Su Williams's Blog, page 5

THE OFFICIAL DREAM WEAVER BOOK TRAILER! Finally! (phew)

DREAM WEAVER is in the semi-finals of AUTHORSdB cover contest! I could use everyone's support to get the artwork by Shawn Foote the accolades it deserves. Please vote today & help me spread the word. AND...AuthorsdB is now accepting entries for the 2014 cover contest! PLEASE VOTE TODAY!
Proving My Dorkitude!
The first book trailer I saw was for Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver. I had no idea back then that they did trailers for books. So, dork that I am, I thought the author had landed a movie deal. Well, it could happen! Amazing books make amazing movies. And just to prove my dorkitude, when I queried my own story to the agent that reps Maggie, I congratulated her on her author's movie deal. Ugha! No wonder she didn't want to represent me.


Meet Sarah Buchynski
Well, now that Dream Weaver is available on Amazon, I figured it was high time to make the jump into modern book promotion. I found I couldn't use Gary Wright's Dream Weaver song because I'd have to pay a fee...and they ain't cheap. So as much as I love the song, I had to find someone to create a song for me. Enter Sarah Buchynski. Audio engineer major with entertainment business, and recording studio intern, now also working freelance. Sarah and I worked together for several days to knock together a piece of music reminiscent to the original but completely original on its own.
Your Girl?
I know Sarah is interested in composing music for others, so if you're in need of trailer music or want to be one of those really obnoxious website owners that likes to force people to listen your music while they peruse your site, Sarah Buchynski is your girl.
Something New from Su
I'd also like to let readers know that I'm available for manuscript proofreading at a minimal rate of 20 cents per page (a minimum of 10 pages) and book trailers/covers starting at $25. I am not a professional editor by any means so I won't charge the rates they do. But author Sam Whitehouse from the UK was so pleased with my work that he dedicated his second novel to me. As an indie author, I know finding someone who can help you make your story stronger is not an affordable option for most. And finding the time it takes to pull together a book trailer/cover can be daunting. I have thousands of custom photo images to build your story. If you're interested in starting a conversation about your project, please email me at dreamweaver526@yahoo.com.
Thank you all for your time and support of Dream Weaver. The book is ranking nicely on Amazon and I can not complain about the sales.
And as always...Dare to Dream!Su

STUFF I'VE LEARNED AND DREAM WEAVER FINALLY FREE ON KINDLE!

IT'S TRUEIf the process of writing DREAM WEAVER was a journey, the path to recognition has been the Yellow Brick Road. There is nothing easy about this trip some of us choose to embark on, especially when we decide to do it all on our own. I've said in the past that this has been a learning journey for me. Here's some of stuff I've learned:
If you don't know it, find out!Or find someone who does. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, plot development, editing. Whatever it is that keeps your story from being as perfect as it can be, learn it! Don't be willing to release your baby into the world with a stinky diaper.
While friends and family are GREAT! Don't use them as your editor.A lot of people, family-type people, are too kind to tell you when something sucks; or too mean to tell you that you're great. Even former English teachers are not necessarily your best bet to review your manuscript. And editors can be extremely expensive. But there are some out there that will review your story for fees that are much more reasonable. (But more on that another time)
Never stop learningWhether it's research to make your story more believable or attending a writer's conference to learn how to build your social platform or blog, take advantage of everything you possibly can. I had a beta reader ask me the other day if the first draft of my next novel she just reviewed was really a first draft. Wow! If she had read the first draft of Dream Weaver, she would have definitely known it was a first draft. Take every opportunity to learn something new from what ever source it may come from.
Grow a thick skin
I guess this one depends on what your goal is in publishing your work. If you just want to write stories for others to read, great. But if you're wanting to make some level of career out of writing, you've got to willing to submit yourself to another, and willing to accept criticism that might not feel too good.  My friend, Kandy Kay Scaramuzzo , who wrote Pie: An Old Brown Horse ...also just read my second book, Rock Star. She worried a bit that the things she was telling me about the story would make me mad, but truthfully, that's exactly what I wanted. Show me what I missed, where my plot line fails, where I'm redundant, or my first person POV character uses 'I' too much. I adore Kandy Kay; and that she was willing to put herself out there for me makes me appreciate her all the more. And Rock Star will benefit from her honesty and my willingness to hear what she has to say.
Pay for artAnother one of those things that are vitally important, and other successful authors will tell you, 'Pay for cover art.' Think about when you go to the library or book store. The cover is what grabs your attention and tells you a little about what is inside the book. And, the spine is even more important. Make sure the title and background contrast...a lot. That is the one thing I would change about Dream Weaver is the spine. That's all some people see. If they have to squint to see the title because it's small or fanciful script, they probably aren't going to choose it. By the way...Dream Weaver's artwork by the masterful Shawn Foote, has moved into the semi finals of the AUTHORSdB cover art contest. (More on that soon, also)
ConnectI was a complete novice when I started this. No clue how to write a book; and absolutely no idea how to do all the computer stuff that comes with promotion. I was fortunate enough to connect with a few people that taught me what to do. Many of the Facebook groups for authors are great place to glean anything you don't know from other who've already done it. Build your own little author's universe with people write the same quality of work as yourself, not necessarily the same style as you. Find a community of people you can get behind and you know you can count on for support. Several of the authors that I've interviewed have become friends who know a lot that I don't. And I discover, there are things I know that they don't.
All in a blog post?There's no way I could put everything I've learned over the last several years into one blog post. It would be forever long. But there's a few things I've learned. And I'm always available to help other indie authors, if I can.
Well I did it!When Dream Weaver was first published, I refused to put it on KDP Select. I didn't like the idea that Kindle was the only place I could sell my ebook. The book did alright on it's own at first, but sales dropped off and I got discouraged. So even with the novel on 3 sites for sale, I was getting no where. I recently went back to my KDP bookshelf and discovered I had the book in the wrong categories. No wonder it wasn't getting any attention. Then, with the help of another one of those interviewees, we reworked the book details and managed to get it in the #1 slot in several search categories. And then I did it. I enrolled in KDP Select. And my first 2 free days are Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16. I've tweeted it with various hashtags on Twitter and posted it on all the Facebook author promo pages....to the tune of 60 pages plus, and will continue throughout the promotion. 
I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity and download a copy for yourself or a friend. http://amzn.to/189yhSV

CAN YOU USE CAMERA TECHNIQUES IN WRITING A NOVEL?

I'm not exactly sure how I found CS Lakin, but I'm glad I did. I don't subscribe to a lot of blogs, but Lakin's 'Live. Write. Thrive.' is one I love. So, I wanted to share her blog with my visitors.
Susanne, tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a novelist, a copyeditor, a writing coach, a mom, a backpacker, and a whole bunch of other things.I teach workshops on the writing craft at writers’ conferences and retreats. If your writers’ group would like to have me teach, drop me a line. I live in California, near San Francisco, just so you know how far away I am from you and your writer friends. I also enjoy guest blogging, so contact me if you’d like me to write a post on writing, editing, or Labrador retrievers (just threw that in there; I’m not an expert but I love them). I am, however, quite the expert on pygmy goats. I ran a commercial pygmy goat farm for ten years and delivered a lot of kids! So, if you need some goat advice, I’m your gal.
A novelist, copyeditor, and writing coach? What kind of services to you provide?I love to help writers with their novels. I specialize in thorough annotated critiques (I do about 200 partial and full manuscripts a year!), so if you have a manuscript that needs some work or you’re not sure if it does, check out my site specifically dedicated to my critique services. You’ll find a lot of informative articles on why you might need a critique and how to choose the right editor for your needs. Not many copyeditors are writers, and few know how to critique all the major elements that hold a novel together.
Wow, that sounds great! What kinds of resources can working authors expect to find on your blog? CS and CoaltraneHere are a couple of articles I wrote for other authors.
first page checklist for Novels
Fiction Critique Checklist
And some posts I've written as a guest blogger.
How to Tap into Your Passion Every Time You Write ~ on Write to Done
The Secret to “Show, Don’t Tell” ~ on Wordplay, K. M. Weiland’s blog
5 Key Questions to Ask as You Write Your Novel ~ on Write to Done

You have a unique technique (say that fast 3 times) that you share with authors, in which, you combine writing and film. Tell us about some of those posts.



Susanne also writes Fantasy and YA Sci-Fi.CS, thank you for visiting. I hope my visitors will find your site as helpful as I have.

AND COMING SOON FROM DREAM WEAVER NOVELS, THE TRAILER FOR DREAM WEAVER BOOK 1! AND MAYBE EVEN A NEW TITLE!
Thank you for taking the time to visit. You are so appreciated.
And as always...
Dare to Dream!
Su

#GrammoWriMo: Let’s Get Ready to Write!

GREETINGS!
As those of you who visit here often know, I recently posted an post about a great website that's sweeping the internet called GRAMMARLY! I've used their editor and I am very impressed. It's a great resource for authors of every level.

I recently received the following letter from Nick from Grammarly. Check out what Nick had to say...
Su, hello.

I hope that all is well! Since we last spoke, my co-workers and I began planning a pretty cool writing project during the month of November that I think you'll have some interest in.

As you probably know, hundreds of thousands of writers sign up for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) each year -- essentially volunteering to write one 50,000-word novel from scratch in a month’s time. That's a lot of writing for authors who may want to participate in NaNoWriMo, but are running short on free time.

In November 2013, Grammarly will throw its hat into the ring -- but with a twist. We plan to organize the largest group of authors to ever collaborate on a novel; we’re calling the project #GrammoWriMo, and we've published a blog entry here (see post below) to provide additional information on participation.

Since you are probably working on your own project for NaNoWriMo, I wanted to ask you if you have some time to help the Grammarly team spread the word about #GrammoWriMo via social media or on your blog. Let me know if I can provide you with any additional information.

Thanks, in advance,
Nick 

And I gotta love the guys name, just on principle.
#GrammoWriMo: Let’s Get Ready to Write! by Allison VanNest • October 09, 2013
A 2002 survey confirms that 81 percent of Americans feel they have a book in them — and that they should write it. National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is as good a time as any to get started, and Grammarly wants to help.We’re accepting submissions through October 25, 2013 from writers at all levels who would like to contribute to a community-written novel. Signing up with your email address will add you to the queue of authors planning to help write the novel, and Grammarly will notify you when it is your turn to contribute up to 800 words to your assigned chapter.Don’t worry — we’ll provide CliffsNotes so you will always know what is happening!
At the end of NaNoWriMo, Grammarly is aiming to publish a book that boasts the largest number of authors of any novel ever written. We want you to be one of the authors.
Sign up today.
To help us decide the plot of this epic novel, you can also complete a short survey here.
At the end of October, we’ll contact you via email to provide additional information and next steps. In the meantime, follow @GrammoWriMo on Twitter to receive updates.Let’s get ready to write!
NO WRIMO FOR ME Since I'm in the midst of finishing up Rock Star (Book 2 in the Dream Weaver series) and preparing it for the first round of beta readers, I will not be participating in NaNoWriMo this year. BUT, this event sounds like something I can participate in. 
How about you? Whether you're taking the WriMo challenge this year or not, you might find this challenge fun. I hope you'll consider jumping on board.
Thanks for stopping by. And as always...
Dare to Dream!
Su

MEET & GREET WITH MISS EMARI JEWEL SWEET

Introducing...I'm kind of in between interviews and website posts, so I thought I would introduce one of my protagonists to those of you who are following along. So here goes:

Emari Jewel Sweet is a 17 year old orphan. She's lost her parents in a car crash, and to avoid being forced to return to public school by her uncle (Adrian), she has fought for and won legal emancipation from the Spokane Court system. 

Not Your Average...Emari and her best friend, Ivy don't believe in being average and vehemently resist becoming "cookie cutter kids" and falling into status quo. The two relate best with the emo/goth kids, black eyeliner and nails, black wardrobe and skulls; but they're both total Potterheads and borderline Twi-hards. Emari often teeters on the razors edge of self-harm, tho she's only been brave enough...or pained enough...once to try anything.
On The OutsideJane Sweet, Emari's mother, originates in Ireland and passed down her coppery locks and vivid emerald eyes to her daughter. Emari is all of 5' 2", petite build and creamy ivory skin. She doesn't care much about what she looks like, but she's always had a secret wish that her lips were a little more 'Angelina Jolie.'
It's The Inside That CountsBefore Before the accident, Emari was a content emo chick...content to dwell in her self-imposed darkness, and spend long hours on end haunting the local grave yard. Zecharias & Jane Sweet were real estate investors, with investments that span the Eastern half of Washington state. They provided well for their daughter, an only child, so Em is never really in want of anything. She's one of those weird kids that never feels the need to distance herself from her parents, who have always been the 'cool parents.' Emari is confident and dorky...and confident in being dorky. AfterBut after the accident, Emari's delicate world collapses...all around her and deep within her. She's catatonic with grief and only Ivy can reach her in her crumbling world. Despite not being in the car when it crashed and burned, Em has night terrors of the accident...over and over and over again. Her screams rip through the walls of her cottage and reverberate off the towering pines that surround it. And only the dream of a dark-eyed stranger, her 'angel', can deliver her from the nightly assault.
Thanks!Well, there's Emari in a nut shell. So thanks for letting me introduce Emari Sweet to you. You can read more of her story in Dream Weaver and I hope to introduce 'the dark-eyed stranger' Nickolas Benedetti to you soon; as well as Ivy, Jesse, Sabre and Eddyson (he's the cutest by far!!) (You can find some of Sabre James' backstory in this blog's archives.)
And as always...Dare to Dream!!!Su

STORY-READING APE READS DREAM WEAVER!

THE STORY READING APE Well, not exactly. But the Ape is featuring Dream Weaver today, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013. The link will continue to be live even after that date so you can still check it out if you're so inclined.
INDIE TRIBEI finally did it. I actually paid for advertising on someone else's site. But Indie Tribe is pretty well known and the fee was less than $10 for the month. I figured, hey, why not? I was a bit late getting my stuff in so you have to scroll all the way to the bottom to see it.
COMING UPOn SALLIE'S BOOK REVIEWS & MOREMy friend and fellow author, Kandy Kay Scaramuzzo referred me to this site. My interview will post on October 12, 2013. 
PARANORMAL PALOOZA (link will be posted and go live Oct. 19)Author of the very popular, Aberrant, Ruth Silver is hosting a month long paranormal showcase of paranormal books and authors. My post will go live on October 19, 2013. There's lots of spooky stuff to check out throughout the month, so you might want to check back often. AND, we've included my first ever Rafflecopter giveaway. I've offered two copies of Dream Weaver in whatever format the winner chooses.
On October 31, Dream Weaver will be featured on IMAGINEER-ING. I will update the link that goes directly to the interview when it goes live, but the above link will take you to his main site page where you can check out what he does.
LAST BUT NOT LEASTThe book promo site ASKDAVID.COM was inundated with author requests for promotion of their books. So much so, that David had to close submissions and turn people away. Luckily, I got my info in to him before that happened. So now Dream Weaver is on AskDavid's list of books - an apparently coveted place to be. 
Thank you as always for stopping by.And as always...Dare to Dream!Su
 *      *Not ready for Summer to leave, but Fall sure brings some pretty leaves*      *
 

SAM WHITEHOUSE & THE PROPHECY OF THREE

The war between Light and Dark magic is about to spill over into our world...
JUST ONE WORD I happened upon a young man on Goodreads a few months ago. He had an excerpt of one of his stories posted and I read it. And I was amazed. With seemingly effortless ease, he drew me into a cold, dark chamber where I felt the chill, damp air, smelled the musty forgotteness,  and heard the crackle of brittle, aged skin. I had only one word for Sam Whitehouse. AMAZING! I told everyone I met about Sam and sent him kudos for such beautiful, haunting imagery. 
MY HAT'S IN THE RINGSince that time, Sam and I have become friends of sorts. We've even entered upon a pact: Whichever of us becomes famous first, takes the other to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I am all on that! And I kind of hope he wins, because what would be cooler than visiting Harry Potter in the UK!? He has honored me with helping him with the edits of his first book, The Prophecy of Three. And I am truly honored, because I truly believe that the name Sam Whitehouse will become a name that is spoken in many, many homes worldwide. Sam's story is imaginative and compelling; a world that is easily believable and artistically painted with words. 
Shadows grew and shrank in obscuring patches across the valley, cast by the moon that grinned from between gaps in the night’s roof of clouds. Mist coiled in finger-like tendrils from the forest of skeletal trees fringing the mountains, shifting in waves across the grass that looked black beneath the clouded night sky.
FIVE DAY, FREE PROMOTION When Sam messaged me about a five-day, free promotion of Prophecy of Three, I jumped on the chance to get the word out for him. So, starting on September 30, 2013, The Prophecy of Three: the Keys of Time will be free to download from Amazon. If you like YA urban fantasy that blends modern day with myth and legends, please feel free to pick up a copy. An author and his book relies on its readers for inspiration.
HERE'S A TASTY MORSEL Everything changed for Simon Falke the first time he fell through the fire.  Just beneath the surface of our world, a war between Light and Dark magic has been waging for centuries. Wielded by Morgana, the Dark is growing in power. But a long foretold prophecy, The Prophecy of Three, could change everything. 
Not many teenagers can say they are the subject of an ancient prophecy. Fewer still can say they have inherited the powers of a wizard and a responsibility for the fate of the world. Simon, Evelyn and James are three who can. From the moment they learn of the Prophecy of Three, they are thrown into the war against Morgana, whom prophecy states they will destroy. Immersed in a dangerous new world of ancient magic, power hungry witches, insidious creatures and limitless power, Simon, Evelyn and James must hunt down the Keys of Time. For with the Keys Morgana would be unstoppable…Not exactly the life of your average teenager. 
From the killer first line that hooks you instantly, to the powerful imagery that draws you in and casts its spell on you, Prophecy of Three is the magical book with that power. And like his characters, Sam Whitehouse is not 'your average teenager.'
REACHING OUTPlease help me support this great UK author that has a gift to share with the world! It's a free download on Amazon.com. Here's the link:PROPHECY OF THREE FREE ON AMAZON

And please, please spread the word!

Thank you all once again for your time. I so appreciate your visits to me!!!
And as always...
Dare to Dream!
Su

USE GRAMMARLY Because you can't eat Serial, or chase your own Tale!

I use Grammarly's grammar corrector because the difference between knowing your shit and knowing you're shit, is HUGE! And Grammarly would totally pick up that little plagiarism there too. An Author's New Bestie!I am so excited about the feature website this week! While editing Dream Weaver , I just used the grammar checker that came with the word processor. And it was great. I learned a lot. But GRAMMARLY does so much more. But, here, let me have them explain it their own words.
Grammarly is an automated proofreader and your personal grammar coach. Correct up to 10 times more mistakes than popular word processors. [We] provide another set of eyes to help perfect your writing. Grammarly’s patent-pending grammar checking technology reviews and improves your text, correcting grammar, spelling, word choice and style mistakes with unmatched accuracy. Give Grammarly 60 seconds and see what pesky grammar errors you missed in your text!
What's the diff? So, tell me, is this like the grammar checker on my word processor? Grammarly is waaay better. We check over 250 points of grammar to improve any text. You can insert academic, professional and creative writings that all require unique styles of editing.We give you Context Optimized Synonyms that keep your story, article...in mind.
Is that all Grammarly does? Oh, no. We're more complex than simply grammar. We use an Adaptive Spell Checker to make sure you're using the right correctly-spelled word in the right context.
Yeah, not so professional looking when you use 'two' when you should've used 'too'. What else? Well, we have a checker for Plagiarism Detection & Citations. We Find Errors That Microsoft® Word Can’t like Contextual Spelling, Modifiers, Prepositions, correct Punctuation, and Quantifiers.
You can Use Grammarly Anywhere (and Everywhere!) to Improve Your Writing Skills. You get Instant Results and best of all you receive Fanatical Support. Our support representatives are available 24/7 to answer any questions you have about Grammarly.
WOW! That sounds fantastic. I'm using my 7-day Trail right now. And if I don't love it, I can cancel my subscription within the trial period with absolutely no problems. Thanks Grammarly for sharing your site with us. I've no doubt that many authors could make use of your awesome services. It's like an instant proof-reader. 
Thanks for stopping by everyone!And as always...Dare to Dream!Su

SOMETHING NEW! CHILDREN'S AUTHOR JENNY LOVELESS

Here's That First
In my last post, I mentioned that I would be having a FIRST on this blog and here it is. My interview with children's author Jenny Loveless. Jenny has received a 5 Star Review from professional review site Reader's Favorite...so I'm keeping good company! I've reviewed her most recent book, Holly Horse and the Great Quest. I also gave it a 5 Star Review with a great message well-written for kids. Jenny and I share a similar background working with kids...must be why we clicked.


About Jenny Jenny, tell us a little about yourself…where you’re from, family, background…Hi Su, thank you so much for having me. I’ll start off by saying I was adopted when I was three years old, to a family in California with 7 other children. The woman who adopted me started off as my day care provider and I went on to stay with her and her family.  Today I am a stay at home mom of three beautiful daughters. We still live in California with my husband, our cat, our dog, and our fish named Rocky. After taking a break from child care for the past 4 years, I have recently taken on a couple kids again in my home. We have a very full house.
Picking a GenreWhat made you decide to write children’s books?It actually all just fell into my lap. I have always been good at writing, but I never thought about ever seriously writing a book. One day I was with my husband at an ATM machine and he was talking about all the money going out and not enough coming in. I thought to myself, everyone thinks the grass is greener on the other side. All of a sudden, a storyline just fell from the sky. It just so happened to be a storyline fit for kids. I told my husband I was going to write a book and never looked back. Since then, I have written several children’s stories and have found that I am actually pretty good at it. 

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words Is it a particular challenge to find an artist?It was in the beginning because I had no idea what I was doing or where I could find good resources. My first two books were pretty expensive to have illustrated.  For Holly Horse, I went with an art major in college, Nia Onit. I am very happy with how each of my books has come out, but luckily I have found a really great place to find affordable illustrators. My next books will be much more inexpensive and surprisingly easier to have illustrated.
Jenny's Book Tell us a little about Holly and her friends.Holly Horse is the story I mentioned earlier. Holly is a young horse who hears a rumor. She hears that the grass is greener on the other side and she is determined to find it. On her quest for this delectable treat, Holly meets the very helpful Gary Goat, Ollie, the very witty rhyming owl, and the 72 year old, Mr. Tim Tortoise. Each new friend Holly meets has a special way in helping Holly realize just how much she loves her own home.
Kudos! Not Just a Granola Bar I noticed you’ve received a 5-Star review from Reader’s Favorite! Congratulations! Has that helped you any way you’ve noticed?I had my books reviewed shortly after they were published on Amazon so I’m really not sure if it has helped. I imagine it has. I think having the 5 star reviews help as long as someone reads the description. The hard part is getting people to read that description.  It’s a catch 22. I need customer reviews to get more people to read the description and check out my book, but I need people to buy my book before I can get the customer reviews. It’s a slow process, but time helps immensely. 
(Doing a giveaway on Goodreads is a great way to garner reviews, and you can use Rafflecopter on your blog or website for giveaways. There are also some book review sites, some featured right here on Dream Weaver blog, that sponsor giveaways.)
What the Future Holds Any new kid’s books in the offing?I have a few more books written and edited. Within the next week or two I will be starting on the illustrations to my third book, Tommy and the Magic Trick. This title is subject to change. I am very excited about it. I am also planning on beginning a series with my book Ducky Duck Doesn’t want to be a Duck.
Flash to the Past What kind of books did you like as a child?
When I was a kid, my favorite book of all time was The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein. (OMG! This is one of my all-time favorite books!! Check out this vid!) Which reminds me, did you know that Shel Silverstein wrote A Boy Named Sue, by Johnny Cash? Very interesting.  As for my favorite kinds of books, I am 36, so I don’t remember a whole lot of them. But when I was a preteen I loved The Babysitters Club series. Go figure.
But Always Live for Today Any you can suggest now?Pete the Cat books are super cute children’s books. These books have a lot of educational value which is taught in a fun and groovy way. If you are looking for a good rhyming book for children 2-4, I would recommend Frisby, by Anne Cowell. These books are about a dog named Frisby. The rhymes flow nicely and the illustrations are beautiful. 
Suggestions Any specific tidbits of advice you would share with other writer’s in general?It’s not easy becoming a new author, and at times it will make you feel that the competition is too hard to compete with. Get very involved in social media. That competition needs to become your best allies. There is an entire community of new and indie authors out there and most of them are more than willing to help. Ask for the help. Ask them to write a review. Ask them to tweet about your book. Ask them to post it on their Facebook sites and ask for advice. The worst they could say is no, but many will say yes. The best way to do this is to help them in some way first. Retweet for other authors and connect with them via twitter, Facebook groups, Goodreads and anywhere else you can think of. Books get the best publicity by word of mouth. The most people who are talking about books are the people writing them.
Any websites you would share with other writers?I have found a book on Kindle called Author Publicity Pack. Buy it. This book has tons of paid and free advertising websites and Facebook sites. Use as many of these sites you can WITHOUT overwhelming yourself. If you don’t have a Kindle, I highly suggest you download the free Kindle app on your PC or ipad and buy it that way. This is a must have book for new authors. I think it’s a must have for any author.
Where can readers find you and your book? Contact Links Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1evTLIE Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlovelessbooksPinterest: https://pinterest.com/jenniferlovless/Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1aaCYgO
Buy Links Holly Horse and the Great QuestAmazon: http://amzn.to/14GrS1XUSA    http://amzn.to/19SAe7DUK
Ducky Duck Doesn’t Want to be a Duck  Amazon: http://amzn.to/1bdcbk1 USA                 http://amzn.to/1exYyt4 UK
Other:Jenny’s books will be available on other sites in the next couple months. Keep a look out for Ducky Duck Doesn’t Want to be a Duck and Holly Horse and the Great Quest. Ducky Duck Doesn’t Want to be a Duck will also be available in print on Amazon in early September.
Jenny, thank you so much for sharing a little about yourself and your books. It has been my pleasure getting to know you and I truly do love getting to support other indie authors. 
If you're an author please feel free to contact me for your own interview. This blog currently receives 800 to 1000 views per month and has a world-wide reach!
Thank you everyone for stopping by.And as always...Dare to Dream!Su
That's my Daddy in his garden Lots of visitors like this honey bee
And mondo cabbages

A LONG DISTANCE INTERVIEW FROM HONG KONG WITH AUTHOR ARTHUR CRANDON

Introducing author Arthur Crandon
If I remember correctly, Arthur and I originally connected on Twitter. Isn't that such a great place to meet people from all over the world?! And even though our genres are vastly different, we hit it off. I started following his blog, which never fails to make me smile and sometimes even laugh out loud...which is fete. I just 'get' his humor and he's not one of those authors trying to pass it off as though he knows it all. He's learning like the rest of us and shares what he's learned. But enough of that. Let's get to know him...
Hong Kong
Okay, first of all, we’d like to know about living in Hong Kong! And what took you so far from home…the UK, right?Well, first of all, I love Hong Kong. It is a positive place, and a very multicultural environment.  We have great beaches, shops, restaurants and weather.  It is the height of the summer now, very hot. I have been in South East Asia for more than ten years now.  I moved to the Philippines when I retired from my legal practice, my wife is a Philippina, and fell in love with Asia. One of Arthur's Favorite Places
That's Life!How does your life experience factor in to your writing?I have used my rather extraordinary life experiences, some good, but mainly bad.  I am glad now that some good is coming from my difficulties.
The 50 Word TestIf you had to summarize your book in, say, 50 words, what would you say?It’s an unusual book. A crime/thriller set in Asia. It is set in the beautiful Philippines, but it exposes the worst side of human nature and life in the islands.  The murderous, treacherous, lustful and corrupt events in the book did not really happen, but they could have…Wow, Arthur! I'm impressed! 49 words...you had one to spare!
Casting CallJust for fun…and I know most of us do this…who would your dream cast be if your book became a movie?The three Key characters are Consuelo, Chloe and Paul. Consuelo, a crooked and evil politician could be played by Robert de Niro.  Chloe, his attractive and long suffering wife could be Angelina Jolie, and Kiefer Sutherland would play Paul, the old soldier, well.LOL! I figured you for an Angelina Jolie kind of guy! It's the lips, isn't it?
Your FavoritesTell us about your favorite books.I have always loved John Grisham. His novels have always attracted me because of the legal aspects, and my favourite book would have to be "A time to Kill" - http://www.amazon.com/Time-Kill-Novel-John-Grisham/dp/0440245915/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376894985&sr=1-10
What website has been the most help to you?I think Goodreads is a very useful and helpful website to ALL authors. It is full of good advice and nice people to meet.
Advice?Any promo/marketing advice?I have had to think long and hard about what to say here. Things are changing so fast in the industry that much of the advice given today will be out of date in six months time.  The only advice I would offer is to start with the basics.  Make sure you have a good product to market – A good, professional cover. A well-written, well-edited and formatted.  If you have all those things, a positive attitude will take you a long way.
Now for all the big stuff!
Your links:Website: http://www.arthurcrandon.com
Blog: http://www.arthurcrandon.com/blog-blog-blog.html
Email: mailto:arthurcrandon@yahoo.com?subject=Enquiry from Deadly Election Ebook
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/arthurcrandonauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/arthurcrandon
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/arthurcrandon/
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/arthurcrandon
Instagram: deadlyelectionbook
Amazon: http://amzn.to/19cKjsP
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/17S1guI
Buy links too:http://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Election-Arthur-Crandon/dp/147923625X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376895456&sr=8-1&keywords=deadly+election+crandon
A Little FunFinally, I always love the fun pics you add to your blog. Do you have a special one just for us?
Couldn't be more perfect! Thanks, Arthur! And of course I can't leave off without adding some of my own fav pics!
Ode to an old friend. Yes, that's a gerbil. He squoze into any box he could find
And demanded outside for thunderstorms!Thanks everyone for visiting! I'm always happy to find you here!
And as aways...
Dare to Dream,
Su