Stephanie Faris's Blog, page 54
January 7, 2015
25 Roses Blog Tour: Day Three
It's day three of my super-exciting blog tour. Nobody signed up for tomorrow, so we'll round up with an exciting big tour day Friday. Here are the next stops on my blog tour. Scroll down below for this month's Insecure Writer's Support Group post, which is about something all published writers are insecure about: promotion.
Mason Canyon --Guest Post: The Path to Publication is Paved in Rejection Letters
Beth Ellyn Summer --Interview
T.B. Markinson --Guest Blog: Promoting Your Book the Old-Fashioned Way
Tara Tyler --Guest Blog: Should Writers Follow Trends...or Follow Our Hearts?
Meradeth Huston --Blurb and Excerpt
Is Book Promotion Changing?
At one time, writers who launched a new book into the world had only one venue in which to do so: the bookstore. In today's Internet-driven world, however, online book tours have become just as popular. It seems we're in the midst of a shift as national chain bookstores dwindle and local independents take their places.
There may be a reason for that. If it's really true that the average booksigning sells eight books, it calls into question whether local marketing is as relevant as it once was. An author no longer has to travel to New Jersey or California to reach readers there. Through social media and our blogs, we regularly interact with people around the globe.
But local marketing will always be at least a little important. Your local bookstores, libraries, and (for children's authors) schools will always support your books more than those located in other cities. And booksignings and events personalize your relationship with the people who have the power to recommend your books to readers. At each of my booksignings, I've left signed copies of my books for readers to buy--and one bookstore even called me back to sign more.
I personally have found that like any local business, an author must network locally but spend most of his/her time marketing online. Because most consumers turn to the Internet to research what products to buy, your books must have an online presence. That will only continue to grow in importance as reading becomes even more app-ified and book-based social media sites like Goodreads continue to grow in popularity.
What do you think? Has the market changed how books are promoted?
Don't forget to enter my giveaway. You can win a $25 Amazon gift card, an autographed copy of 25 Roses, or a long-stemmed chocolate rose like the ones in the book.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Mason Canyon --Guest Post: The Path to Publication is Paved in Rejection Letters
Beth Ellyn Summer --Interview
T.B. Markinson --Guest Blog: Promoting Your Book the Old-Fashioned Way
Tara Tyler --Guest Blog: Should Writers Follow Trends...or Follow Our Hearts?
Meradeth Huston --Blurb and Excerpt
Is Book Promotion Changing?
At one time, writers who launched a new book into the world had only one venue in which to do so: the bookstore. In today's Internet-driven world, however, online book tours have become just as popular. It seems we're in the midst of a shift as national chain bookstores dwindle and local independents take their places.
There may be a reason for that. If it's really true that the average booksigning sells eight books, it calls into question whether local marketing is as relevant as it once was. An author no longer has to travel to New Jersey or California to reach readers there. Through social media and our blogs, we regularly interact with people around the globe.
But local marketing will always be at least a little important. Your local bookstores, libraries, and (for children's authors) schools will always support your books more than those located in other cities. And booksignings and events personalize your relationship with the people who have the power to recommend your books to readers. At each of my booksignings, I've left signed copies of my books for readers to buy--and one bookstore even called me back to sign more.
I personally have found that like any local business, an author must network locally but spend most of his/her time marketing online. Because most consumers turn to the Internet to research what products to buy, your books must have an online presence. That will only continue to grow in importance as reading becomes even more app-ified and book-based social media sites like Goodreads continue to grow in popularity.
What do you think? Has the market changed how books are promoted?
Don't forget to enter my giveaway. You can win a $25 Amazon gift card, an autographed copy of 25 Roses, or a long-stemmed chocolate rose like the ones in the book.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
January 6, 2015
25 Roses Blog Tour: Day Two
It's release day!!! Today, 25 Roses is out in the world. It's a terrifying, yet very exciting, feeling! If you want an autographed copy, you can get it here. Just tell them what you want me to sign and they'll ship it to you!!! I also have an exciting cover reveal...check out Medeia's new cover below.
I'm so excited that I have a group of blogging friends who are celebrating this important week with me. Here are the next stops on my blog tour.
Leandra Wallace --Interview
Sage --Interview
Kristin Smith --Guest Post: 4 Tips to Survive a Writers' Conference
Sandra Cox --Blurb and Excerpt
Robyn Campbell --Blurb and Excerpt
SK Anthony --Blurb and Excerpt
Medeia Sharif is also revealing her new cover this week. I'll be participating in her book blast later this month, so stay tuned for that. We all love Medeia's books, so news of a new release is always exciting. Here's the cover of 52 Likes and a link to Goodreads, where you can add it to your to-read list.
Have you entered my giveaway yet? You can win a $25 Amazon gift card, an autographed copy of 25 Roses, or a long-stemmed chocolate rose like the ones in the book.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm so excited that I have a group of blogging friends who are celebrating this important week with me. Here are the next stops on my blog tour.
Leandra Wallace --Interview
Sage --Interview
Kristin Smith --Guest Post: 4 Tips to Survive a Writers' Conference
Sandra Cox --Blurb and Excerpt
Robyn Campbell --Blurb and Excerpt
SK Anthony --Blurb and Excerpt
Medeia Sharif is also revealing her new cover this week. I'll be participating in her book blast later this month, so stay tuned for that. We all love Medeia's books, so news of a new release is always exciting. Here's the cover of 52 Likes and a link to Goodreads, where you can add it to your to-read list.
Have you entered my giveaway yet? You can win a $25 Amazon gift card, an autographed copy of 25 Roses, or a long-stemmed chocolate rose like the ones in the book.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
January 5, 2015
25 Roses Blog Tour: Day One
Today is a very, very exciting day. It's the day before the release of my second novel:
Want an autographed copy? You can order one from Parnassus Books (put your request for an autographed copy and what you want signed in comments when you order). Or you can enter my giveaway to win a signed copy because...something REALLY exciting is happening today.
My week-long blog tour!!! I have an exciting lineup, including interviews and guest blogs. Be sure to check each of the following stops out.
Ms Yingling Reads --Review of 25 Roses
Alex Cavanaugh --Guest Post: Inspired By the Movies
Diane Carlisle --Guest Post: 3 Reasons Guest Blogging is a Good Idea
Quanie Miller --Guest Post: Promoting Your Book Online? 3 Lessons I've Learned from Marketing Experts
Sherry Ellis --Blurb and Excerpt
Medeia Sharif --Blurb and Excerpt
Cathrina Constantine --Blurb and Excerpt
Gina Stoneheart --Blurb and Excerpt
Now it's time to sign up for my giveaway. You can win a $25 Amazon gift card, an autographed copy of 25 Roses, or a long-stemmed chocolate rose like the ones in the book.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Want an autographed copy? You can order one from Parnassus Books (put your request for an autographed copy and what you want signed in comments when you order). Or you can enter my giveaway to win a signed copy because...something REALLY exciting is happening today.
My week-long blog tour!!! I have an exciting lineup, including interviews and guest blogs. Be sure to check each of the following stops out.
Ms Yingling Reads --Review of 25 Roses
Alex Cavanaugh --Guest Post: Inspired By the Movies
Diane Carlisle --Guest Post: 3 Reasons Guest Blogging is a Good Idea
Quanie Miller --Guest Post: Promoting Your Book Online? 3 Lessons I've Learned from Marketing Experts
Sherry Ellis --Blurb and Excerpt
Medeia Sharif --Blurb and Excerpt
Cathrina Constantine --Blurb and Excerpt
Gina Stoneheart --Blurb and Excerpt
Now it's time to sign up for my giveaway. You can win a $25 Amazon gift card, an autographed copy of 25 Roses, or a long-stemmed chocolate rose like the ones in the book.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
January 2, 2015
FINALLY...My Debbie Gibson Fandom is Justified
On New Year's Eve, one of my Facebook friends initiated an intense conversation of why Mr. Mister sucks. I defended them by saying that was my first concert...and that I had a crush on the lead singer. She promptly joked that I could no longer be her friend.
The next day, middle grade/YA author Lisa Schroeder tweeted that she'd just watched the One Direction movie (I didn't even know there was a movie) and she wasn't ashamed. I replied that as children's authors, we get to unabashedly watch this sort of thing.
I regularly read posts from tween/teen authors about movies and TV shows designed for young girls, including Pitch Perfect and Glee (back when that show was good). It seems that writing for young readers gives you license to indulge in entertainment designed for young people...which can be fun. I, for instance, watched this movie on Netflix and loved it:
The whole thing reminds me of my fascination with Debbie Gibson when I was 16. Technically I was too old to be a fan of hers, but she was my age and she was writing songs that were actually on the radio. As a writer of (very bad) poetry, I was inspired.
When I was a teenager, I loved this video. It still appeals to my girly side, even if I were seeing it for the first time today.
It has everything. Fun effects, fashionable clothes (for the time, anyway!) and scrunchies. Remember scrunchies?
If you don't, don't worry. They'll come back in fashion soon. Fashion does that. Debbie Gibson probably won't, though. She's too busy making bad movies.
But I did feel a little ashamed at just how much I enjoyed fellow Hendersonville High School alum Taylor Swift's new video. What is it about these young female singers that make them SO much fun to watch? It's a really, really good video and song, actually, even if you aren't a recovering Debbie Gibson fan!
What's your most embarrassing guilty pleasure?
It's the last chance to sign up for my blog tour next week. It runs January 5-9 and includes cool prizes, including chocolate!
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The next day, middle grade/YA author Lisa Schroeder tweeted that she'd just watched the One Direction movie (I didn't even know there was a movie) and she wasn't ashamed. I replied that as children's authors, we get to unabashedly watch this sort of thing.
I regularly read posts from tween/teen authors about movies and TV shows designed for young girls, including Pitch Perfect and Glee (back when that show was good). It seems that writing for young readers gives you license to indulge in entertainment designed for young people...which can be fun. I, for instance, watched this movie on Netflix and loved it:
The whole thing reminds me of my fascination with Debbie Gibson when I was 16. Technically I was too old to be a fan of hers, but she was my age and she was writing songs that were actually on the radio. As a writer of (very bad) poetry, I was inspired.
When I was a teenager, I loved this video. It still appeals to my girly side, even if I were seeing it for the first time today.
It has everything. Fun effects, fashionable clothes (for the time, anyway!) and scrunchies. Remember scrunchies?
If you don't, don't worry. They'll come back in fashion soon. Fashion does that. Debbie Gibson probably won't, though. She's too busy making bad movies.
But I did feel a little ashamed at just how much I enjoyed fellow Hendersonville High School alum Taylor Swift's new video. What is it about these young female singers that make them SO much fun to watch? It's a really, really good video and song, actually, even if you aren't a recovering Debbie Gibson fan!
What's your most embarrassing guilty pleasure?
It's the last chance to sign up for my blog tour next week. It runs January 5-9 and includes cool prizes, including chocolate!
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December 31, 2014
Five Secrets about Me for New Year's Eve
The uber-talented kickboxing blogger J.H. Moncrieff tagged me in the Five Secrets about Me blog hop that's going around.
In celebration of the start of a new year, I'm joining in. Here goes.
#1: I'm related to Jesse James. I'm not 100 percent certain how--my great-great-great-grandmother and Jesse James' father were siblings. There could be a few more "greats" in that grandmother part!
#2: I'm deathly afraid of roaches. Yes, I know they can't hurt me, but nothing freaks me out like the sight of one of these:
#3: My middle name is Breckenridge. I always hated it until my mom pointed me to my ancestor's Wikipedia page. Now I'm pretty darn proud!
#4: I went to school to be a TV reporter. Then I learned how little they made. Not that I would have been very good at it. But I anchored the news and worked as a reporter for my campus news station for a while. It did allow me to hone my writing skills and it led to a career in public relations, which is how I spent my 20s.
#5: I've worked all kinds of interesting side jobs over the years. This includes selling stuff on eBay back in the early days (I once made $500 on a rare Natalie Wood magazine that I found at a used record store) and working as a mystery shopper. Neither paid well for the work they required, but they were fun.
That's all my secrets for now! I'm tagging Anna and Pat Hatt but my tags are always optional! I hope everyone has a...
In celebration of the start of a new year, I'm joining in. Here goes.
#1: I'm related to Jesse James. I'm not 100 percent certain how--my great-great-great-grandmother and Jesse James' father were siblings. There could be a few more "greats" in that grandmother part!
#2: I'm deathly afraid of roaches. Yes, I know they can't hurt me, but nothing freaks me out like the sight of one of these:
#3: My middle name is Breckenridge. I always hated it until my mom pointed me to my ancestor's Wikipedia page. Now I'm pretty darn proud!
#4: I went to school to be a TV reporter. Then I learned how little they made. Not that I would have been very good at it. But I anchored the news and worked as a reporter for my campus news station for a while. It did allow me to hone my writing skills and it led to a career in public relations, which is how I spent my 20s.
#5: I've worked all kinds of interesting side jobs over the years. This includes selling stuff on eBay back in the early days (I once made $500 on a rare Natalie Wood magazine that I found at a used record store) and working as a mystery shopper. Neither paid well for the work they required, but they were fun.
That's all my secrets for now! I'm tagging Anna and Pat Hatt but my tags are always optional! I hope everyone has a...
December 29, 2014
Cool Writing Rooms
Writing is my full-time job. I do most of it on the sofa recliner, surrounded by my living room. Probably not the most scenic of locations! I thought I'd write on our comfy patio furniture outside, which has a view of a pond...
But as it turns out, laptop screens are really hard to see outside. There's a glare. So much for my dream of writing on the beach.
One thing I'm fascinated with is writing rooms. Writers often share photos of their offices, which are basically desks surrounded by piles and piles of books.
What I want is a room with a view. I always mention the final scene of Wonder Boys, where Michael Douglas is writing in an office, surrounded by windows with a waterfront view.
I can't find that clip, though, so instead here are some writing rooms that would make sitting at a desk worth it.
This one belongs to Tracy Bloom:
Hannah Fielding shared her French writing room on her website, emphasizing that normally she sits on the other side of the desk to take advantage of the view.
This one isn't a writer's room, but Rick's Photography pulled this photo of a home office with a view from a Laguna Beach listing.
Berlin writer Jane Flett posted a photo of her Berlin writing space on this blog.
Flett does mention repeatedly the distractions she faces, however, so maybe there's a lesson to be learned. Maybe rooms with a view don't inspire. Maybe there's a reason writers work in rooms like this one.
Would you work better with a beautiful view in front of you? Or would it be more of a distraction?
But as it turns out, laptop screens are really hard to see outside. There's a glare. So much for my dream of writing on the beach.
One thing I'm fascinated with is writing rooms. Writers often share photos of their offices, which are basically desks surrounded by piles and piles of books.
What I want is a room with a view. I always mention the final scene of Wonder Boys, where Michael Douglas is writing in an office, surrounded by windows with a waterfront view.
I can't find that clip, though, so instead here are some writing rooms that would make sitting at a desk worth it.
This one belongs to Tracy Bloom:
Hannah Fielding shared her French writing room on her website, emphasizing that normally she sits on the other side of the desk to take advantage of the view.
This one isn't a writer's room, but Rick's Photography pulled this photo of a home office with a view from a Laguna Beach listing.
Berlin writer Jane Flett posted a photo of her Berlin writing space on this blog.
Flett does mention repeatedly the distractions she faces, however, so maybe there's a lesson to be learned. Maybe rooms with a view don't inspire. Maybe there's a reason writers work in rooms like this one.
Would you work better with a beautiful view in front of you? Or would it be more of a distraction?
December 26, 2014
A Post-Christmas Post
The always adorable Kelly Hashway agreed to review 25 Roses for her blog. As a fan of her blog (as well as her middle grade novel, Curse of the Granville Fortune, which I covered on my November Best Reads blog!), I was honored when she accepted my request to review my book.
Today, her review goes live. Check it out and leave a comment for her if you have time.
Today, her review goes live. Check it out and leave a comment for her if you have time.
December 24, 2014
Merry Christmas!!!
It's that time of year again...
I hope everyone has a very, very, very merry Christmas. I'm thankful I met so many great bloggers this year and I can't wait to read your blogs next year! If you haven't signed up for my blog tour yet, be sure to do so. The form is below. I'll leave you with a song that I promise will make you smile!
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I hope everyone has a very, very, very merry Christmas. I'm thankful I met so many great bloggers this year and I can't wait to read your blogs next year! If you haven't signed up for my blog tour yet, be sure to do so. The form is below. I'll leave you with a song that I promise will make you smile!
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December 22, 2014
My Favorite Christmas Memory
Today I'm participating in a festive bloghop hosted by amazingly-talented, super-fun bloggers Cherdo and Janie Junebug. You can join in, too. Just add your name to the list and post about your favorite Christmas memory.
This was a tough one. I had a lot of great Christmases growing up. The first one I remember was this one, while my mom, sister, and I were living in Missouri. (I'm the brunette.)
All I remember of that Christmas was that I got a Holly Hobbie Easy Bake Oven. It looked like this:
I think when I remember Christmas, I think back to when I was 16. It was exciting for several reasons. One, I was driving for the first time. My first car had only an AM radio, but I loved it. It felt so grown up to drive. It looked kind of like this:
I was (sort of) working at my first job. I only worked Saturdays, though. I didn't like that job and would soon replace it with my favorite job ever (besides writing)--movie theater concessions stand worker. But that Christmas, I was making no-bake cookies to take to the "Christmas party" at my horrible workplace:
While making our delicious cookies, Mom asked if I'd called to find out the time of the party. I called and the manager said, in a not-so-nice voice, "Party? We're not doing a party. People are just dropping off food for the people who are working today." I hung up and, after discussing it with my mom, we decided to keep these delicious treats for ourselves:
I got to spend the rest of Christmas Eve at home. It was the last year I wasn't working at Christmas (movie theaters don't close) and the last year of doing not much more than going to the mall, talking on the phone, and going to school. Perhaps that is why it sticks in my mind to this day.
What is your favorite Christmas memory? Why does it stay with you?
My first post (of many!) for HTC's Breaking Modern went live today. If you need a last-minute gift for the tech geek on your Christmas list, check it out.
This was a tough one. I had a lot of great Christmases growing up. The first one I remember was this one, while my mom, sister, and I were living in Missouri. (I'm the brunette.)
All I remember of that Christmas was that I got a Holly Hobbie Easy Bake Oven. It looked like this:
I think when I remember Christmas, I think back to when I was 16. It was exciting for several reasons. One, I was driving for the first time. My first car had only an AM radio, but I loved it. It felt so grown up to drive. It looked kind of like this:
I was (sort of) working at my first job. I only worked Saturdays, though. I didn't like that job and would soon replace it with my favorite job ever (besides writing)--movie theater concessions stand worker. But that Christmas, I was making no-bake cookies to take to the "Christmas party" at my horrible workplace:
While making our delicious cookies, Mom asked if I'd called to find out the time of the party. I called and the manager said, in a not-so-nice voice, "Party? We're not doing a party. People are just dropping off food for the people who are working today." I hung up and, after discussing it with my mom, we decided to keep these delicious treats for ourselves:
I got to spend the rest of Christmas Eve at home. It was the last year I wasn't working at Christmas (movie theaters don't close) and the last year of doing not much more than going to the mall, talking on the phone, and going to school. Perhaps that is why it sticks in my mind to this day.
What is your favorite Christmas memory? Why does it stay with you?
My first post (of many!) for HTC's Breaking Modern went live today. If you need a last-minute gift for the tech geek on your Christmas list, check it out.
December 19, 2014
No Means NO!
As a freelance writer, finding clients can be a process of elimination on both sides. There are some services I simply don't provide--I'm not a professional copyeditor, so I say no to those. I won't leave my Skype open all day so you can randomly interrupt me when I'm working for other clients. And, of course, I absolutely will not write a 500-word article for $.50.
I also won't write about topics that go against my values. And that's an issue you face quite often when you work as a writer. I also avoid jobs that involve writing school papers for people (yes, students--particularly college students--pay writers to do that).
One issue that comes up when people find out that I write for a couple of high-profile publications is that they ask me to slip a business name into what I'm writing. Nobody will ever know, they say, and it's something journalists do all the time.
I say no and usually that's it. But occasionally I say no and get a few persuasive emails back. Yes, I said a few. I don't respond after the initial "no" because...what else is there to say?
One marketer stunned me by telling me, as part of his argument to persuade me to slip his client's brand name into one of my articles, that a reporter with a major, nationally-known, well-respected newspaper slipped brands into articles for him all the time. I didn't respond--I was too stunned to respond.
So these journalists risk their salaried jobs and journalistic integrity for a few bucks? It wasn't even about risking getting future assignments from clients. Four years of journalism school and basic moral integrity has me saying no. I'd like to believe that professional journalists have that, as well. So all I can hope is that he was lying to convince me to do this by using basic adolescent coercion...
Has an employer ever asked you to do anything that was against your beliefs? How did you handle it?
I also won't write about topics that go against my values. And that's an issue you face quite often when you work as a writer. I also avoid jobs that involve writing school papers for people (yes, students--particularly college students--pay writers to do that).
One issue that comes up when people find out that I write for a couple of high-profile publications is that they ask me to slip a business name into what I'm writing. Nobody will ever know, they say, and it's something journalists do all the time.
I say no and usually that's it. But occasionally I say no and get a few persuasive emails back. Yes, I said a few. I don't respond after the initial "no" because...what else is there to say?
One marketer stunned me by telling me, as part of his argument to persuade me to slip his client's brand name into one of my articles, that a reporter with a major, nationally-known, well-respected newspaper slipped brands into articles for him all the time. I didn't respond--I was too stunned to respond.
So these journalists risk their salaried jobs and journalistic integrity for a few bucks? It wasn't even about risking getting future assignments from clients. Four years of journalism school and basic moral integrity has me saying no. I'd like to believe that professional journalists have that, as well. So all I can hope is that he was lying to convince me to do this by using basic adolescent coercion...
Has an employer ever asked you to do anything that was against your beliefs? How did you handle it?
