David Chuka's Blog, page 7

Easter GoodReads Giveaway and Enter to Win $50

About the Book

Title: Billy and The Monster Who Ate All The Easter Eggs | Author: David Chuka | Publication Date: March 23, 2013 | Publisher: Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing | Pages: 32 | Recommended Ages: 3 to 8

Summary: Join Billy and Monster in this third episode of the series titled Billy and the Monster who Ate All the Easter Eggs. Billy and Monster love all the holidays as they get to spend quality time together. However, their best holiday is Easter as they get to eat their favorite food…CHOCOLATE! This year, they’re spending Easter with Grandma Chocalicious who loves Chocolate even more than Billy. She’s an expert at making chocolate cake, chocolate waffles and even chocolate pasta. This year Grandma Chocalicious has made a pyramid of Easter eggs for her party on Easter Sunday. Billy and Monster want one of the Easter eggs but Grandma says they have to wait till Easter Sunday. What happens when Billy and Monster tip toe downstairs and the pyramid of Easter eggs comes falling down?

Get your copy of this funny book for kids of all ages that is not only full of laughs but also has a lesson weaved in that you’ll love sharing with your loved ones.

 

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* Print copy includes FREE coloring book inside *
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The Buzz

“Experience is the best teacher as Billy and his “purple shadow” learn a sweet lesson in Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs. Beautifully illustrated, nicely formatted, this quick, easy story will be read over and over again.” ~ 5 Star Review, Julia B., Amazon

“My daughter has really been enjoying David Chuka’s Billy and Monster books. This is another fun addition to the “family.” As always, the story has a lovely moral (this time teaching the value of moderation – definitely the biggest word in the book)! It’s based on the very realistic theme of overindulging in chocolate/sweets, which virtually anyone can relate to and which kids find a lot of fun. And, awesome pictures as always. Definitely recommend it.” ~ 5 Star Review, Renee B., Amazon

“I really like the little monster in this book and how they get into trouble together. What child hasn’t snuck into the cache of candies that their parents have hidden? Cute story with a lesson for the little ones in your family!” ~ 5 Star Review, Patricia T., Amazon

“This is a cute story about a little boy Billy and his funny friend Monster. They love chocolate so much that they forget about obeying to older. At night, they sneaked to the chocolate egg pyramid, started eating the chocolate eggs and made a big mess. On the morning, they not only got in a big trouble, but they also got a bad stomach pain. They both had to learn a lessons about MODERATION. Nice illustrations, book well written.” ~ 5 Star Review, OPV, Amazon

“Billy and his monster friend enjoy lots of fun in this book, filled with great pictures and a cute story. It shares a lot about celebrating holidays, and intertwines humor and family love throughout the story. Hidden in the story is a nice message about eating in moderation, a well needed lesson in our culture of over-eating. Billy ends up being proud of himself and makes good decisions by the end of the book, while all the while sharing some adventures with his cute monster friend. Great read to share with your children or grandchildren year round, not just for the Easter holiday.” ~ 5 Star Review, Katie W., Amazon

 

About the Author: David Chuka
David Chuka lives in London with his lovely wife and two adorable children. His family are usually the first people to hear his funny and quirky tales. He was inspired to write his first book, ‘ If You See a Doctor ‘ after he struggled to find a book for his daughter who was a beginner reader.

He’s gone on to write more books including the popular ‘Billy and Monster‘ series, a funny set of books about a little boy and his Monster who get into all sorts of funny situations and learn about moderation, friendship, self control, bravery etc. Young children can relate to Billy and you’ll love sharing his adventures with your children, grandchildren and loved ones.

As a father himself, he has parents at heart when he writes. He recognizes that bedtime has to be one of the best parts of the day for parents and grandparents as it gives them the opportunity to bond with their little ones. He believes you’ll enjoy sharing his stories with your loved ones at bedtime.

In David Chuka’s books, you can stay rest assured that quality and captivating images will always complement the story to ensure your loved ones are spell-bound as you read to them. Beginner readers will also enjoy discovering new words as they read his books.

He has so many stories to tell and can’t wait to share them with you and your loved ones.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Google+ | Pinterest | Amazon Author Page

 

Want to win a copy of Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs?

Enter for your chance to win 1 of 2 print copies of Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs by David Chuka in a Goodreads giveaway (Open U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Australia; Ends April 17, 2014).

Goodreads Book Giveaway


Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs
by David Chuka

Giveaway ends April 17, 2014.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

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* $50 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: One winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: May 13, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, David Chuka and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

My London Book Fair 2014 Experience – Day Two

Hope you liked my post on my first day at the London Book Fair 2014. If you haven’t read it, then click First Day at the London Book Fair 2014 to read all about it.

 

Marketing Your Book

Day Two began with a workshop that had about 8 people sat round a table with a moderator. The topic of the workshop was selling and marketing your book internationally. While the workshop didn’t address the international aspect of marketing your book, there was still a lot of good stuff to take home.

Some of the words of wisdom shared included making sure your book cover sizzles. Don’t check your book sales every day, instead use that time to find bloggers who can promote your book. Everyone at the table was encouraged to share what was working for them.

With regard to social media, I learned we have to tweet about hot topics that are in the social consciousness. He gave the example about football and how you can win new followers by talking about a recent game. To this end, if you follow me on @davidchuka you’ll see me begin to share more about my football team and the challenges of parenting.

The moderator said that Twitter works but you just have to be committed to tweeting every day. At this juncture, I feel it’s necessary to interject that our primary focus as writers is to write so if you’ve not fulfilled your main calling, then don’t sweat the small stuff i.e. social media.

To improve your brand name across social media, make sure you’re using the same username/tag across your profiles. I think you’ll agree that I have a consistent brand name across my profiles apart from Pinterest.

Blog – http://www.davidchuka.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Author.David.Chuka

Twitter – @davidchuka

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKbSJqQe5FQaJHvj-n5R4Gw

Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/boldtrends/

 

We were encouraged to try paid PR as they can get you into newspapers and also help with press releases. Make sure to haggle on price if you want to go this route as there are always deals to be struck. Ideally before the deadline for advert submissions as they have last minute deals. I’ve never used this method before and would be interested to know if you’ve had any success with it.

Cross promoting helps so try to get to know other authors in your genre. I have to say that I have personally found Facebook groups and Twitter plus GoodReads to be a great place to find fellow authors in my niche. A great man once said that iron sharpens iron and when it comes into getting into an alliance of like-minded authors, the power that we can give each other is huge.

 

After the workshop, I went to another workshop that I have to admit was pretty boring. Not because of the content but more the delivery of the content. The subject had to do with legal matters. I’m glad I took the business card of the moderator as it’s something I know I’ll definitely need help with in the future.

 

Self-Publishing and Traditional Publishing in the same Bed

For the afternoon session, I went to possibly my best seminar of the day titled ‘Eating the Cake Too: The New Breed of Hybrid Authors have the Best of Both Worlds.’ This session was moderated by Diego Marano who is the head of Kobo in the UK and the special guest was Hugh Howey.

Hugh stressed that writing comes first and should reign supreme above everything else. He talked about how when he first began, his idea of success would be to sell his books to 5000 people over the course of his lifetime. Hugh was asked how he managed to balance all his responsibilities in addition to writing. While he wasn’t ungrateful for all the success that has come his way, I got the distinct impression he missed the old days when his life was purely centred on writing. He made a statement to the effect that we should write as much as we can now and hope our 10th book is the breakaway success before other commitments took us away from writing.

He shared how he believed we’re going back to how stories used to be told which involved a direct engagement between the storyteller and his audience who could give him instant feedback on what part of his story was working and which wasn’t. He gave the analogy of people in the music world who played live and used the audience feedback to gauge where they needed an improvement on their performance. With social media, we can begin to engage once again directly with our audience and involve them in the storytelling.

This reminded me of how the father of a student at a Primary school I did a reading at reached out to me on Twitter and said how his daughter liked my books and reading. I replied back and said it was a pleasure to read to her and her school friends. In light of Hugh’s advice, I should have taken this a step further and asked him if I could send him a copy of my next book or asked him which character his daughter liked the best. I believe the keyword here is Engagement.

 

Below is a short video I shot from the second row with Hugh talking about a deal he recently struck.

 

Book Marketing Tips from 7-Figure Indy Warriors

The final seminar which I attended was chaired by Indy trailblazers Bella Andre and Barbara Freethy. They were both once upon a time traditionally published but switched to Self-Publishing a few years ago. Bella recently signed a 7-figure print only deal with Harlequin MIRA.

 

Bella kicked it off by talking about branding. She showed us a slide of all her book covers and said being that she came from a traditionally published background where the author didn’t have a lot of input in the marketing of their books, she wanted to get it right with her covers when she switched. She said she wasn’t hung up on people knowing the title of her books but wanted to build the Bella Andre brand and that’s why they’re always so BIG on her covers.

 

A great brand should be instantly recognisable and consistent. She advised that we need to fulfil the promise we make to the reader with our book cover. So the images and title should be a reflection on what’s on the inside of the book. She said something she had noticed with a lot of fiction authors is that we only think about the title but the sub title is equally as important.

Think about the holes in the market. What holes/gaps are there in your market that you can exploit? She gave the example of writing under the pseudonym ‘Lucy Kevin’ to capture a segment of the contemporary romance market she felt was being served since the Bridget Jones books.

Readers love knowing that they have more books to look forward to so give it to them and make sure the story in your series is open-ended. People discover you with each new book so aim to write more books in your series. She personally aims to release a book every 2-4 months.

You can maximise the income from your published books by doing one of the following

-       Converting them to audiobooks

-       Having print books

-       Film and TV

-       Selling/licensing the foreign rights

-       Translating them into foreign language

With regard to book translations, she advised to make sure that your translator has experience in translating books and you need to get a proof-reader to check what they’ve done. Your book could live or die on the strength of your translator. The major languages she said we should target are German, Portuguese (with the Brazilian market in mind), Spanish and Italian. You can convert your published books to audio by using the Amazon service acx.com which will not only upload it to Amazon but other retail channels as well.

 

Barbara drew our attention to the fact that we could draw attention to our latest published books by having a Facebook party. You can also boost your posts on Facebook. She said something you could do is along with the creation of your Facebook page is to create a Facebook group. This is so fans of your books have a place to congregate and discuss your books. This way, the onus isn’t on you to keep the conversation going.

She mentioned something about the fact that she only had about two thousand plus fans on her Facebook page but had a friend who had more than twenty thousand but wasn’t selling much. Her conclusion from this is you can’t equate the success of an author to the amount of fans they had on Facebook.

Something she said that caught my attention and I’ve never tried is that you can update your status on GoodReads the way you could leave a post on Facebook. Use Ereadernews.com to advertise your book as you only pay for clicks. This is another channel I will be exploring. I’ve used them for free days but not for paid promos.

Another thing she said was to always think about keywords and have them in your description and author profile as this is a way people find you on Amazon and the other retail platforms.

Have a 5 year plan. I think this is very important as we sometimes tend to get discouraged if we don’t see sales or just a few sales when we click into our KDP account. Speaking of KDP accounts, she advised us not to check it too often as it could either make you depressed or over-excited.

Have your name big on the cover. The perception is that if your name is big on the cover then you must be BIG. I have to say this was another aha moment and looking through Bella and Barbara’s Amazon author page and viewing all their book titles, I could see they really were practising what they preach. You might not be big at the moment but you have to Fake it, till you BECOME it!

 

We all need to think like publishers and play with price, covers, description etc. This reminds me of a one on one talk I had with Stephanie Bond on Day One and she said she brought it to the attention of a friend that one of her books wasn’t doing so well in the UK market. They went through a couple of things and her friend pointed out that she began the description to that book with the phrase ‘Welcome back to Lexington, Kentucky.’ They both agreed that Lexington might not be a place familiar to an international audience. As soon as she changed this, an hour later, she began seeing sales on this book. Amazing! This just goes to show that if you’re experiencing mediocre sales on a book you know should be doing better, then something can be done to boost sales.

 

If there’s one thing that all the Indy superstar writers were in consensus about and which Barbara said again, it was that we should all keep writing. Content is King. Bella said how at the start of each week she had to remind herself that it’s all about the book. Write more than one book. Spend more time writing than promoting.

Network with other authors and cross promote each other’s work. I’m all for this and if you need my help, simply shoot me an email via my Contact Us page.

Get to know retailers – how they work, their platforms, latest trends etc.

Hire professionals to do your cover, edit, proofread, write your description etc. write what you love and think BIG!

There was a big round of applause from the audience at the end of this seminar.

 

I’d really love to know your thoughts, comments, questions etc. regarding my two days at the London Book Fair. It really was a life changing experience and I hope to see you at London Book Fair 2015 which will be held at The Olympia from April 14 -16th. Hope to see you there!

 

My London Book Fair 2014 Experience – Day One

I was at the London Book Fair this week and I have to tell you that it was a life changing experience. I was there last year and it give me an insight into how the industry works. However, if I could describe my experience in word, it would be INSPIRED. A major part of this was due to the Self-publishing superstars who attended and not only gave their time by answering questions at various seminars and workshops but were also available at their stand to give away and sign free books, take pictures and answer more questions. There was a camaraderie amongst these authors, who all make quite juicy sums from their self-publishing business that I think we all need to emulate.

These Indy self-publishers included Stephanie Bond, Bella Andre, Lilliana Hart, Jacinda Wilder, Barbara Freethy and Hugh Howey. I actually had a photo opp with Hugh with our arms across each other like best buddies and then gues what? My phone‘s battery died. Anyways, Hugh was so gracious to sign my journal and I’m hopeful I’ll get that picture with him at some point in the future.

I attended most of the seminars and workshops with C.K. Omillin who is a fellow author from Belgium in my Facebook Group and it was a delight to share the experience with a friend. Ok, I hope you have your favourite beverage in hand and are all cozied up as I’m about to share the best bits from the London Book Fair 2014.

 

Book Discovery for Authors

On the panel for this seminar was Mark Coker who is the founder of Smashwords, Joanna Penn who is a UK author and international speaker and Andrew Rhomberg, the founder of Jellybooks.

Mark said something quite profound in that every book we write ought to take the reader to an emotionally satisfying extreme.

We were encouraged to connect with fellow authors as you never know which of your author friends could become a global mega star tomorrow. Joanna said something she does in all her books is to ask for people to join her mailing list at the end. If what you’ve written is good, the reader will be more willing to give you their name and email. Doing your keyword research is strongly related to book discovery. Joanna gave the example of how when she changed the title of a book on finding a new job to ‘Career Change,’ it started flying off the shelves.

Also have your social profile links at the end of your book so readers can connect with you. Andrew warned against always pitching your book on Twitter as it made you sound like a used car salesman. I have to admit that I see this a lot on Twitter and it is indeed a turn off.

Mark brought our attention to the pre-order feature which I see some authors using on Amazon. The beauty about the pre-order feature is that all the sales you make prior to the day your book is published are credited on that first day it’s published and that’s how and why some folks get into the New York times best seller list.

Everything you do is marketing. Marketing is sharing what you love with people who are interested. What this means is that people who follow you on Facebook or Twitter like you and are interested in what you’re up to, so sharing a bit about your life draws them closer into your brand and makes them more open to buy your stuff.

One thing I heard over and over again at the various seminars I attended by different authors and speakers is that we need to have one of our books FREE. This perma-free book serves to remove the barrier of entry, and allow people to try out your writing and then if they like it, they are more likely to buy your other paid books. I have to admit that I tried this half-heatedly and priced the first book in my Billy and Monster series at 99c and did get a few sales on different platforms. I was a bit discouraged by the amount of sales and took it off the other platforms and put it back on the Amazon KDP select program. Once my 3 month Select period is over, I’m taking it off and having it free on Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, Amazon and any other distribution platform out there. I think this whole free business was one of the big takeaways from LBF for me.

I believe it was Joanna who advised us to join the alliance of Indy authors where you can discover what’s new and exchange ideas with fellow authors. We need to grow our email lists to facilitate book discoverability. Once you earn their trust, you can then ask for their email. Mark said there are 2 things you get from a sale and that is royalties and a reader. However, a reader has the potential to become a fan and a fan has the potential to become a super fan.

Some interesting news which was shared and I verified at the Amazon Kindle stand is that UK resident authors can now convert their books to audio using acx.com. This an Amazon service that allows you to convert your books into audio. I called this company sometime last year and they said that there were plans to cater to the UK market but it wasn’t ready. Well, it’s now ready and I’ll be converting some of my non-fiction titles using this service. The whole idea to have your book on different platforms and formats is to aid your book being discovered.

 

Series Fiction

In the afternoon on Tuesday I attended a seminar titled ‘The Power of Series Fiction‘ This seminar was chaired by John Dougherty who is a children’s book writer and the panellists were Annie Finnis (Deputy Fiction Director at Usborne) and Chris Snowden (the managing director at working partners). This seminar was catered more to children’s book authors but I believe authors from other genres can apply some of the wisdom shared.

A standalone story is a contained story with an obvious end while a series fiction is seen from the outset as continuous. You create a world you hope your readers will want to belong to. Your readers want to be part of that world. You need to publish books in your series in quick successions. It is good to have a self-contained story within a series. Your books (in the series) have to be fun and enjoyable. Read other books that are in a series in your local bookshop or library to see what’s working.

Who are your readers? If your core reader is 10, then make your protagonist 12. Publishers sometimes move in herds and want to replicate the last series that was successful. Sometimes (I’m really tempted to say most times), the next big hit does not come from copying yesterday’s hit but something that’s new or an innovation of the old. It’s good to bear in mind that publishers go for a series for a younger age group as it encourages them to read.

 

Q&A with authors who have sold more than 15 million books!

I think the beauty of coming to the London Book Fair or any industry gathering for that matter is that you get to see live and in the flesh some of your heroes who you may have heard about, read about or seen on the television.

The Q&A session on Tuesday afternoon in the Authors HQ was with Bella Andre (who has sold more than 3 million books), Lilliana Hart (who has hit the New York bestselling charts on multiple occasions), Jacinda Wilder (who makes like 6 figures every month) and Candice Hern (who has sold close to a million books).

What linked these authors together was the fact that they are Indy publishers. It was refreshing and inspiring to listen to their stories and how they’ve all gotten to where they are. Bella said how her best advance while she was with a traditional publisher was $33000. Today she makes 7 figures a year. Jacinda (who writes with her husband and has 5 children) talked about how their big breakthrough came when they published book number 28! Lilianna talked about how she started from ground zero and is today one of the most celebrated Indy authors on the planet. Candice talked about how she has stayed in her lane writing historical romance and today dominates that category on Amazon.

Someone asked about a breakdown of their income across the different retail channels and I would say the average breakdown from the four ladies was about 35-40% on Amazon and then Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, Smashwords and then other platforms. It was really encouraging to know that authors who are not on the Amazon KDP program are still making a mint. I have to say here that you really have to find what works for you. I met Stephanie Bond who is also another superstar Indy author with 6 million books in circulation and she said how she’s kept most of her books on the Amazon KDP program as her monthly figures reveal the income she gets from borrows is equal to and sometimes exceeds paid purchases.

Yet again in this Q&A session, we were encouraged to give our books away for FREE. Consider what happens at a supermarket. You’re usually given a free sample to taste and invariably it leads the taster, if they like the stuff to become a buyer. Make the first book in your series free. Every time you publish a new book, you sell more books.

Bella stressed on how your cover art was a major part of your marketing and great attention and care and investment should be put into making this right. Know the keywords in your genre as that is what people use to find books. Include these keywords in your blurb and author profile.

Another major point that was mooted in the Q&A was to translate our books into foreign languages. Many foreign markets are starving for books in your genre, so you could very well be taking over those markets if you have your books translated.

The most important thing to remember is the Book. Everything is secondary’s to writing. By the way, guess who was running the mic for this session?… Hugh Howey! He ended the session by advising us to commit to writing 1-2 hours every day. Don’t miss a day.

After the Q&A session, I went to the Indy author booth and had a very good chat with Stephanie Bond. She writes Mystery thrillers and Romance. She shared with me how she gets the inspiration for her books, things you can do for research like speaking to the PR person at the local police station, watching certain TV programs for ideas on what to do and what not to do. I’ve always admired mystery writers but felt an absence of a law/criminal enforcement background would be a hindrance to writing a mystery. Stephanie assured me that that shouldn’t be a hindrance and that it all starts with a story. If you ever see a mystery thriller book with my named penned as the author, you know who sowed the seeds.

So that was it for Day One. I was truly inspired and couldn’t wait for Day 2. I’d be interested to know your thoughts or questions on my first day at the London Book Fair.

 

Click to read Day 2 ====> My London Book Fair 2014 Experience Day 2

Author Interview with Jeanne E. Rogers

It’s Author Interview Thursday and it’s my pleasure to introduce you to another author whose passionate about their craft and sharing with the writing community. I’ve been at the London Book Fair this week and I’ve had the privilege to meet various authors writing in different genres with a positive outlook on the future. If there’s anything that I’ve learned from the seminars at LBF, it’s that the publishing industry is evolving all the time and its imperative we keep our ears to the ground. That’s why I love AIT as every featured author has a unique experience which we can all learn from. I got to know today’s special guest after my interview with Sandra Bennett who was on the hot seat a few weeks ago. Her Middle Grade book ‘The Sword of Demelza,’ was awarded Honourable Mention in the Writer’s Digest’s 2013 eBook Awards. If you know her, then you how much she loves animals and this love is expressed in her books as well as most posts on her blog. She has so much to share with us and I know you’ll learn something new today. Without further ado, please join me in welcoming Jeanne E. Rogers.

 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and the first time someone complemented you on something you had written.

I’m a bit of a late bloomer. Although I have been writing for a long time, I finally decided that I was ready. The new ‘wild west’ of independent publishing gave me all the courage I needed in order to self-publish in 2013 and I was thrilled to do so. As for the personal stuff…  I was born in New York City, raised in NJ, moved to Connecticut, graduated from Western Connecticut State University, (take a breath), and worked for 25 years in corporate America, (Ugh! and double Ugh!). I have three wonderful children, Erik, David and Katharine, and a fabulous, very understanding husband named George. My family fills my life, and fuels my muse! Oh, I can’t forget Phoebe, my standard poodle companion! My first compliment came from a beta reader who filled my manuscript with marginalia. Everywhere there was a note about the fascinating characters or the setting, or how quickly the pace was set in motion. There were also suggestions for improvements or brilliant ideas that I hadn’t thought of. It was both inspiring and encouraging.

 

What can a reader expect when they pick up a book written by Jeanne E. Rogers?

Readers can expect to enter a fantasy world where anthropomorphized animals wander the pages. I put swords and shield in their paws and send them out on a thrilling adventure. Readers will be introduced to animals that they have never met before and something different and exciting will happen in every chapter. The characters are endearing, devoted to each other, and determined in their missions. Beyond the story itself, readers will become aware of the moral lessons subtly placed within the story. Lessons about love, diversity, dedication to one’s family, and to a cause are all woven within the tale. I want my young readers to recognize that we each play an important role in our lives no matter how small or insignificant we feel – we all matter, we all make a difference.

 

Congratulations on the publication of your first Middle Grade Lit. book – The Sword of Demelza. Can you tell us about the research process that went into writing this book?

Research for my book began three years prior to publication. The genre (fantasy) is pretty broad and there is much that includes talking animals. However, my goal is to teach youngsters about wild animals, specifically endangered animals, as I entertain. This is different from all the other animal books on the market today. The plight of endangered animals is a big subject, and there are many creatures whose lives are threatened. Some are critically endangered to the point that, one day soon, we may never see them again. The culprit is typically habitat deterioration. I decided that I would focus on one place at a time, and my love for Australia became my first focus. Every animal mentioned in the book was researched and if they were endangered I quoted the status of that animal as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In order to make this a reality for my readers, I added a glossary at the back of the book. There are many mentions of flora and fauna that are found only in Australia in this glossary. Children here in the United States will be introduced to much of this information for the first time via my stories.

 

Your blog has a lot of useful info on Animals some people may never have heard of. Can you tell us where this love of animals stems from and if it’ll be a major theme in your future books?

As a child, animals fascinated me. I was not allowed a dog or cat because my father was highly allergic. My mother was very much aware of my love for animals and when I brought home the garden snake, she allowed it to stay. That was the beginning. After that there were many other unusual animals, including iguanas, fish, even mice and rats – only a little bit of fur there!  I just seem to have an affinity for animals and they seem to have the same for me. Since establishing my own home, I have rarely been without a companion dog. I have had four poodles and two Afghan Hounds, which I showed extensively. That was fun, but expensive.

Australia fascinated me from the time I was very young. I mean, what child here in the US doesn’t think koalas or kangaroos are fascinating? Koalas only eat leaves, and they are so adorable, even though they can be a bit grumpy. What about the Kangaroo? How could you not be captivated by the fact that a baby kangaroo, pretty much just an embryo, can crawl up to its mother’s pouch, and develop there over several months? Kangaroos and koalas are odd animals, odd marsupials. Everything in Australia is odd and I want to spread the word, share the fascination. Come on – admit it, Australia is a really strange, and interesting place, but I love it, I truly do.

 

What role would you say social media plays in building an author’s platform and have you found it helpful in marketing your book?

Social media is crucial in building an author’s platform. I started three years prior to publication. I began with a blog, set up a fan page on Facebook, made inroads with LinkedIn and Google+, dabbled a bit in Twitter, and went completely wild on Pinterest. The Internet has changed the way people communicate and the way people market themselves and their businesses. As an author, you have to face the fact that once your book is published you are now in the business of selling that book. If you are lucky enough to land an agent or publisher it doesn’t mean that you can stand back and let them take the social media reigns and do the marketing for you. As a matter of fact, you can be sure that they will not allow you to do that. They will expect you to be very hands on. So if you haven’t gotten your paws dirty in the devil’s work of marketing prior to publication, you’re already behind the eight ball. You have to be there, be active and be involved.

Any good marketing platform should include some of the following items, if not all; Internet (website/blog, podcasts, YouTube), special appearances and events, Radio and TV.

 

What were some of your favourite books as a child? 

I loved the classics. I loved The Jungle Books, by Kipling, the A.A. Milne books; Winnie the Pooh was a favourite, and I can’t tell you how many times I read When We Were Very Young.  One day my father introduced me to Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy. This trilogy was the basis for the hit Will Smith movie, I Robot.  Sci-Fi and Fantasy became a favourite and I couldn’t read fast enough. From Asimov, I graduated to Tolkien, Terry Brooks, Gaiman and even Edgar Allen Poe and Kafka, just to mention a few great authors. I am a voracious reader and I love it when I discover a book, especially fantasy, which was published independently. I will write a review on those that I believe are super, publish that review on Amazon, Goodreads, Google+, Facebook, etc. Needless to say, I am very supportive of independent authors.

 

What three things should writers avoid when writing dialogue?

I think the most important thing NOT to do is use dialogue as an opportunity to dump information on the reader. Information should be giving within the story itself and not provided in a dialogue conversation.

Using words like, replied, interrupted or confirmed can slow the pace of the dialogue. Try to avoid them.

Don’t overuse dialogue tags. You don’t have to say ‘he said’ ‘she said’ every time. Also intersperse your dialogue with a few action tags. A well place action tag will enhance a visual of your character.

Avoid using an action tag as a dialogue tag. For example:

“I can’t stand spinach,” Susie cringed.  Cringed is an action or expression not a dialogue tag.

It would be appropriate to write:

Susie cringed. “I can’t stand spinach.”

 

What book or film has the best dialogue that inspires you to be a better writer and why?

I think some of the best dialogue I have ever experienced is the dialogue in Game of Thrones, which was inspired by the books A Song of Ice and Fire, by George RR Martin. I admire the screenplay written by David Benioff. David is a genius when it comes to creating interesting dialogue, and if you want to experience his expertise in writing, I highly recommended his book, City of Thieves. Once you read that, you’ll get it. Why is he so good? I would have to say it’s because his dialogue is natural, you become invested in the characters, and it keeps the story moving forward. He also manages to interject humour. What more can I say? When I grow up, I want to write dialogue like David Benioff.

 

Toy Story or Shrek?

Shrek! It’s an entire world of fantasy and anything goes there. What fun!

 

What three things should a first time visitor to Connecticut do?

Wow! Since I am animal oriented, I would point people to the Mystic Marine Aquarium and Seaport. It’s fabulous and there’s a lot to see and do nearby. There’s also Yale’s Peabody Museum and the Athenaeum in Hartford has beautiful art work by some of the masters like Dali, Monet, etc.  Mark Twain lived in Connecticut, and his house is near Hartford. He lived there from 1874 to 1891. It is now a museum and quite the place to tour. I recommend coming here in the Spring. It’s a beautiful time of year, and the rolling hills are dotted with blossoms of every kind. Since we are at New York City’s doorstep you can’t go wrong.

 

The Sword of Demelza focusses on animals indigenous to Australia. Can you tell us about a lasting impression your visit to Australia left on you?

There’s quite an amusing story about our trip to Australia, but there’s just not enough room here to bore your readers with (big smile)! I landed in Melbourne, where my husband and I have good friends. The first thing I saw after leaving the parking garage was a McDonald’s – I felt right at home. Enough levity.

We were spending three precious weeks in Australia, and we were packing those weeks front to back. We flew with our friends from Melbourne to Adelaide, which I loved, loved, loved. Did I say that I liked Adelaide? OK, good. In Adelaide we boarded the Ghan and headed for the centre. One of my lifelong dreams was to see Uluru at dawn and at dusk, but that wasn’t going to be the lasting impression, although it certainly was one of them. My lasting impression came while I was on the Ghan. The Ghan travels overnight to Alice Springs, and during the middle of the night, while everyone was asleep; the train came to a standstill. This did not bother my husband at all. He continued to snore. However, my sleep pattern was interrupted and I was instantly awake, wondering why we were no longer moving. Visions of train robberies came into my head. I was sure we were we be boarding by a marauding band of Kangaroos? Would we have to turn over our valuables to them? Would they be carrying six-shooters and wearing masks?

The thought that we were stopped to simply change conductors was just too dull a thought to contemplate. I wiggled to the window and looked out. It was blacker than black and there was nothing to be seen on the ground. But the sky! Oh, the sky was a wonder to behold. An Australian friend, and wonderful author, Clancy Tucker, told me about the drover’s blanket, and there it was overhead in all its glory. I will never forget the multitude of stars that came out for me that night. It was a greeting for me; a welcoming that will remain with me always.

 

Growing up, you had several interesting pets like snakes and mice. Can you tell us about an unforgettable experience with one of your pets?

Let’s see, there was so many. Oh, I know. I had an iguana named Ignats, short for Ignatius. He was about four feet long from tip of nose to tip of tail. I kept him in a terrarium in my bedroom. I was in college at the time, and when I came home from classes, the first thing I would do was check on Ignats. You see, Ignats was very strong, and no matter what I put on the top of the tank he always managed to get that screen off and climb out. I would put books on top and he would push up on the screen, crawl out, and wander about the house. So one day I came home to an empty terrarium and as usual, I began to nonchalantly search the house for my long green fellow. I did this so that I wouldn’t alarm my mother to the fact that he was loose. If I could find him and replace him in the terrarium there would be no trouble. Ignats was not one of Mom’s favourites. A screech from the bedroom area hinted that I may find Ignatius there and I bounded up the stairs to my mother’s room. Ignats was hanging by his back claws to top of mom’s mirror. With his front feet placed securely on the mirror itself, he stared out at my mother as she combed her hair. It’s pretty amazing that mom allowed him to stay after that incident, but she did. She was very tolerant and I loved her dearly for it.

 

What can we expect from Jeanne E. Rogers in the next 12 months?

I am writing continually and my second book is about fifty per cent complete. This one also takes place in a fantasy world with Australian animals. I’m introducing a few new ones and bringing back a few that readers of The Sword of Demelza will recognize. I have also written a short story that takes place in the outback, and I would love to find a publication that will take that. It has an environmental angle to it and the main characters are kangaroos, dibblers, wedge-tailed eagles and more. It’s a lot of fun and once again, youngsters are the target readers. It’s entitled One Hot Mess. Here’s the opening paragraph for you;

The Australian Outback is an unusual place, and it was even more unusual this season. The land was a bit greener and that’s what was unusual. Countless green, round shrubs dotted the red earth and every so often, a pool of water sparkled on the dusty plain. The Mob of Kangaroos would be enjoying the mid-day sun if it weren’t for the hot mess sitting near the train tracks.

 

Where can readers and fans connect with you?

I would love to hear from your readers. They can contact me at any one of the following;

Facebook - https://facebook.com/australianfantasyadventures

Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/warriorechidna

Twitter - http://twitter.com/warriorechidna

Blog - http://warriorechidna.blogspot.com

I am also on LinkedIn and Google+. Please stop by, say ‘hello’ and share.

   

Any advice for authors out there who are either just starting out or getting frustrated with the industry?

My best advice for writers who are just starting out would be to make sure that you research your competition and know your audience. You need to know how your book will compete in the marketplace. If you do land an agent, that agent will want to know that you have done your homework in this respect. An agent can use this type of information when they approach editors and publishers with your book. Next, I would have to say that your manuscript must be perfect before you submit it to an editor, agent or publisher. Make sure you have had beta readers, and that you have had your manuscript professionally edited and that it has been formatted and set up in the corrected manner before making any submissions. Finally, I would say, be tenacious; be open to constructive criticism and suggestions, by beta readers and/or editors. Don’t give up. Keep writing and you will achieve your goals, even if you have to rewrite that manuscript several times in order to get there. Write from your heart and be true to yourself.

 

Thank you ever so much for being with us today Jeanne. There is such a wealth of information you’ve shared with us today that I’ll definitely be coming back to check out this interview again. I loved what you said about taking the time to make sure our work before publication has undergone a professional scrutiny with regards to the book cover, editing, proofreading etc. As we never get a second chance at a first impression, it’s important the work we put out there can stand the test of time. Do share this interview on your social networks and live a review. I’d like to inform you of other special events happening on this blog. Simply enter your name and email in the top right hand corner.

Grab a copy of Jeanne’s critically acclaimed book on Amazon by clicking this link ====> The Sword of Demelza

My week in a Nutshell: London Book Fair, Reading Barry Loser by Jim Smith, Easter book Giveaway and More

Hello!

So what’s cooking on Planet DC this week? Well, quite a lot if you must know.

First of all, it’s the London Book Fair this week and I’ll be going to as many seminars, stands and events as I can over the course of the event. It starts tomorrow – Tuesday and ends on Thursday. It’s going to be at the World famous Earls Court Conference center in West London. I’m looking forward to meeting fellow authors and keeping abreast of all the latest industry trends. I have to admit that my visit last year gave my writing and publishing career a big boost as I was able to meet certain industry big-wigs and discover what was working for other authors. Some of the highlights from last year included:

-          Meeting the folks at the Amazon Kindle stand and being advised on who to contact with regard to placing my books in the appropriate category.

-          Attending the seminars at the AuthorRight stand with the Q&A with British author, Nick Spalding been a highlight.

-          Chatting with a popular review blogger after a seminar who introduced me to influential bloggers in the U.K. One of these bloggers is eagerly sought after by the big publishing houses to review their books and I’m happy to say she’s now an acquaintance who has reviewed several of my books.

-          Meeting the wonderful folks at the My Little Big Town Publishing stand whose advice have been very instrumental in my social media growth. I look forward to working with them at some point in the future.

If you’re going to be at the London Book Fair, you can either let me know by dropping a comment or tweeting me @davidchuka

 

Every now and then, I love walking into a book store and reading a few pages of the Kidlit and Middle Grade books on display. I happened to pick up this book by Jim Smith title ‘I’m Nit a Loser’ last Friday at Waterstones after reading three chapters as it had me cracking up. I ended up buying the book and will be doing a review of it later. This is the kind of book I would have loved to have read when I was an 8 to 10 year-old. I would love to write a book like this at some point in the future as it just has a nice blend of silliness, humour and oddly named characters with unique idiosyncrasies that’s just up my street. The book has very funny illustrations with characters with very big and bendy noses. I signed up to the author’s publisher newsletter and will most likely be picking up the other books in the series.

 

Easter’s just round the corner and I wanted to draw your attention to two of my books that I know will make a wonderful addition to your loved ones library. Counting to Ten and Sharing my Easter Eggs is a book for Kindergarten/Preschool students. It’s a fun rhyming book about a young girl whose been given a basket of Easter eggs to share with her friends. One of the rhymes goes

Here’s One for Tommy, who likes all things Yummy.

The other book is ‘Billy and the Monster who Ate All the Easter Eggs’ this third book in the Billy and Monster series see Billy visiting Grandma Chocalicious who loves chocolate even more than Billy and Monster. Billy learns about moderation in this funny book for kids. I have read these books to various kid groups at schools and events and it’s always well received. I’ll be visiting Woodberry Preschool in Southgate, North London next week and I’ll be reading these two books to them. They’re both available in digital and paperback formats. Grab one of them in time for Easter.

By the way, you still have a chance to win a signed copy of Billy and the Monster who Ate All the Easter Eggs. Simply click the link below and you could very well win of the 2 copies up for grabs.

Goodreads Book Giveaway


Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs
by David Chuka

Giveaway ends April 17, 2014.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

 

I have to admit that our special guests on Author Interview Thursday these last few weeks have really been good and the feedback from readers of the interviews have been very encouraging. On the hot seat this week is Jeanne E. Rogers who has just published her first Middle Grade book titled ‘ The Sword of Demelza.’ In my interview with her she talks about the role social media plays in building an author’s platform, the research process in writing her book, tips on writing great dialogue, what to do in Connecticut and so much more. You really have to tune in to find out all the good stuff on offer on AIT!

So that’s it for this week. I’ll be having a great time at the London Book Fair and will do a post about it later this week. Do have an outstanding day and DREAM BIG!

Interview with YA Author Sharon Ledwith

It’s Author Interview Thursday and I hope you’re ready to rumble with our guest author on the hot seat! If you’ve ever wondered if social media had any useful relevance, then I can testify that it does. And its primary purpose, I believe is to build relationships. Today’s interview is testament to that. I met today’s featured guest on GoodReads and then we connected on Twitter where we’ve kept in touch and stayed abreast of each other’s endeavours. She’s written two books in the Middle Grade/YA (Young Adult) category. I have to say that I have admired her generosity and support for the writing community on the social networks and I’m so glad she’s taken out time to be with us today. So without further ado, would you please join me in welcoming Sharon Ledwith.

 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and the first time someone complemented you on something you had written.

My journey to publication started in the mid-90s. One evening while I was reading, I thought how simple the structure and dialogue was in this particular novel. You can write, you can do this, a voice urged inside my head. Let me tell you, I almost fell off my chair. But the words rang true for me. So, I decided to act on this truth, and took a writing course—Writing your Novel—where I met a great couple of like-minded would-be writer gals. Together we started a writing support group, and I wrote my first novel—a paranormal romance. This manuscript caught the eye of an agent, but I was hardly ready, and I see that now. What I needed to do was to hone my craft and get better and better with the process of writing. And that takes making lots of mistakes at the expense of your ego. In other words: lots of rejection, rejection, rejection! Ouch!

Then, one night, during my writer’s group, one of my friends said something that floored me. She mentioned that I hit my twelve-year-old character’s voice bang on. What a compliment! So, this got me to thinking—how hard would it be to write a young adult novel? It was a stupid question. Of course it was hard! After thinking about what my friend had said to me, I decided I’d challenge myself and write not just a novel—but a series—that would appeal to my son, who at the time was the target age of my audience. Since I’ve always loved the time travel genre, it was a no-brainer for me.

 

What can a reader expect when they pick up a book written by Sharon Ledwith?

A laugh-out-loud nostalgic thrill ride!

 

You’ve gone the traditional route and are published by Musa Publishing. What would you say are the advantages you’ve experienced compared to a self-publisher?

Oh, for one you don’t have to go looking around for a cover artist and editor! That’s a plus. And our books are formatted and uploaded to all the major on-line stores like Amazon, Apple, and Barnes & Noble by the publisher. We have complete input throughout the entire process including what we want on our book covers. My publisher also offers a lot of promotional items like book marks, trading cards, promotional paperbacks at a reasonable price, and helps us with the marketing process. All you have to do is ask. To me, it feels like an Esprit de Corps, a group spirit there. At least that’s been my experience.

 

What tips can you give us in terms of working with a publisher to ensure your vision for a story doesn’t get diluted or compromised by the demands of a publisher?

It’s very much a give and take. It took 15 years of writing in the trenches—querying publishers and agents, writing more books, getting rejected again and again—before I finally signed a publishing contract with Musa Publishing for The Last Timekeepers series. And after all this time there was still one catch—I had to rewrite the entire manuscript in the point of view of only one of the characters. Originally, I had written the series with each kid having their own chapter throughout the book. Musa’s head editor for their YA imprint found this confusing and suggested I write the first book in only one of the character’s voices, starting with Amanda Sault. That way, the next book would feature another character’s point of view. However daunting a task this sounds, it was sage advice and made the book stronger. Now, after saying this, an author must stand his or her ground if they think the integrity of their story would be diluted or compromised. It all depends on how they want their book presented to the world.

 

You write in the YA (Young Adult) genre which is very popular and competitive. What advice would you have for someone who wants to write in this genre?

Know your target audience by checking out what they’re reading. Don’t forget that success leaves clues, and makes tracks. What I mean by this is that one of my role model authors is Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson series among others), so I try to follow what he’s done. I follow him on twitter and ‘spy’ on the kinds of tweets he puts out, I’ve checked his website and blog, and try to emulate him as much as possible. Although I only have two books out, plus a free short story available on my website, I know that I’m in for the long haul, and slowly building my author platform, back list, and brand. Remember it takes time to build that back list, so buckle up and enjoy the ride.

 

What have you found to be a successful way to market your books?

Let’s see…joining groups that support your genre, getting professional reviews from book bloggers, Goodreads giveaways, blog hops, and helping others by sharing or tweeting their books or thoughts or posts. I’ve heard the best way to get noticed is to engage first, then sell. This new publishing paradigm is a tough gig with so much competition out there. I think the only way an author can truly get noticed is to be their authentic self, and have a product (book) that gets readers talking! Word of mouth is still the best form of advertising.

 

What were some of your favourite books as a child?

My favourite all-time children’s book is Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak! I also loved any kind of animal stories I could get my hands on!

 

What three things should writers avoid when writing dialogue?

#1.Watch those dialogue tags! Using he said or she said is still the go-to sage advice.

#2.One of my young readers informed me, ‘You don’t need to say the character’s name over and over again. I don’t do that with my friends, unless I want their attention’. Yup. Smart and to-the-point.

#3.Never use a dialogue tag and action tag in the same paragraph. It’s redundant. It’s best to alternate between using dialogue tags, action tags, and no tags. This will keep your writing fresh.

 

What book or film has the best dialogue that inspires you to be a better writer and why?

Hard question! So many movies and books, so little time! I loved The Godfather book and movie. I know this isn’t kidlit, but there was something about the flavour and tone of the book that drew me into the story. Reading the dialogue transported me into the ‘family’, and gave me a sneak peek at how the mob operates. Plus this book not only won a Pulitzer Prize, but also an Academy award.

 

Toy Story or Shrek?

Shrek. Hands down. Love Mike Myers. It’s a Canadian thing!

 

What three things should a first time visitor to Ontario do?

Go to Niagra Falls for sure. If you get a chance, rent a cottage in beautiful Muskoka during the summer months, but after the bug season! Tour around Toronto, and take in a stage show. There’s just so much to see and do here!

 

What can we expect from Sharon Ledwith in the next 12 months?

Since the prequel to The Last Timekeepers series entitled, Legend of the Timekeepers came out last August I’ve been busy marketing both it, and The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis. Presently, I’m revising the second book in the series tentatively entitled, The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret, which I’d written in 2000. I’m reworking it into Jordan Jensen’s point of view which is proving to be a daunting task! I’ve also signed on with literary agency, Walden House (Books & Stuff) in December 2012 to take on another young adult series I’ve created about teens with psychic abilities called, Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls. The first book in this series, Lost and Found, has been requested by three major publishers, so I’m keeping all my fingers crossed and toes crossed! Mind you, that makes it harder to type!

 

Where can readers and fans connect with you?

Website: www.sharonledwith.com

Sharon’s Blog: http://sharonledwith.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/seledwith

The Last Timekeepers Page: http://www.facebook.com//The-Last-Timekeepers-Time-Travel

Twitter: @sharonledwith

Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5821744.Sharon_Ledwith

.

Any advice for authors out there who are either just starting out or getting frustrated with the industry?

Never stop investing in yourself. Invest in the best. That’s in yourself, and in your readers. Your readers deserve the best of what you have to offer them. Surround yourself with the best possible team. Never stop learning. As you grow, so will your readers, so be prepared for this. Oh yeah, and never give up. That’s a given and should be part of any author’s credo.

Thank you so much for putting up with—er, I mean having me on your awesome blog today, David! You’re such a supportive and kind person, and I’ve noticed you go out of your way to help other authors get noticed. Cheers and hugs, my friend, and best wishes for many best-sellers!

 

It was an absolute pleasure to have you today Sharon and I won’t be surprised if one of your books gets optioned for a film or TV series. I loved what you said about investing in yourself as we sometimes tend to invest more in marketing our books while we invest little or nothing in improving our craft. I also had a light bulb moment about what you said with regards to modelling someone whose more successful in your genre. Sharon and I would love to know you stopped by, so do share this interview on your social circles and/or leave a connect. Do make sure you click one of her links and connect with her.

Do check out Sharon’s books by clicking this link =====> Sharon’s Books on Amazon

Author Interview with Marta Moran Bishop

It’s Author Interview Thursday and I have to admit that I’ve been looking forward to today’s interview for quite a while. I was introduced to our special guest by Sherrill S. Cannon who was on the hot seat last month. In our correspondence leading up to today’s interview, I’ve been really impressed by her generosity and passion for her craft. I was fascinated to discover that she had published two children’s poetry books as I think that’s an art form that’s not as celebrated as it should be. She has also published several stories, novels and adult poetry books. She loves horses and comes from the Bay State. I know you’ll love what she has to share with us today, so please join me in welcoming Marta Moran Bishop.

 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and the first time someone complimented you on something you had written?

At first, I found writing to be a bit intimidating, as my grandmother and mother were both writers and although I wrote constantly I found it difficult to say I was a writer or even share what I had written at first. It wasn’t until I was in my first semester at college and had a professor tell me I had the makings of a brilliant writer that I found the courage to begin allowing others to see what I had written.

 

What can a reader expect when they pick up a book written by Marta Moran Bishop?

Whether it is a book of poetry, short story, or a novel, there will always be a glimmer of light and hope in it. A way to connect with oneself and all of life, and the joy in the day.

 

What are your thoughts on the Amazon KDP Select Program and why have you taken your books off it?

I am of two minds about the Amazon KDP Select Program: First I believe if one is doing a series it can produce interest in reading more books in the series. However, to give away books in the hope of gaining a few reviews or a new reader reminds me of a job I once held, where the restaurant was continually doing some kind of free benefit. They went out of business as people began waiting for the next freebie. So many devalued the restaurant as a viable place to spend an evening as they didn’t value themselves. I am aware that even the free books push the ranking up on Amazon, but after a while no one is buying your book.

The second reason is all about putting all your eggs in one basket so to speak. By agreeing to sell solely through Amazon, you are signing a (albeit short) contract excluding all other eBook marketers. I want my books available elsewhere. I actually don’t pick up free eBooks any longer, instead I will wait until the book is for sale and buy it, for I believe the writer should be paid. I’d be more interested in discounted price option (which they have, but only for books over $.99) or a package type of deal, such as buy one get one free. One where the writer gets paid something for their work.

 

What have you found to be a successful way to market your books?

I have found that the more visible you are, the better and that although social media gains you some visibility, you really need to get out into the public more. Radio shows, interviews, readings at the local hospital, bookstore, gallery, school, or anywhere else will boost your sales more than all the tweets and Facebook posts you and your friends can do. That market is saturated, and many don’t even look at those posts any longer, unless it is for a favourite author.

 

You’ve written two children’s books on poetry. Do you think poetry as an art is being under-valued and what can we do to inspire a new generation to read and write poetry?

Yes, I have written Wee Three: A Mother’s Love in Verse, which has gained critical acclaim and Innocence and Wonder. Both books are illustrated. Wee Three is illustrated by Hazel Mitchell and Innocence and Wonder by both Ms Mitchell and me.

I do agree poetry is under-valued and believe that to be true, because so many people have been led to believe poetry is difficult to understand. When I am speaking to a group of children I usually will in many cases ask them to write me a small poem about their life or something that matters to them. Reading to children gives them a love of the written word, whether it is poetry or a story. But, children love things that rhyme, so poetry is a wonderful way to teach.

 

What were some of your favourite books as a child?

As a child, I read anything I could get my hands on, but we grew up on A.A. Milne’s, Now We Are Six, and When We Were Very Young and Robert Lewis Stevenson, who wrote some wonderful children’s poetry. Both writers painted a picture of something that children could relate to in their poetry. More like very short stories than what many people today think of when and if they think of poetry.

 

What three things should writers avoid when writing dialogue?

As I end up listening to many books these days at work, I find the most irritating thing is when after the character speaks there are too many ‘he said, she said…” I believe a writer should find a way to write it as if in conversation in a way that the reader can understand who is speaking without adding ‘he answered, she said etc.’

 

Toy Story or Shrek?

To be honest I did not see Toy Story, I saw Monsters Inc. and Shrek, and found the conversations in Monsters Inc. to be quite humorous and honest. I believe it showed how children would see and speak to either imaginary friends or new friends. Shrek  was good, but I found there were a few too many off-sides with characters discussing things with the audience or camera. It reminded me a bit of the ‘he said, she answered’ bit.

 

What three things should a first time visitor to Massachusetts do?

If I were only to recommend three things someone should absolutely see in Massachusetts; they would be to walk the Freedom Trail, or at least as much of it as possible, make sure to see the Old North Church and Paul Revere’s House. Take a trip to Salem and visit Hallows Hill, and take a walk through the sites that are open to the public. Last, but not least take the time to visit Old Sturbridge Village, many of the old buildings from hundreds of years ago have been moved there.

 

As you own three horses, I wanted to know if you could tell us three things most people don’t know about horses.

Horses have a vocabulary of their own.

If bored, they will find something to spook themselves with to get an adrenaline rush.

They have a sense of humour and enjoy finding ways to play jokes on humans and other horses.

 

What can we expect from Marta Moran Bishop in the next 12 months?

I hope to have my book, Dinky: The Nurse Mare’s Foal, expanded to include a set of books for ages 3 – 8 that will tell Dinky’s story. I still need a name for it (I don’t want it confused with the novel) so if anyone has a suggestion, please feel free to jump in.

 

Where can readers and fans connect with you?

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MartaMoranBishopAuthor

Twitter – https://twitter.com/moranbishop

GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3953690.Marta_Moran_Bishop

Redroom – http://redroom.com/member/marta-moran-bishop

Website – http://martamoranbishop.com

Blog – http://martambishop@blogspot.com

 

Any advice for authors out there who are either just starting out or getting frustrated with the industry?

Don’t let anyone else define you. The more you read, the better writer you will become. Always do at least one rewrite of your book. Hire an editor or at least several beta readers who will pick up grammar and other issues that might make a difference in the way your story flows. Read your story/book aloud, by doing this many mistakes are found.

 

Wow! That was such a brilliant note to end our interview on. There are just so many nuggets of wisdom you’ve shared with us today that if applied could be the turning point for any writing career. I loved what you said about reading your book aloud as there’s just so much you discover when you’re reading aloud and hearing yourself reading. Also, it’s a way to detect what will work and not work when you’re reading to an audience. Please click one of Marta’s links above and connect with her. She’s active on the various social networks and will be happy to know you discovered her after reading this interview. Marta and I would love to know you dropped by so you can either share this interview using the social media buttons below or leave a comment.

Click this link to discover and grab a copy of one of Marta’s books ====> Marta Moran Bishop on Amazon

Win a Signed Copy of Billy and the Monster who Ate All the Easter Eggs

Today, I’d like to share with you the chance to win a signed copy of the Amazon Best-seller ‘Billy and the Monster who Ate All the Easter Eggs’ 

With Easter around the corner, this book will be a welcome addition to your loved ones library.

This is the third book in the Billy and Monster series and it has gotten about 48 glowing reviews on the Amazon website.

I recently read this book to Years 1 and 2 at Raglan Primary School and the children loved it. I’m sure your loved ones will too.

Before I reveal how you can enter to win a signed copy, let’s find out what happens with Billy and Monster in this Easter edition.

Billy and Monster love all the holidays as they get to spend quality time together. However, their best holiday is Easter as they get to eat their favorite food…CHOCOLATE!

This year, they’re spending Easter with Grandma Chocalicious who loves Chocolate even more than Billy. She’s an expert at making chocolate cake, chocolate waffles and even chocolate pasta.

This year Grandma Chocalicious has made a pyramid of Easter eggs for her party on Easter Sunday. Billy and Monster want one of the Easter eggs but Grandma says they have to wait till Easter Sunday.

What happens when Billy and Monster tip toe downstairs and the pyramid of Easter eggs comes falling down?

For a chance to find out what happens simply click the link below and you could very well have your signed copy just in time for Easter.

Goodreads Book Giveaway


Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs
by David Chuka

Giveaway ends April 15, 2014.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Interview with Children’s Book Author Sandra Bennett

It’s Author Interview Thursday and I’m so excited that we have another opportunity to be inspired by an author who has encountered the challenges associated with getting a book published and is still standing. Today’s special guest comes from the beautiful nation of Australia. We connected via Facebook and it’s been a pleasure to get to know her better in the build up to this interview. She’s a teacher by profession and is really passionate about increasing the literacy levels in children. She recently got her first children’s book published and I know it’s going to be the first of many to come from her pen. Her passion for reading and writing is so infectious as you’ll agree with me by the end of this interview. So without further ado, please join me in welcoming Sandra Bennett.

 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and that first moment when you knew you could write.

I am a bookaholic. I have had my nose in a book for as long as I can remember.  I started writing in my teens and won my first national poetry award when I was sixteen. By the time I went to teachers college and studied children’s picture books and their authors I knew I wanted to write for children too. I don’t know if I could say I had an exact moment when I knew I could write, I just always knew it was something I had to do. It was a natural progression, a part of my teaching and my love of literacy. I wrote stories for the kids in my classes and for my own sons. When we lived in Thailand I began writing stories about our adventures and experiences living amongst a different culture, and then when we returned home to Australia I decided it was time to study children’s writing further so that I could one day reach my dream of publishing stories for all children to enjoy.

 

I had the privilege to read your book ‘Gingerbread Aliens.’ Can you tell us what inspired you to write this book and the ideal audience for this book?

My passion throughout my teaching career has always been helping struggling readers to not only learn to read but find the joy in books that I have always found. Having the desire to reach and encourage as many children as I can to learn to read is my inspiration to write this book as well as many others. I have discovered from first-hand experience that children increase their ability to learn to read when they read something not only familiar but that they really enjoy as well. I wanted to write a story that was not only engaging, funny and entertaining, I wanted to hook the reader at the end of each chapter so that they couldn’t put the book down. Gingerbread Aliens was inspired from the chaos cooking in my own kitchen with my three sons many years ago when I realised I could twist the experience into a hilarious tale of somewhat epic proportions. This then in turn leads the reader on an adventure that keeps them guessing all the way to the end. Gingerbread Aliens is ideal for children learning to read or reluctant early readers who have not yet found a love of books. Ages 6-10 is ideal for them to read themselves, however I have found 4-5 year olds have really loved it too when read out loud by a parent, grandparent or significant other.

 

How do you combine being a full time teacher, married with three children and writing?

Doing anything you love is always a balancing act and a bit of a challenge but if you have the determination to reach a goal you will always find a way. Having a laptop helps as I can take my writing anywhere and I am able to write whenever the urge takes me. When I was teaching I usually kept it to weekends or late at night, however I have retired from teaching now that my boys are older and are independent young men. This has enabled me to have more time to devote during the day to developing my ideas, although I admit I am still a mum first who likes to have a meal on the table when her boys come home each evening. I travel a lot more these days as well with my husband for his work, so again a laptop is very convenient. I just plug in no matter which city we happen to be in and away I go.

 

What were some of your favourite books as a child? 

As a child C.S. Lewis, “The Chronicles of Narnia,” would have to be my all-time favourite, I can’t go past a good adventure. I also loved reading mystery series like “Trixie Belden,” Nancy Drew,” and “The Hardy Boys.” Guess I’m showing my age a bit here. By the time I was in my teens I found the wonderful humour of Douglass Adams “Hitch Hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy.” It was even more fantastic when I was able to re-read it and share it with my own teenage son. On that point,  may I add some of my other favourites that I read along with my boys as they grew up. Emily Rodda’s “Deltora Quest,’ anything and everything by Paul Jennings, in particular “Round the Twist.” Paul Jennings has such a great sense of humour to attract kids to read. Jasper Fforde’s clever literary feast “Thursday Next” series and of course I can’t go past “Harry Potter.” J.K. Rowling was masterful the way she made a whole generation of children start reading again.

 

What three things should writers avoid when writing dialogue?  

Avoid using said after each person speaks. Try to show who is speaking through an action or emotion. It comes back to the old saying “show, don’t tell.”
Be careful not to make the language stiff or stilted. Good dialogue does not have to be formal, it has to flow naturally.
The words must fit the character. If it’s a teenager use teenage jargon, a grandparent may have completely different idiosyncrasies. Do not fall into the trap of letting all your characters speech sound the same. Make sure they are individuals.

 

What book or film has the best dialogue that inspires you to be a better writer and why?

It’s an old classic but a good one that has lasted throughout the generations, Jane Austin’s “Pride and Prejudice.” I defy any young teenage girl not to fall in love with the arrogant yet debonair Mr Darcey and who can’t help but laugh at the ever meddling dialogue of the forever vexatious Mrs Bennett? (I know I am Mrs Bennett too, it has not gone unnoticed in this household either.) The setting of the story may be well before our times and therefore the dialogue is much more structured however it is fitting for the day and tells the story in a manner befitting late eighteenth century English society.

 

Toy Story or Shrek?

Toy Story! While Shrek was fabulous in it’s own right, I can’t go past the humour and delight of Toy Story. I love the whole concept of the child’s toys coming to life when he is not around. I can just imagine this happening in bedrooms and playrooms everywhere. I also love the fact that they used toys that I grew up with as did my own boys. Toy soldiers, Mr Potato Head, Slinky the dog, even Barbie entered in the sequel. Again it comes back to telling a story with things that all kids can relate to and what is closer to their hearts than the toys they play with every day.

   

I had the privilege to read to several Year groups at a Primary school recently. The experience really made me consider being a teacher. What advice would you have for me and anyone reading this interview who are thinking about pursuing a career as a teacher?

Teaching is an enormously rewarding career. There is nothing like the joy of watching the delight rise on a little face when they have a “light bulb” moment or realize they can finally achieve something that they have struggled to learn. There are no words to express the feeling of how wonderful the opportunity it is to take a group of small students from the beginning of the year and watch them grow and teach them to learn. When they start off unable to read and leave you as independent readers by the end of the year, you know you have done something right. Teaching can engulf every waking hour as you tend to put your heart and soul into your class. Preparation and evaluation can leave you with very little time for anything else, so good time management skills are essential.

 

If you were not a teacher, what would you do?

I am already doing it! I am no longer teaching. I spend my days writing, researching, marketing and when I can I visit schools for book readings. I would like to add writing classes in schools one day to my list of skills but haven’t really looked into that yet.

 

What three things should a first time visitor to Australia do?

Wow, that’s harder to answer than you might think. Australia is such a large place and there are so many wonderful things to see and do and places to visit. It depends on whether you are into scenery, the arts, animals or culture?  

I guess most people would say you have to visit Sydney Harbour. It is one of the most beautiful harbours in the world. (Yes I am a tiny bit biased. I did grow up in Sydney). The Opera House is spectacular, the Botanic Gardens are magnificent, The Rocks are full of our convict history, and Darling Harbour is alive with wonderful multicultural restaurants, and it is all under the backdrop of the “Coathanger” our amazing Sydney Harbour Bridge, which if you are not scared of heights, you can climb.

While you are in Sydney you should also take the time for a surf at any of our superb beaches that spread north and south along our coastline. Feel the sand beneath your toes and smell the salty sea air before you dive into the crisp clear blue ocean waves. I virtually grew up on Cronulla Beach on Sydney’s south side so the sea is in my veins.  

Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland’s magnificent northern coast is another must.  The colorful coral and exotic tropical fish have to be seen to be believed. The turquoise water is so clear you can see forever while you float amongst the tranquillity of the gently lapping waves that relax your inner soul. 


Explore the Outback. Take in the vast contrast of the red centre and the Indigenous Aboriginal Culture.  Whether you fly to Alice Springs and Uluru, Kakadu or the Kimberly Ranges in Western Australia, there are spectacular gorges, waterfalls, rock art and Aboriginal paintings and artifacts galore. Recently I had the awe inspiring experience of swimming under a waterfall in an outback waterhole. It was something I’ll certainly never forget. 

I know you only asked for three, but I would like to add one more on a personal note. Whenever we have visitors from overseas they always ask to see Kangaroos. We have many kangaroos hopping through our property daily as we live in the country not the city, but the kangaroos here are wild and will not allow you to get close enough to touch. So we take our visitors across to the South Coast of New South Wales to a little spot in Murramarang National Park, called Pretty Beach (just north of Bateman’s Bay) where the kangaroos are quite tame. Here you are welcome to pat them, the only request by the park rangers is that you do not feed the roos, please allow them to forage for themselves. We find our guests always go home feeling overwhelmed to have had such an awesome and amazing experience.

   

What can we expect from Sandra Bennett in the next 12 months?  

Book two in my Alien Adventure Series is complete. The Bradberrie boys are up to more mischief and mayhem yet again! I hope to have it released soon, but no date is set just yet. So stay tuned “Alien Shenanigans” is coming soon! I am in the middle of writing the third book in the series. With a bit of luck it might be ready by Christmas. I am also considering publishing one or two of my picture books this year. I have quite a few works in the pipeline. It is just a matter of deciding which direction I want to take.

 

Where can readers and fans connect with you?  

I have an author Facebook page they are welcome to follow at 

https://www.facebook.com/GingerbreadAliens

Readers and fans can also follow either of my blogs. I paste the same content to both so that following one is sufficient. I try to write advice for parents looking for help with the home reading struggle as well as including author interviews, book reviews, and the occasional recipe or science experiment. When Alien Shenanigans is released there will be more fun science coming. J  

http://sandrabennettauthor.com/

http://gingerbreadaliens.blogspot.com.au/

https://plus.google.com/102400431461177159068/posts

 

Any advice for authors out there who are either just starting out or getting frustrated with the industry?

Read, read and read some more. Then write , write and write even more!  The old adage ‘practice makes perfect’ is alive and strong when it comes to writing. There is no easy way to writing, you just have to keep at it. Take classes, learn your craft, join writing groups but don’t be afraid to put pen to paper. Even if you don’t feel your writing is good enough to show anyone else, keep writing until you find something you feel worthy of sharing. If writing and reading is your passion, (as it is mine) then don’t let anyone or anything stop you. Follow your dream, it doesn’t matter whether your book ever becomes a best seller or not, as long as it puts a smile on at least one face then you have done what you set out to achieve. I may have only published one children’s book so far, but during my journey I have learnt a lot. Be prepared to market yourself, be social media savvy, hang in there and write more books. The more books you publish the more you will develop a following and become known, but most of all, be true to yourself and never give up!

 

It’s been an absolute delight having you with us today Sandra. I just admire the fact that your primary motivation for writing is not the dollar bills but the fact that you love the written word and the opportunity to affect others with your words. How can one go wrong with that sort of mindset? Please do check out the links Sandra gave above and be sure to like her Facebook page. You can also get a copy of her book, Gingerbread Aliens by clicking the link below.

Gingerbread Aliens on Amazon

Interview with Children’s Book Author Jennifer Adan

It’s Author Interview Thursday! If you’re a songwriter and/or love country music, then you’re in for a big treat today. Our special guest moved to Nashville to follow her dreams to become a songwriter. Despite the hardships and setbacks she experienced along the way, she’s living proof that dreams do come true! She co-wrote the chart topper, ‘She Wouldn’t Be Gone‘ with Cory Batten that was performed by American country music singer, Blake Shelton. The song was Number One on the Hot Country Songs Charts in February 2009. She also writes children’s books and I’m so delighted to have her on the hot seat today. So without further ado, please join me in welcoming Jennifer Adan.

 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspires you to write children’s books?  

I have been writing since I was nine years old. I started writing songs and poems, which led to short stories, screenplays and novels. I wrote my first children’s book, I Don’t See Heaven in 2004, when my grandfather passed away. I was so inspired that I wrote it in about thirty minutes. My sister’s best friend Liz was inspired by my story and wanted to draw pictures to go along with it.

 

What can a reader expect when they pick up a Jen Adan book? 

For this current book, readers can expect a light-hearted explanation about coping with a death. It doesn’t go into specifics because I didn’t want the story to be too deep. As for my future children’s books, I will keep the light heartedness of the overall feeling. As for my novels and how-to books, I plan to make them sarcastic, layered with humor and an underlying serious nature.

 

What in your opinion makes a great children’s book?  

I think a great children’s book consists of the author’s ability to relate to the child, get down to their level and not preach to them, but meanwhile providing a story that will make them feel a connection. It has to have a sweet tone with some humor, some lessons and some form of emotion that will make them feel something, or make them question and come to their own conclusions about the world.

 

What has been your most successful marketing method for promoting your books?  

Connecting with the public on a personal level. Reaching out to people personally, or through social media and also word of mouth.

 

What were some of your favourite books as a child?  

My favorite books as a child were The Giving Tree, Love You Forever, Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day, Goodnight Moon, Harold and the Purple Crayon, The Snowy Day, and Winnie the Pooh.

 

What mistake(s) have you made while publishing your books that you would advise other authors against?  

Well, being the first book I’ve had published, it’s all a learning experience. There’s not one piece of advice that I would advise against, but I would say to make sure you have all of your stuff organized so it makes the publishing process go smoother.

 

Most people probably know you as a songwriter. What would you say are the similarities and differences between writing a song and writing a work of fiction?  

My songs mostly consist of heartbreak, man hating, angry songs (haha) but I also have some sweet, positive songs as well, just not many. My books, especially my children’s books, are light-hearted, happy and anti-hate, pro love. My other works of fiction can vary because of the theme of each book, but I feel like my books and my songs are polar opposites.

 

Your song ‘She Wouldn’t be Gone’ for Blake Shelton hit the Number One spot on the Hot Country Songs chart. Can you tell us about that moment when you heard the news and how you felt?  

Well, the first time I heard Blake was going to cut the song, my co-writer Cory called me and told me that some guy named Blake Shelton wanted to record it and I flipped! Then, what seemed like a couple weeks later, I received a phone call from Scott Hendrix at Warner Brothers saying they were going to release it as his first single. At the time, I was working as a receptionist at a real estate company and got the message on my lunch break. I freaked out, called Scott back and I’m pretty sure I cried.

 

What in your opinion makes a great songwriter and what can someone do if they want to sharpen their song writing skills?  

A great songwriter express their life experiences effectively through their music. They are able to portray a certain feeling, whether it’s happy or sad or heartbreak or anger in such a way that the listener has to stop what they are doing to listen and feels so connected to it that they are convinced the songwriter wrote it about them. A great songwriter brings passion and truth to their lyrics and music and blends so perfectly that people remember them and want to hear more. Diane Warren is a huge role model and hero of mine and I believe that she is a great songwriter.

 

How do you reward yourself when you’ve completed writing a song or achieving a specific publishing goal?  

Nothing! ha-ha! I just keep writing and when I write something I’m proud of, I share it with everyone, whether its a song or a piece of writing.

 

What book or film has the best dialogue that inspires you to be a better writer and why?  

There are so many books and films that inspire me, but I am a huge Disney fan and so most Disney movies inspire me, especially the old school ones like Mary Poppins, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Lion King, Aladdin, and then other movies like The Blind Side, 42, Pursuit of Happiness and tons of others!

 

Toy Story or Shrek?

Toy Story!

 

What should a first time visitor to Nashville, Tennessee do while there?  

Go to the Bluebird Cafe! It’s my favorite place in Nashville to hear amazing songwriters sing their songs and it has great food and the atmosphere is amazing. I am not a big fan of downtown honky tonks, but everyone should go there as a first timer. I also suggest going to Loveless Cafe. It’s the best down home cooking you will get in Nashville! Their biscuits are soooooo good!

 

Can you tell us about an awkward/unforgettable experience you’ve had with a fan?  

I received a letter in the mail from a fan in Florida. I don’t know how he got my address, but he did and he hand wrote me a letter saying he wanted an 8X10 photo of me and he kept writing me letters. It was a little strange.

 

What can we expect from Jen Adan in 2014? 

A lot! I am going to be a writing machine and put out another children’s book and more music and I am currently working on a screenplay. This is the year of finishing projects so everyone should get ready!

 

Where can fans and readers of your books and music discover more about you and connect with you?  

My website www.jenniferadan.com has all of my social media links and it has a list of my upcoming events.

Twitter: @jenniferadan

Instagram: @jenniferadan13

Facebook: facebook.com/jenniferadan13

 Website:  http://jenniferadan.com/

 

Any advice for authors or songwriters out there who are either just starting out or getting frustrated with the industry?  

Never give up! If this is what you want to do and if this is your passion keep going! Don’t let the world harden your heart and make you biter and jaded toward the industry. The entertainment industry is tough and you have to learn how to swim with sharks and develop a thick skin and just keep pushing through. If one door doesn’t open, try another and another and another and if that doesn’t work, get a ladder and go through the window! Network and talk to everyone and use your resources to keep learning about your craft and talk to as many people as you can, take classes, go to conferences or workshops, travel to as many places as possible and read as many books as possible. And make sure you never give up!

 

Thanks for ending the interview on such a positive note. I wonder what would have happened if you had given up after some rejections. I also have to agree with you on the power of networking. You just never know who you could meet that knows someone or has the power to open doors to launch you into your destiny. You can get a copy of Jen’s book by clicking the link below. I’ve read it and it’s good!

I Don’t See Heaven by Jen Adan

 

Below is the music video of the Number One Song ‘She Wouldn’t Be Gone.’