit down and plot this book out from the beginning. Now, I was always the one who didn't want to outline. To be creative and take it as it comes. But looking back, I think my plot paid for it which forced my book through major rewrites - which in turn make me sick of that book by the time it was on submission with my agent.



Now as i wrap up this book to move onto the next, I am loving how this book turned out. It's very tedious in this final round especially in a mystery/thriller, making sure there are no lose ends but I think this was a much easier writing process and I must say - I enjoyed it much more than I did with my other books.



I look forward to writing more now that I think I have found a system that works for me.



You can read a sneak peek of Uncontrollable or add it to your Goodreads. Releasing on Sept 24th!



What works for you? Any special tricks? Are you a plotser or pantser?


Here are a few other people talking about WIPs today: Mohadoha, JH Glaze, Patricia Lynne, Rhiannon Johnson and Julie Christine. 




http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...

Bookanistas: Cover Luv!

Here are some recent covers that I think are amaze-balls!!




Hysteria by Megan Miranda (Walker Childrens) - Feb 5th, 2013 




Wow this cover is spooky. When I first saw it I could not stop staring at it. Is it a headless girl or a girl hidden behind some strange painting. I know what the book is about and it's perfect. Gives you that creepy feel that Megan infuses into her books so well. 

Mallory’s life is falling apart. Her boyfriend was stabbed. He bled to death in her kitchen. Mallory was the one who stabbed him. But she can’t remember what happened that night. She only remembers the fear . . .

When Mallory’s parents send her away to a boarding school, she thinks she can escape the gossip and the threats. But someone, or something, has followed her. There’s the hand that touches her shoulder when she’s drifting off to sleep. A voice whispering her name. And everyone knows what happened. So when a pupil is found dead, Mallory’s name is on their lips. Her past can be forgotten but it’s never gone. Can Mallory live with that?

Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza (Harper) - March 12, 2013




Seriously? This is bada$% cover. The way her face peels away in pixels says so much about this book. I cannot wait to read this.

Pitched as a "Bourne Identity"-type sci-fi thriller about a teenage girl who discovers that she is a Mobile Intel Life-like Android, an experiment in artificial intelligence created by the U.S. government, and her scientist mother, who kidnapped her when she was found to have human emotions.

A few other honorable indie mentions :)




Ali Cross Desolation series, Book 2 Desolate (Out now!) And her first in the series Become is free!






COVER: Love the despair of this. An angel being struck down from heaven. I loved Ali's first book and can't wait to see what is in store 




Where darkness lives, all will become desolate.

It’s been two months since sixteen-year-old Desolation Black chose Earth over Hell and her friend Miri over her eternal love, Michael. 

Desi goes through the motions of life: school, training, remaining vigilant against the forces of darkness, but her dreams are full of the choices she wishes she could change. When she’s injured by a strange demon, old temptations arise, and the lines between good and evil blur. Desi discovers those choices aren’t so final after all.

And this time, the power of love—for a friend, for a lover—may not be enough to save her from the darkness that lurks within




The Sundering - Megg Jensen (coming Sept 2013). You can go ahead and get ready by starting the The Swarm series with Sleepers - Book 1 (free right now!) and Afterlife - Book 2 





COVER: This is just spooky. People with white hair freak me out! And the eyes. Love this.



After defeating the Malborn and losing the person she loved most, Lianne escapes to Chase's homeland. With her appearance forever marked by death, Lianne feels like a monster both on the outside and the inside. She retreats into herself, fearful of what she's become.

But she can't hide forever. http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...

Autography - Time to have ebook signings!

You can still enter for free marketing ebook by asking a marketing questions HERE.



Today Tom Waters is here to talk about Autography. He is an author as well as the founder of Autography - an app/site that allows authors to personally sign ebooks for readers.














Hi Tom, tell us about yourself/books!



I'm an author, speaker, and consultant working in the Intelligence Community.  Most of my books have been nonfiction, but a couple of years ago I wrote a mystery/thriller called SECRET SIGNS.  I've recently had a spy novel cleared by CIA review (a requirement as a former employee) and working on a sequel right now.




What is Autography? 




Autography is a digital media firm with a patent pending method for autographing ebooks and other digital media.  We debuted at Book Expo America last year.  We were there again this year supporting eight different authors – from Warren Adler (War of the Roses) to Scaredy Squirrel (yes, a 'real' author).  We sponsored some authors in our booth, others in their publisher's booths, and a few on the big Author Stage.  A really great event this year, especially when fans can get a signed picture of their favorite author as the autograph for their ebook.




What made you start it?




Actually, it was my whining that did it.  An ebook I'd written on the NFL's intelligence operations (game film, scouting reports, etc) had become wildly popular with troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.  The USO invited me to join a tour with a bunch of NCAA football coaches.  I complained to my good friend Robert Barrett (IT executive in the space program) that 'they' could put a man on the moon, but I can't sign my ebook for the troops.  All these coaches would be signing balls, jerseys, and helmets (we took 3 tons of tchotchkes) and I had nothing to sign.  Robert figured out how I could sign copies for the troops with an Apple iPad.  I did 10 days and 20,000 miles across the Middle East.  Incredible trip. 




What benefits do you see for authors using autography?




It gives authors an opportunity to meet with fans anywhere.  I've done ebook signings in Starbucks, hotel bars, festivals, wine tastings – because the system handles all of the transaction responsibilities, the author can just concentrate on interacting with their fans.  We provide the author with all of the information from their signings: date, time, location, and email addresses for everyone they've autographed a book for.  Plus, the fan can export out that signature page to their Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or MySpace page with the touch of a button.  Great marketing for the author/publisher!!




How can an author join?




It's simple.  We need five things from an author:  their epub file, a head shot, book cover image, 2-3 sentence description of the book, and whatever greeting the author wants the fan to see.  The Autography app is available on iTunes and the author needs an Apple iPad to do the signing!!  Once we give you a logon and password, the author is ready to go. 




Provide any more information you would like.




Think about the options available now!  I did an ebook signing in Dublin, Ireland from my home in St Petersburg, Florida via Skype!  I've done ebook signings over Internet radio too.  You can do Ustream, Livecast, or Spreecast events easily and quickly.  Autography support multiple languages and currencies – take your virtual tour global!




For more information, go to their web site




If you would like a signed ebook of Untraceable, let me know at shelli@srjohannes.com and I can send you one. The cost is the same 2.99$ so there's no extra cost to you :)




You can follow Tom and Autography on Pinterest, Twitter, and the web site.http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...

Marketing Your Words!

The "Market Your Words" marketing and book promotion ebook will be released next week.

You can add it on your Goodreads now.



It's no longer enough for writer's to write good books. They must know how to market their words. 

This marketing book is for every writer who doesn't know where to start. It is a compilation of tips, strategies, and key steps from my marketing blog for authors, Market My Words.

It also includes marketing interviews from the industries top publishing editors, literary agents, and bestselling authors such as Jay Asher, Aprilynn Pike, Aimee Friedman, and more.





MYW will be available in ebook first and then paperback - both priced way under 10$.



The ebook will be about 200 pages of tips, strategies, and interviews some from this blog and some new.



The book covers topics like:




Everything you need to know about marketing
Learn how to brand yourself and your books
Create a winning marketing strategy and plan
Make the most of your social networks and online marketing
Bestselling book publicity
Self Publishing marketing tips
Interviews - authors, editors, agents and other publishing professional.
Resources





Today I'm taking your marketing questions. 




Comment and you will be entered into drawing for a free ecopy! :)




http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...

Guest Post: Writing for Boys

Bam!  Pow!  Screeech!
Should there be books written just for boys? 
Should there be books written just for girls?  Or should there be books for every young
reader, one size fits all?  What are
those editors/readers/librarians looking for, really? The debate rages on, with
passionate advocates on every side.  Luckily,
we writers don’t really have to take a side; all we have to do is to start writing
and see who our main characters become as the stories take shape in our heads. 




As we begin the writing process, knowing
our audience is invaluable, and that comes through research and experience –
oh, the experiences!  In my own case, I
spent years teaching in middle schools and high schools, and now, as an author,
school visits and readers’ letters help to keep this dinosaur current. My
weekly volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club doing “homework help”
(translation: “controlled chaos”) is key to get a glimmer of what’s going on in
the lives of both boys and girls.  Then,
living with the “ultimate guy,” my dear husband, a sports nut and avid reader,
also influenced my world view of how “guys (well, one guy anyway) see the
world.” 




Sometimes, a specific audience is
already targeted, as it was for my contracted reluctant reader series (Cover-to-Cover,
Perfection Learning), which is for boys ages 9-14.  Other times, the sense of the audience
evolves during the writing process, determined by the main character’s voice,
as it did for my most recent middle grade/tween mystery, ISLAND DANGER, which is
also for boys, 9-14. 




To focus specifically on writing
for boys, I’ve found that reading suspense á la Grisham, Patterson, and DeMille
and studying their use of lots of action and hooks in their plots were critical
to get me focused.  Additionally, books
on language and gender, such as YOU JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND by linguistics
professor Deborah Tannen, helped inform my writing. 




Tannen’s theory is that girls
primarily use language to “connect,” whereas boys use it to report a fact and
to establish dominance.  For boys, she
says, the “glue” that binds them together in a group is “activity,” whereas for
girls, it’s “talk.” Sure enough, my male main characters grab hold of the plot
and establish their own voices quickly, as opposed to my female main characters,
who seem to establish themselves with less overt physical action, more
dialogue, and at a more subtle pace. 




For example, the fourth through
eighth grade boys at my local Boys and Girls Club will read THE HUNGER GAMES,
with a female main character, but won’t pick up TWILIGHT, at least not in front
of other kids!  They love the suspense
and exciting action in the former, they tell me.  The fourth through eighth grade girls will
read both books.  Most boys I talk to say
they love mysteries, and they seem drawn to overt struggles and strong conflicts
between good and evil.  When I write for
boys, I keep these theories in mind, so Todd, my main character in ISLAND
DANGER, plays a lot of soccer, surfs, and gets into fistfights.  Yet, he definitely has an empathetic side as
well, which he uses to assess the other characters, to make his decisions, and
take action. 




            There are
plenty of examples of books that contravene these theories, and many authors
who will disagree, but, as a writer, I find that these ideas help keep me
grounded as I write and revise my manuscripts for boys.  With any luck, young readers will pick up one
of my books and find an experience that resonates with them, whether they’re
boys or girls. 




If you tweet or email Margo the following, you will be added to a drawing for a free book.






For a Tweet to @ipapaverison:  Enter me in #mg ISLAND DANGER ebook giveaway




For an email to ms@margosorenson.com: (subject line) Island Danger ebook Giveaway 




===================






Island Danger




Tween Mystery Action Adventure

When fourteen-year-old soccer star Todd arrives in Hawaii, he hears that radical, militant Hawaiian activists have hidden weapons in a nearby ravine to use for their rebellion against the U.S. government to gain Hawaiian independence. Even though he’s warned that people are raising marijuana or “pakalolo” in the ravine, guarding their crops with rifles, pit bulls, and explosives, Todd plans to scout the ravine and find the weapons, hoping he can finally earn his family’s respect and find some adventure to offset his boring summer. What will Todd discover in the ravine that could force him to rethink everything he’s believed?




Margo Sorensen's Bio




Author of twenty-seven books, Margo Sorenson was born in Washington, DC, and spent the first seven years of her life in Spain and Italy, living where there were few children her age, so books became her friends. She finished her school years in California, graduating from the University of California at Los Angeles. After teaching high school and middle school and raising a family of two daughters, Margo is now a full-time writer, writing primarily for young people of all ages, toddlers through high schoolers. Margo enjoys writing for young readers since she believes they are ready for new ideas and experiences, and they really enjoy "living" the lives of the characters in books. She enjoys meeting with her readers in school and library settings from Minnesota to California and Hawaii.




Besides winning recognition and awards for her books from various groups, including the American Library Association, Margo was invited to donate and archive her working papers with the internationally-known children's literature collection, the Kerlan Collection, at the University of Minnesota. After having lived in Hawaii, California, and Minnesota, Margo and her husband now live full-time in La Quinta, California. When she isn't writing, she enjoys visiting her grandchildren, playing golf, reading, watching sports, traveling, and hearing from her readers.  

http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...

Winners of Hugh Howey ebooks

Congrads to the following for winning the ebook OMNIBUS by Hugh Howey.





Claudette Young




Rebecca Campbell




Ansha Kotyk - (Twitter contest)



please email me at shelli@srjohannes.com with your ereader format !http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...

IndieView: Hugh Howey on writing eshorts (Bestselling Author of WOOL series)

NOTE: Hugh Howey will be joining us on #indiechat tonight (Tuesday) at 9PM EST to answer more questions about writing eshorts. You can use tweetchat.com and enter in the hashtag #indiechat to follow easily.




Enter for an ecopy of Omnibus below.




For those who haven't heard of Hugh Howey, he is an indie writer who started publishing a couple years ago. His first short story WOOL took off last spring. When readers begged for more, he released several more editions within 6 months and quickly became a household name in the indie world :) He just signed with Kristin Nelson, sold Wool to RH in UK, and sold his film rights to Ridley Scott.




Today, I'm giving away a couple ebooks of his OMNIBUS edition which collects the five WOOL books into a single volume. This is the story of mankind clawing for survival, of mankind on the edge. The world outside has grown unkind, the view of it limited, talk of it forbidden. But there are always those who hope, who dream. These are the dangerous people, the residents who infect others with their optimism. Their punishment is simple. They are given the very thing they profess to want: They are allowed outside.




And BTW, he's like the nicest guy! Now here's Hugh.




=================


Hi Hugh, thank you so much for stopping by. 




Can you tell us about you and your indie journey to publication?




I've been a voracious reader all my life. I grew up on a farm in North Carolina, the son of a school teacher and a farmer. I tried to write my first novel when I was twelve, and it was just awful. Not that it mattered: I lacked the dedication to finish the work. Over the years, I've probably started a dozen books before losing interest.




It wasn't until I started reviewing books for a popular website that I learned the dedication of writing on a deadline. I also got hooked on the immediate feedback from readers (possibly why I love getting e-mails and reviews so much). While covering book conventions for this website, I heard successful authors repeat a mantra over and over: If you want to write, what's stopping you? Just sit down and write.




This really hit me hard. I had this childhood dream, and it was perfectly attainable. It didn't matter if what I wrote was garbage, what mattered is that I finished a novel just to say that I had. So I sat down with renewed spirit and wrote my first book. To my surprise, it didn't stink as much as I feared it would. It even got picked up by a small publisher, which meant working with a professional editor and not having to pay a dime to print the thing.




After taking this first step, I was hooked. I kept writing, and when the contract came in for the next book, I decided to try publishing on my own. I wanted to be able to get stories out as fast as I could write them and also maintain control over the entire process. 




Things were growing steadily until WOOL came out, and then they went into overdrive. What started as a 60-page novelette turned into a serialized adventure that stormed up the bestseller lists. It's been a wild ride ever since, one I keep expecting to come to a stop, but it still finds some way to press on. Recently, we announced both a movie deal with Ridley Scott and a hardback release from Random House in the UK. All from a short story that I didn't even promote when it came out.




I love seeing indie authors take off and all because of reader's word of mouth! What are the top three things to think about when writing a short story series?




First, plan ahead. Make sure you know where the overall story arc is going so you can foreshadow and plan appropriately. When writing a novel, you don't publish the first chapter until you've already written and revised the final chapter. Writing a series does not usually afford this luxury, and you don't want to make it up as you go like the writers of LOST did. Readers are savvy. They can tell in an instant when a creator doesn't have a handle on their own material.




Secondly, keep up the pace. If you are giving readers less to read, you better dole it out more often. A short story a month or a novella every two months feels about right. You want to keep your material fresh and your name visible.




Finally, listen to your readers. I check out every review and read every e-mail. With a series, you get a rare opportunity that a novel writer misses out on: you get feedback that you can actually use for future "chapters." I've heard from readers that some issues are unclear, or some characters need more attention, and I definitely allow this to guide my writing. It's like having beta readers help you steer your work so that it's as awesome as it can be.




Since you have become so successful, can you share some of the marketing tools or secrets you used to get the word out?




I've tried everything, but nothing works like word of mouth. I Tweet and use Facebook and participate on writing forums. I blog and do interviews, Skype with book clubs and speak to classrooms. But honestly, nothing will drive sales and continue to drive them quite like word of mouth. And how to achieve that is a mystery to me. I think the story has to be not only good and well-told, it has to be interesting, puzzling, engaging. It has to be addicting. And there's no way to really sit down and guarantee you'll achieve that. Even the masters write duds. All of my books aren't jumping off the digital shelves with the same vigor. So maybe this is the answer to marketing yourself: Write a lot and don't write the same thing over and over. Spread yourself across genres. Write works of varying lengths. You never know what's going to take off, so diversify, give yourself a chance, don't buy multiple lottery tickets with the same number and expect your chances to budge an inch. 




Now, I know you just signed with Kristin Nelson at Nelson Agency. I think she is the dream agent of many authors :) How is it to work with an agent after being independent? 




Agents rock if you get the right one. Kristin Nelson has got to be the best agent in the business for authors with self-pubbed success. I don't think there's any doubt. I've heard it from editors at major publishers, from authors, and even from other agents. What Kristin has done for me is allow me to thrive where I'm already having success while branching off in ways I never would have imagined. We've signed over a dozen foreign publication deals in the past few months in addition to that major Hollywood deal with Ridley Scott, Steve Zaillian, and 20th Century Fox. I never would have managed this on my own.




Co-agents are also key. Jenny Meyer, Kassie Evashevski, and Gray Tan have all done amazing things to get WOOL into the right hands. If you self publish and you begin to have some real success, start reaching out to agents who support hybrid authors, those who want to go the traditional route as well as stay indie. It's the best decision you'll ever make as an author.




So what is next for you? Will you stay indie, go traditional or both?




My next work is a horrible little zombie book told from their perspective. I'll be begging people to not read it. Seriously, it's awful. After that, I'll return to the silo with the second of the prequels. Once I wrap up that series, I've got a new one I'm dying to start. There's just so much to write and not enough time! And for the first time in my life, I've got a legion of fans hounding me for more, so it isn't just the pressure I put on myself anymore. Not that I would have it any other way. 




Thanks Hugh.




You can find him online at Facebook, Twitter, and at his web site.




Today I'm giving away the whole ebook of the WOOL series called Ominibus. You will be able to choose your format. To be eligible, you must leave a question for Hugh, fill out the Rafflecopter form, and be a follower of my blog . There are also several ways to get extra entries if you like.



a Rafflecopter giveaway
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...

Author/Blogger Bashing is Not Cool!

Okay so I rarely get pulled into the nasty debates online. Whether it is about self pubbing or blogger reviews. Unless someone is dissing a friend? I try to stay out of it. Why? Not because I am a pushover - trust me - but because it's not worth my time to defend my choices or my writing or fuel a fire that is already blazing out of control.



I'd rather spend that time doing positive things like writing, helping people, or building relationships with readers.



I also try to never get pulled into the blogger debates with authors. Why authors are commenting on bad reviews or if bloggers are being too harsh.



You see - no matter what you say - you can't control what other people think. No matter how much evidence you have to support a point - they will always think what they think and show something contrary. Words don't change people. Actions do.



So my philosophy is to always TRY to be positive, treat everyone with kindness, and make my own way with integrity. I voice my opinion without taking others down. And sometimes I turn the other cheek b/c it's just not worth it. I don't need anyone else to see my own point or wave a big flag when I pass by. It'd be nice but I don't need or seek that.



But this debate on Goodreads has gotten under my skin. And I don't blame bloggers for getting peeved.



I feel the need to speak out. Why? Not because I have much of an opinion on the actual "crime committed" by some poor blogger. And not because I have any ill feelings toward the author who is bashing them.



I need to speak out because I love bloggers and want to stick up for them!



I'm tired of the media grabbing hold of a story that rakes bloggers across the coals.



And I am SOOOOOO tired of hearing authors - indie or traditional - complain about book bloggers. I'm tired of reading stories about unethical bloggers. Im tired of authors calling bloggers bullies b/c they give a bad review.Because for every jerky blogger there are 100 bloggers doing the right thing in the best way. Bloggers are not all one person (believe it or not) and holding the masses responsible for a few jerks isn't right and isn't fair.



You see I would not be here if it wasn't for book bloggers.



Seriously, bloggers (fellow bloggers as well as book bloggers) gave me and my book a chance when no one else would. Not only that, but bloggers as a whole have been huge supporters to me and very loyal. They have gone out of their way to be relentlessly behind me and Untraceable.



Now before you say "oh, well no wonder she likes bloggers...blah blah." Let me just say - I've had my share of bad experiences just like any author. I've had a blogger flake. sux. I've gotten a bad review. sux again. I even had one blogger personally attack my character, which somehow ended up as a personal attack on me as a person and a writer. Did it hurt? Yes. Did it make me mad? Kinda. Did I cry? Probably (Ok yes, but I'm sensitive.)



But who cares? Just because someone lashes out to you is not a reason to lash back.



Out of the few bloggers who havent been professional or objective, out of the few who seem to bully online -  there are hundreds that are awesome. Many that have supported me so that's what I focus on. Those are the bloggers I focus on.



Now I don't think many people remember this fact about bloggers because we are all so used to the blogging world by now - we take it for granted. So we expect bloggers to do certain things. To act a certain way.



But newsflash!  Bloggers do not HAVE to say jack about you or your book.



That's right. Shocking. They don't have to support you. They don't have to read your book. They don't need to post about them. And, they don't owe you or any writer anything!



BTW - the majority of them never see a cent - never get paid - for reading or writing or posting reviews. The majority of them are either in school or have a full time job and still find time.



Book bloggers read and review books because they LOVE books. Because they WANT to help out the authors they love. They want to read as many books as possible. They want to review. They don't want to let anyone down. They want to be behind making a book or an author a great success. Just because. They get nothing for it.



Okay sure, they get some free books. But who cares? They DESERVE those books for all the hours they put into blogging. Most of them read about book every day or 2! I read 1 a month if I'm lucky! Some stay up late to finish b/c they said they would. Most post book reviews every single day. Not just on their blog, but they take time to post them on other sites too like Amazon, Goodreads, B&N etc. These posted reviews are not for them! It is solely to help the author generate buzz. To give the book a boost. To help get a book in the hands of readers. Book bloggers spend hours and hours and hours out of their daily life reading and blogging and posting interviews and helping with cover reveals.  They drive hours to support authors at signings. They go out of their way to promote books.



And to be frank - we authors LOVE this. Especially indies because we get very little press. Bloggers are all we have really. Besides a few ads and a few prayers of book reviews. The bloggers make it possible for us to build a name. So indies especially appreciate every single review or comment or post or shout out we get. I know I appreciate every single review. Good or bad, I don't care. And I wil thank every single blogger for their reviews out of pure appreciation. Because I know that blogger took the time to read my book, to think about it, and then take the time to post about it.



So good or bad, I know touched them in some way.



Then, some traditional author comes in and complains about an blogger's review because it's negative (join the crowd! Even Hemingway gets bad reviews!) and then an indie author comes in and starts bashing book bloggers because they either don't read her book, won't respond to her, or because the bloggers don't review her book fast enough. Then a random blogger starts a mob online and editors and agents pipe in.



STOP IT!!!!!



Seriously, if you don't like a blogger(s), then don't use them again. Don't send them free books. Don't contact them. Don't promote them. And don't tell your friends or editors to use them.



This thread going on at Goodreads is on verge of bullying. Not to mention, since an indie author started it, somehow it's giving indie authors a bad name now. You see, for some reason, indie authors get stuck with a stigma that we are bitter or have a chip on our shoulder. Most of us don't. But a few do and those are the ones that make it hard for indies to break out. They are the ones that shut doors others open.



Now, because one indie author is complaining, it will make it even HARDER to get bloggers to open up their blogs and give indie books a chance.



So for an author - indie or traditional - to go out and actually threaten to publicly post a "war criminal list" of bloggers they don't like is asinine. What -  are we in some kind of oppressive society or medieval ages where a public thrashing or scarlet letter helps. The only purpose could be in the hopes of tapping into some kind of mob mentality, which is stupid, immature, and again - let me just say - down right cyber-bullying. Which is something all of us writers - especially YA - are outwardly against.



This bullying mentality upsets me more - because a lot of the bloggers I interact with are teens! And let me say for the record (no matter what that author thinks), I respect the teen bloggers just as much as any blogger. I find them intelligent, passionate, and downright smart. When I was a teen, I would not have been organized enough to even run a blog. Let alone read and post reviews like most of these teen bloggers do. So I would never bash a teen blogger  not only because they are teen and I am an adult but because they are freekin' audience! Why in the world would I want to disrepect them in any way?



They are why I write!



So why is it we have to go after teen bloggers now? The ones trying to juggle their own bullies,  school work, parents, hormones, boys, and yet somehow still find time to do positive things - like studying, reading, and reviewing books.



Here's my advice to authors



1) Stop complaining and just write. This goes for indies and traditional authors getting caught up in these debates about bloggers, about self publishing, and about negative reviews. If you spent half the time writing that you do arguing online and bashing other people's decisions, you'd get a lot more done and you'd become an even better writer.



2) Cut the book bloggers some slack. Seriously. Some of these bloggers get about 300 books a year! Most don't even take indie books because they are so swamped with traditional books. Does it suck if you don't get reviewed? Yup. Does it upset me when someone calls my character a B%$#@? Uh huh. Does it hurt when someone says "no I don't review indies" just because I am not with Harper Teen? Obviously. I'm only human.



But am I going to lash out about it? Nope. Not worth my time and I am a better person than that.



3) Please read the blogger policies. Most of the bloggers I have worked with have NEVER promised me a review unless they signed up to be on a blog tour. And even then, some had to bow out at the last minute. Because guess what, they have real lives and real jobs so shit happens. Life happens. Things change. Tragedies occur. It sux, but it's life. Bitching about it doesn't help anyone. Not to mention, some bloggers may not post reviews because they might be negative. So they may be giving you a break. So - if you haven't gotten a review, don't jump to any conclusions about them being total slackers. You never know the reason why they didn't post anything (and to be frank you may not want to.:)



4) Indies - lets stop getting pulled into these online debates. It only hurts us - as a group - in the long run. The best way to move forward is to take a step forward. On your own. Not expect others to follow. We do not need to defend the steps we've taken nor do we need to tromp over people in the process just to prove a point. Treat others as you want to be treated. I mean please, I learned that when I was only 3. Being negative - esp online or in open forums - is NOT attractive and does not make people want to support you or your book. No matter how good you or your book are. I'm not saying, be a wimp and let people walk all over you. Do you stick up for yourself and your friends if they are wronged? Sure, but look at the way you are doing it first. It is really helpful?



My advice to book bloggers



1) PLEASE don't get baited into these stupid arguments. These people are trying to get your attention and good or bad, it gets them noticed.  Being a parent, I know this to be true. If my kid wants attention, he or she will get it one way or another. Good or bad. Any response will give them what they want. Attention. I've seen authors get tons of publicity for saying mean things - all because everyone talked about it and it went viral. Why even give them the press or satisfaction?



2) PLEASE don't lump all of us indie authors into one category. Just as each of you should be judged on your own blog merit and ethics, we indies ask you do the same for us. One author does NOT speak for many. So please don't close down your blog to indie books because of one indie author.





3) Try and be respectful in your reviews - good or bad. It's totally fine if you don't like a book. I don't like many. We love it when you make intelligent comments on characterization or lack of plot. And some of the time, you are dead on. It's the mean "personal attacks" on an author that aren't effective. Other authors notice those personal remarks and make sure to keep those bloggers off the list. Don't be THAT blogger.




4) Be clear in your review policies. Authors would rather you say you cant review a book then say you will and not. Be sure you state what they can expect.


Look, every author gets a crummy review or gets snubbed at some point. That's life. That's part of writing. Take the good with the bad. You have to accept the rejections and bad reviews and "nos" along with the praises and fan letters and yes's. I'd rather get a response or a crummy review than no review or no response. At least something I did stirred some passion in someone or at least I know where I stand. If you cant take it - don't get into publishing because this is tough biz with tons of nos and rejections and disappointments. If you think you will write and not get a bad review or never get snubbed by another author or a blogger, you are wrong. It happens. 



So if you have a beef with a blogger - please don't take it to the Internet. Just deal with it professionally and courteously. (I'm sure there may be exceptions to this but I can't think of one right now). Personally attacking someone or publicly humiliating someone online is just not cool. It's BULLYING and we all know some of the serious consequences of that especially in the YA world. You never know how you can hurt someone. And over a missed review? A bad review? It's just not worth it.



No matter who we are - bloggers, indies, authors, editors, agents - it's about showing mutual respect to each other and acting with professionalism.



I believe you get what you give in this world.



So can't we all just get along? We are all on the same side of this - we just love books.



I say, Stop the Blogger Bashing.




Thoughts?










http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...

Cover Love Giveaway!

In celebration of the Uncontrollable cover release I am holding a giveaway for SIGNED copies of both Untraceable and Uncontrollable! Just enter the rafflecopter below!




a) Tweet, Blog or FB




You can post the cover on your blog, FB, or tweet it. 
When you do - fill out the rafflecopter below. 
You get one point per channel above (total of 3 points here)






b) Pinning on Pinterest (extra 2 points)


Sign up for Pinterest if you are not on it.
Create a “Nature of Grace” board
Pin BOTH Nature of Grace covers- Untraceable and Uncontrollable - on it
Pins must include a link to this contest (so the post you are reading right now) within the description 
You must fill out the rafflecopter below
If users have trouble entering by rafflecopter email kate@srjohannes.com with the appropriate links
Contest ends July 27th, 2012
Winners will be announced on the July 31st, 2012




Note: for every point - you get one entry!






COVER LOVE Prize: Contestants can win a signed paperback copy of Untraceable AND Uncontrollable 








a Rafflecopter giveaway





http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...