Mandy M. Roth's Blog, page 90
February 29, 2012
MwM Author Spotlight: Jenna Bayley-Burke
Marketing with Mandy Author Spotlight: Jenna Bayley-Burke
Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Samhain.
A: Amazing. I've been supported and mentored every step of the way. I've done six novels with them, and another slated for late summer.
Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?
A: I try to listen to my circle of loyal readers and what they think works. I had a basic marketing plan that grew a little with each release – blog & website ads, review requests, guest blogging, giveaway contests. With my latest, For Kicks, I'm trying something different. I heard from a number of readers that they're not all that interested in winning a free book from a favorite author because if they are a favorite, they bought the book the day it was released. With this release I decided to try taking by budget for ads and give away e-giftcards instead. That way, the winner can choose any of my titles. Or gum. I can't police what they use it for. That's the gamble.
Q: What is one thing you'd want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?
A: Be the author you want to interact with. My favorite authors are open and personable with fans, which is what I try for. Oh, and the very best thing you can do to sell your book is to write another one. Multiple releases are the best thing you can do career-wise.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
A: For Kicks is my take on retail management business travel…Breeze is on the kind of trip I took far too often back in the day. To make it easier on her, I have a schmexy former soccer star chasing her across the country, bringing her gifts, doing her laundry, and awakening parts of her she never thought existed.
Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP's?
A: I'm waiting for edits on y next story, Drive Me Crazy, where an unlikely couple explores one another and the US on a road trip to a wedding. Wild horses, a haunted hotel, and a tree house all have a role. I had such fun with it. I'm also trying to convince my editor she does in fact have time to work in a Christmas novella for the 2012 schedule. That's the thing with having such a great editor, she's crazy busy!
Q: How did you get into writing?
A: Almost every time I hear or read a story, I want to change it so it ends the way I want it to. I guess I started 'writing' when I edited Cinderella to have the Fairy Godmother vamoose the step mother & sisters into pigs. I tried explaining this version to my 3-year-old. She was not impressed with my re-write.
Q: How do balance family and writing?
A: I'm a little askew right now. I spend more time on family than I do on writing, hence the slow-down in the number of stories I had out last year. Health issues sucked up too much of my time. Now that my best friend is cancer-free and my brother is completely healthy, I can get back to work. I tell the husband and kiddos what I'm hoping to get done in the coming week. Now that my boys are old enough to understand that unless Mommy writes enough there will be no Disneyland, they're much better about respecting the time I need.
LINKS:
February 26, 2012
Author Candice Gilmer Interview by Michelle M. Pillow
Author Candice Gilmer Interview
Michelle M. Pillow, www.michellepillow.com
I had the pleasure of meeting author Candice Gilmer at a joint booksigning a few years back. If you follow my other articles in Paranormal Underground Magazine, you know that I've had my first paranormal investigations with the Wichita Paranormal Research Society (WPRS). It was at this same signing that I met the group, including Candice's husband, WPRS Investigator Bob Gilmer. Needless to say, we've talked several times since.
Writing has been a natural evolution for Candice over the years. She's been telling stories since she was old enough to speak. "What started out as merely reciting the words of Cinderella when I was three developed into a love for stories and story telling that to this day rules my life," said Candice. Like any good storyteller, her stories get bigger with every telling of them.
Her latest release, book three in the The Moonlight and Shadows series, Broken Shine can be purchased online at Amazon.com and in bookstores. You can learn more about Candice and her books at her website, candicegilmer.com.
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Q: In your book, Broken Shine, your hero Liam is an immortal Knight Templar. What inspired you to create such a character?
Candice: Well, I liked the idea of mythical creatures living in the world, vampires, werewolves, dragons, yeti, all of them somewhere. But I always thought there should be some kind of police force for them, some organization that kept them in line. And the Immortal Knights Templar were born.
Q: When world building, did you base your story off of known myths throughout history? If yes, which ones? If not, how is your world different?
Candice: I had to do a lot of studying of the Knights Templar, because I wanted to be as true to their history as possible. They thrived for two hundred years, and were wiped out by a greedy French king and the Pope he kept in his pocket. I found it fascinating that such a massive organization like the Templar Knights could be removed so easily, and wondered what happened to them. How did they disappear, where did the literally thousands of knights go?
Q: What myths or legends inspired you?
Candice: I'm inspired by the wonder of "what if." And of the idea that love shall always triumph over pain, and good will always win over evil. Without those, to me, stories would be impossible to read.
Q: Why do you think readers, and society in general, are fascinated by the paranormal?
Candice: I think they want to know the answer to "what if" as well. "What if" this dogma is right, or that belief? "What if" that wasn't just a shadow. "What if" my grandmother can come back and comfort me after death. It's fascinating stuff to think about, whether one believes in ghosts or not. Or the idea of the paranormal in general—the old adage that there's a grain of truth to every fantasy story. What would a vampire really be like? What about a werewolf? Would they live like the rest of us, or be ruled by their passions? Again, the "what if's" are hard to resist.
Q: What are your favorite paranormal shows, movies and books?
Candice: On television, I was a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel fan. Movie wise, probably my all time favorite paranormal themed movie was Fallen with Denzel Washington. Extremely scary about a demon that can leap from person to person by touch. I can't listen to that song "Time is On My Side" by The Rolling Stones without getting a shiver up my spine.
Q: Do you believe in the supernatural? Or are you a skeptic?
Candice: I believe that there is a great deal in the world that we can't explain, and we probably will never be able to explain, which makes it interesting to debate the connections. Because I do believe that everything is connected for one reason or another, and we find what we are supposed to find, whether it be people, things, or experiences.
Q: Have you ever had a paranormal experience?
Candice: I've had a few paranormal experiences. Probably the most common thing that has happened to me, and still does on occasion, is my muses and guardians sending me to bed. When I was pregnant with my first child, I was up late, working on a story or something on the computer. Behind me, there was a loud bang, and I leaped about three feet in the air. Shaking, I found a stack of DVDs thrown across the room, from one side to the other. No one was in the room, my husband had in bed for a few hours. Needless to say, I ran through the house and climbed into bed. And since then, when I am staying up too late, working too hard on a project, I will have similar experiences happen—books falling over, toys coming on, and things tipping over. Now, I just raise my hands and say "Fine, I'm going to bed."
Q: What kind of paranormal creatures do you wish you could meet?
Candice: The nice kind? Actually, I'm not sure who I'd want to meet. Maybe one that was incredibly forthcoming about what it's like truly being a mythical. Like the little things, like would vampires drink bagged blood, and how would they spice it to make it taste better. Or would a werewolf really remember what they did in wolf form?
Q: If given the chance, would you become a mythical creature?
Candice: I don't know that I'd want to be a mythical creature more than I'd want to just hang out with one, and talk to them. I think that would be a very interesting experience. Just hanging with a vampire. Or a werewolf. Or a dragon.
Q: How would you react if you came face to face with a ghost?
Candice: Um, scream, I'm sure. Or shake my head and tell them to go away. Depends on my day, I think.
Q: What does the future hold for your writing?
Candice: I'm working on quite a few pieces right now, in the paranormal romance and the contemporary romance genres, as well as I have a manuscript doing the rounds within the industry. I am continuing to create more stories, and I just love the creation process. Editing, not my favorite, but the creating of the writing is amazing.
Q: Have you ever been to a psychic and/or a past life regression? What did they predict for you?
Candice: Yes, I have been, and they predict interesting things for me and my future—good things that I can't wait to happen. However, as much as love getting psychic readings, my least favorite part is the lack of time schedule. Because I'm impatient. I want to know, dang it, if in seven months, or seven years, if I'm going to be on the best seller's list.
Q: Have you ever been abducted by aliens?
Candice: Um, no. And never wanted to be.
Thank you for joining us, Candice!
To learn more about Candice and her books, visit CandiceGilmer.com. Interview by Michelle M. Pillow, www.michellepillow.com
February 25, 2012
Help name a book
Question on title of book. So, I'm having trouble deciding between two titles so I'm asking for help from my readers. The Series is The King of Prey. The current and upcoming books are (in order) King of Prey, A View to a Kill, Master of the Hunt. Another unreleased one is titled Prince of Flight. Another I still need to iron down a title. I have to give the info to the cover artist for the series. I'm torn between Thermal Rising and Rise of the King. This is Lazar's book (for those familiar w series). Thoughts?
February 24, 2012
FREE on Amazon TODAY only! e-book of Executive Decision
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The bright lights of the big city called to Liz Rogers. Her best friend and almost roommate, Dale, helped her make the transition from small town girl to big time ad executive. They work together and nearly live together. For eight years he's been her rock, her sounding board. As Liz starts breaking off one workplace relationship, another one—that has been brewing since the first day she arrived in New York, blossoms—leaving her confused and concerned. She'd been burned once by love and isn't willing to risk her heart again, especially not to a man who was raised with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Dale Corbins has been in love with Liz from the moment he laid eyes on her. He knows time is running out, that one of these days she's going to come home and tell him she's fallen for someone else. When he finds out she's been sleeping with their boss, he decides it's time to take matters into his own hands. Unfortunately, winning Liz's heart isn't an easy game to play. It will take more than romantic gestures and sweet nothings to get the woman he loves. Thankfully, he's a very persistent man. But is this a game even he can't win?
Warning: This book contains a quick tempered heroine, a uber hot leading man, toe-curling sex and people who aren't afraid to speak their mind, regardless the language used.
FREE today ONLY on Amazon.com. If you do not have a kindle you can download kindle for PC, Mac, android, etc to be able to enjoy this title at this promo offer as well!
February 22, 2012
MwM Author Spotlight: Cat Johnson
Marketing with Mandy Author Spotlight: Cat Johnson
Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Samhain Publishing.
A: I find Samhain does a lot of effective things to promote their authors. Probably the biggest thing recently was when they made the first ebook in my Red, Hot & Blue series free on Amazon.com. That put TREY on a few best-seller lists on Amazon and bumped up the sales of my entire backlist dramatically, as well as gave me huge hits on my website.
Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?
A: I try to interact with and spread my name to fans of the subjects in which I write (IE supporters of the military, fans of rodeo/bull riding) as much as I do with romance readers. I also signed on to be a blogger at a site owned by a chef who writes aphrodisiac cookbooks. I thought people who like sexy food might also be interested in what an author of sexy books has to say. So far, I was right. Thinking out of the box as far as marketing expands the pool of potential readers wider than your usual romance readers.
Q: What is one thing you'd want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?
A: Never stop learning. This business is changing faster than anyone can keep up with.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
A: TEXAS TWO-STEP: COWBOY SHUFFLE is a February 2, 2012 exclusive release from All Romance eBooks (though it will also be available at the iBookstore). In 2011 ARe invited a select group of authors to write for their Perfect Strangers Valentines Day promotion and I was lucky enough to be one of those authors. My title from 2011, TEXAS TWO-STEP, was a site-wide top 10 best seller. For this year's Perfect Strangers release, I've written the sequel.
Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIPs?
A: I'm currently writing Book 5 in my Studs and Spurs series (with Samhain). I'm finding through this series that there are a lot of stories in the world of professional bull riding to be told.
Q: How did you get into writing?
A: I've written my entire life, but my first paid contract was 2 weeks out of college when I got hired onto a YA series. I was an English major so writing seemed like a perfect fit.
Q: How do balance family and writing?
A: Not well. I'm a terrible housekeeper. I take care of what really needs to be done—like feeding my animals so they don't kill me and eat me in my sleep, and doing laundry so my husband doesn't leave me, but things like vacuuming tend to fall by the wayside (a little cat hair on the carpet won't kill anyone LOL).
LINKS:
February 20, 2012
Guest Blogger: Writing about Running
Authors,
I put a call out on the web, asking people who work in various fields or who have certain hobbies to step forth and tell me what bothers them when reading a book that talks about what they do or what they know quite a bit about. Here is one of the responses to my call out. –Mandy M. Roth
*
Make Your Writing Stronger Series is professionals in varying fields giving their personal opinions on their area of expertise. These do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the blog owner.
Writing about Running
I've read a lot of romances where a character goes for a "jog" to clear his or her mind.
That word makes me want to stab my eyes out.
In my non-fiction writing life, I write about running for Runner's World and the New York Times, and I run. A lot. I even won a race once. I have the trophy to prove it.
As much as I understand the need to have characters partake in some physical activity like running to give them taut thighs and six pack abs, I wish some of the descriptions would be more accurate.
So here's some tips for writing about running:
1. Never ever ever call it jogging. Don't have your characters go out for a jog. Don't call them joggers. Just stop it. These are olds words from when distance running went from something those weird skinny people did to a common recreational activity. So leave jogging, jogs and joggers back in the '80s with Aquanet and leg warmers.
2. Don't have your character suddenly run a marathon. Most people spend three to four months training for that 26.2 mile race. So if your hero or heroine is going to run a marathon, you must refer to training somewhere else in the narrative. Hal Higdon [LINK http://www.halhigdon.com/] has been kind enough to put free training schedules on his website. They're great references to see what your character would be up to.
3. On the same note, it's more realistic if a character starts running by racing in a 5k or 10k at max. The Biggest Loser is doing their contestants a disservice by making them run a marathon without having much running experience. Your hero or heroine will be more believable to readers if he or she starts with a shorter race. A lot of people start running with the Couch to 5k program if you'd like another race reference [LINK http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2...]
4. Learn the lingo. Pick up an issue or two of Runner's World, or poke around runnersworld.com to get a sense of the jargon runners use. Just like any other specialty, we have our own language, terms and jokes (man of them about black toenails and trying not to poop your pants during a marathon).
5. Runners cannot eat whatever they want and still stay fit. The 15 pounds I gained while training for my last marathon is a testament to that. On the same note, they can't live on a low cal or low carb diet and train hard. Runner's World's nutrition channel on their website is a great source of information for what your running hero/heroine should be eating.
Obviously a lot of these things aren't going to matter if your character occasional goes for a run (NOT a jog). But if your character is one of the millions who find solace in lacing up and hitting the road, use these tips to make their experience the most realistic possible.
**
J. Audrey Miller is the pen name of another JAM who has been writing about running and runners since she ran her first 5k six years ago. Read more about her transition into writing romance at https://jaudreymiller.apostrophenow.com/.
February 18, 2012
Excerpt from Magnetic Attraction
Droid Wars 2
Futuristic Sci-Fi Romance
No matter how many light years you run, the past is never far behind.
Droid Wars, Book 2
Tired of a life on the run, Kiwi has put down roots on a science vessel. She finds more than she bargained for in the form of cocksure, overachieving, too-sexy-for-his-own-good Dr. Conell Ballou. His arrogance is infuriating—which, strangely, makes her want him more.
Since the tiny spitfire of a mechanic boarded his vessel, Conell hasn't been able to focus on much of anything except her. Kiwi's mere presence pulses through every synthetic and humanoid part of his body. And, unknown to both Kiwi and Conell, her past is entwined with his.
But a deranged captain of the Vanos, the alien race from which they're defending mankind, is still hunting for Kiwi. Against all the odds, Conell and Kiwi have a second chance at happiness—if the enemy doesn't find them first.
Product Warnings
This title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, kick ass, strong-willed heroine, partially rebuilt sexy alpha males with bionics, who are bigger, stronger, faster and a hell of a lot harder to deal with.
Copyright © 2008 Mandy M. Roth
All rights reserved — a Samhain Publishing, Ltd. publication
Chapter One
Orbiting Planet Rhesus in the Prometheus Quadrant of the A-QPT46 System…
"Pegasus's balls," Kiwi cursed softly as she twisted the last torque nut into place. The couplings had needed replaced and once there, she'd realized her ship's thrusters were in need of work too. The exothermic reaction sections of the engine had seen better days as well. Still, she made do. Her ship was a thing of pride to her. It represented freedom, regardless how pristine it was—or wasn't, in her case. In the scope of the fleet, her cargo ship wasn't the worst. Not by far. Out of necessity, she'd learned to do her own repairs. It wasn't a glamorous life but it was hers to do with as she pleased. Besides, since she'd taken up residency on the science vessel, which had been created to house a thousand, Kiwi found life wasn't nearly as hard as it had been on her own.
Still, laying down roots wasn't her style, regardless how right the situation seemed to be. Not anymore. There had been a time she would have but that was before the attack—when she was a different person. A person who thought she was entitled to everything and worked for nothing.
That girl is long gone.
Kiwi shimmied out from the smoky gray shaft, her palms sliding over the slick surface. She double-checked the work she'd spent the last three hours doing, before exiting her personal ship. The thruster engines had required a complete overhaul and she'd needed something to keep her occupied. Her thoughts had been on a man she shouldn't be worried about. For some reason, she couldn't help herself.
The weight of someone's stare made her backside burn and her face flushed with the knowledge of who was there—the same man she'd been working overtime to not think about. She smiled, still facing the ship. "Enjoying the view?"
"You have no idea."
She hopped to her feet and used a hand to steady herself. The exterior of her cargo ship was smooth to the touch. Almost as smooth as one Dr. Conell Ballou, who happened to be standing directly behind her. She wasn't sure how long he'd been there, but if how hot her ass felt was any indication, he'd either been there a while or was looking damn hard at her. Whenever he was around, she had issues keeping her body temperature regular. Hot flashes were a constant threat.
His sandy blond hair flopped down over emerald green eyes, and the faintest hint of a beard showed on his face. He was always in need of a shave. The look suited him. There wasn't much about the man that didn't seem just right. Except for his attitude, of course. He was some sort of super genius and his ego was even bigger than his IQ. That was saying something.
Last she knew, Conell had been planetside, doing recon work and posing as one of the enemy. With a planet as large as the one they were orbiting, it was entirely possible to drop by and blend in, seemingly unnoticed. It wasn't as if the enemy had taken total control of the planet. They were only in the starting phases of the act. The Vanos weren't to be toyed with and if left unchecked, they would rid the universe of anyone other than their own kind.
Kiwi hated when Conell volunteered to go on missions that put him on the front line of danger, mainly because his background was that of an academic, not a soldier. Though time and the pending war had hardened him slightly. It hardened everyone it touched. Including her.
"Thought you weren't due back for three more days." She was more than excited to see him but refused to show any sign of it. Whatever was happening between them was coming to a head. She knew it and suspected he did as well.
A devilish grin slid over his entirely too-kissable lips. "Keeping track of me?"
Wiping her grease-covered hands on the back of her overalls, Kiwi stared at him, fighting the driving need to touch him. "Did you want something, Ballou?"
His hungry gaze moved over her and she had a fairly good idea of what he wanted. Problem was, she wanted it too. Getting involved with him wasn't an option. Kiwi had too many secrets she needed to keep under wraps to let anyone too close and Conell was a man she could see herself opening up to. He wasn't the only one on the ship. That scared her.
Dr. Aeron Braxton-Fairbanks was an amazing woman who had given Kiwi her life back by rebuilding some of the damage the Vanos had inflicted upon her and even Aeron didn't know all of Kiwi's secrets. She wasn't sure anyone ever would. So many people aboard the vessel weren't what they appeared to be. Many were composed of synthetic parts. Some were part Vanos. Others full Vanos. They'd found a way to get along well enough and had become an odd sort of family. That being said, Kiwi still couldn't imagine telling them everything, even though she knew they wouldn't look at her differently—it was how she viewed herself that left her staying to herself.
Conell's green gaze slid lower and Kiwi almost asked if he was mentally undressing her. Knowing Conell, he'd only say yes and leave her on the spot, again. He tended to run away whenever a revelation about the need between them came to light.
"You about done for the day?" He cast a sexy grin in her direction and it was all Kiwi could do to keep from biting a knuckle and moaning. The man's voice alone brought her close to orgasm. Add in the rest of the packaging and Conell required her full concentration to ignore.
She glanced at the mounted timekeeper and realized her shift, for lack of a better word, had ended several hours ago. "I guess. But I'd like to finish fitting the thermal…"
"Some of the crew are headed planetside to find a watering hole and relax."
By watering hole, he meant a bar, she was sure of it.
Kiwi almost declined, as she normally did whenever the invitation was presented. She nodded and Conell actually took the smallest of steps backwards.
"Really?"
"Unless you don't want me. The look you're giving me now makes me wonder."
"No. I want you." He cleared his throat. "I mean, we want you to come with us."
"Do I have time to get cleaned up?"
He beamed. "You sure do."
February 16, 2012
Help make a book FREE on Amazon
Hi everyone. Raven Books has been trying for over a month to get one of its titles to be listed for FREE for good on amazon. Its not an easy task. We have several other promotional books planned to do this as well and from various authors but we refuse to put them up if they can't be marked FREE on Amazon too. So, we need your help. Its simple and its NO cost to you. It will just take a bit of your time. I'm guessing under five minutes. In the end, if it goes FREE, you'll be rewarded with a FREE book or you have the option to download for FREE from the other vendors that already honored our FREE request.
Odds are, if this works, we'll need to ask for your help with our other select titles that will be promotional. We're hoping because you love us (admit it, we're hard not to like) you'll be all in about lending a hand.
Instructions:
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Visit this AMAZON book page link. In the PRODUCT DETAILS section you will see this under the info listed there " Would you like to give feedback on images or tell us about a lower price?" Click on TELL US ABOUT A LOWER PRICE. Select ONLINE story option. In the url section you can paste one of the following URLs (doesn't matter which one you use) and you can input the price as $0.00 and the shipping as $0.00.
URLs to be pasted in
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/they-...
OR
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/produ...
OR
http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/item/SW0...
Raven wants to be able to offer a few select titles for promotion that are FREE to our readers. We obviously can't offer all our titles for that or we'd go out of business but the ones we can we want to assure are actually listing for what we want. Thanks for your help on this! Also, if you can, please share this post with your friends and fellow readers to help us get as many lower prices notices as we can sent in to Amazon. We'll call on your help again the next time we want to make a book FREE for good and seriously…. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 15, 2012
MwM Self-Publishing Spotlight: James Mace
Marketing with Mandy Self-Publishing Spotlight: James Mace
Q: Please take a minute to tell us a little about yourself.
A: I grew up in Meridian, Idaho, which is just outside of Boise. I spent three years in the Air Force and was stationed in Phoenix before getting out and moving back to Boise. I worked full-time as a federal technician for the Army Guard for fifteen years before recently resigning in order to focus exclusively on writing.
I am the author of four books in the series Soldier of Rome – The Artorian Chronicles, as well as a short novella based on one of the characters. Writers are often stereotyped as introverts, hence why one of my best friends told recently that he's surprised it's what I do for a living as I am the most sociable person he knows.
I work out religiously, hitting the weights, swimming laps, running, or bicycling five to six days a week. My goal is to compete in my first Spartan Race this year. I also belong to a rather insane running / social club called The Hash House Harriers.
Q: What prompted you to self-publish your book(s)?
A: After writing my first book in 2005, I made numerous attempts to go the traditional route. The perception was that you had to have an agent and go to a big publisher, otherwise you were a failure. I sent out approximately a hundred queries and received about twenty responses. I was told that was phenomenal, since the response rate was supposedly only about 2%. I shrugged it off, as even though I got twenty responses, none of them would take me on as a writer. No one said they didn't like the story; what all of them said was, "There is no market for this". Apparently they'd never seen "Gladiator". A friend of mine had written a book a few years back and recommended that I try self-publishing.
Q: How has the experience been to date?
A: It was slow at first. I certainly was not writing in order to become rich. It was simply a hobby that I made a little bit of money at. The issue with self-publishing is you are completely on your own when it comes to marketing and advertising. You are also required to front the costs, though these are not too bad.
Where my real success has been is in the rise of the eBook. I tell people all the time that Amazon Kindle is my new best friend! Around the spring of 2011 I managed to get all of my books onto Kindle and the sales immediately took off. By summer I was making substantially more in royalties off Kindle alone that I was working full-time for the federal government.
Q: What do you know now that you wished you knew when you started?
A: I've gone through many hard lessons learned, foremost being don't skimp when it comes to proof-reading and editing! Unfortunately, no one has written a "Self-Publishing for Dummies" guide, so I had to learn most lessons the hard way.
Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?
A: This is still something I'm actually trying to learn more about. I've done the occasional blog tour, plus I have a fan page on Facebook, along with my official website.
Q: What is one thing you'd want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?
A: Keep writing! Sounds clichéd, I know. Thing is, focus on what you're good at and start getting a catalog of quality work out. Also, like I mentioned above, don't skimp on the proof-reading / editing. You may think you can proof your own work. Trust me, you can't. The brain will see what is supposed to be there, but it may not be what is actually printed. Also, if you don't put your works onto eBook, especially Kindle, you're only hurting yourself. Between my four books (my novella is eBook only), I sell maybe a hundred or so copies per month combined. Conversely, I sell several thousand a month on Kindle. And if you have short stories, you can publish those directly to eBook and sell them for $0.99, thereby giving readers a sample of your writing style.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
A: My latest release was my short novella, Centurion Valens and the Empress of Death. Though it has characters from The Artorian Chronicles in it, it is not a "military" story. I classify it more as a semi-erotic thriller involving a Centurion and the fallout that comes from his transgression with the notorious Empress Messalina. It's about 26,000 words, so about a quarter of the length of one of my regular books. It has been well received and in fact is my best-seller in the U.K.
Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP's (works in progress)?
A: I am currently working on the fifth installment of The Artorian Chronicles, entitled Soldier of Rome: Judea. This will be the second-to-last book of the series, so I am looking at branching out into other eras of history. That is why after Judea is released I will be working on another short novella before I jump into the final book, Soldier of Rome: The Last Campaign. This particular story will take place during one of the most brutal sieges of the Napoleonic Wars which took place in April 1812. It is called Forlorn Hope: The Storming of Badajoz.
LINKS:
February 14, 2012
10 Tips For Writing Your Book Fast
This can also apply to fiction as well
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10 Tips For Writing Your Book Fast
The number of aspiring authors is growing as entrepreneurs, coaches, speakers and other professionals discover that writing a book increases their credibility and visibility. As their eagerness increases, however, their patience decreases and therefore many look for ways to get their books written fast.
On and off the Internet there are classes, retreats and webinars that promise to show you how to write a book in incredibly shorter and shorter amounts of time—28 days, 90 days, 5 days, a weekend and so on. How can this be? What does it take to write a book fast?
Here are 10 ways you can get your nonfiction books written fast.
1. Commit to getting your book completed in whatever time frame you've set.
Put your family and friends on notice that you won't be available during this time or segments of time. Then treat this time like you would any job or school assignment. This means temporarily dropping any nonessentials from your schedule.
2. Choose a place to write that is comfortable and conducive to you.
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For some, this is a dedicated room at home, without any distractions.
For others the local library or coffee shop works best. Don't wait until you afford a remote cabin in the woods or an escape to a deserted island.
3. Decide on the topic about which you're passionate.
If you want to write a book on dieting, for example, you will have to narrow your topic considerably since there are infinite directions you can go with this topic. Your ideal diet may be one that allows you eat anything you want, but only in certain proportions. Perhaps you've come up with a way we can eat fast food only and still maintain our ideal weight. How about a cookie diet or ice cream diet?
4. Gather all the information you have on this topic.
If you are a coach, an entrepreneur, or a blogger you already have loads of content in the form of articles, blog posts, reports or speeches with which to work. When I wrote my book, "Color Your Life Happy: Create the Success, Abundance and Inner Joy You Deserve," for example, I began with the blog posts I had already written about living a happy, peaceful and joyful life. If most of your ideas are still in your head, do a major brain dump into your computer or a recorder.
5. Decide on your target reader.
While you may think that your book would be perfect for everyone, it will be easier to write and more likely to be a hit if you direct it at a specific group. A book for pet owners is far too broad, and will only be able to give cursory attention to all the aspects of pet ownership. A book on diagnosing and nursing your sick pet bird back to health can go into depth and be much more satisfying for readers looking for this exact topic.
Create an outline of the key points you want to make.
Create a working title for your book and then convert it into a question. If you're writing a book on attracting a man, perhaps your title in question form could be "How Can You Become Irresistible to Men?" Now make a list or record the answers to this question. These become your chapter headings.
6. Expand on each item from your list in as much detail as possible, in no particular order.
This can be done fast by having someone interview you while you record your answers in any order you wish. You can do this on your own without an interviewer, of course.
7. Resist editing what you've written and focus instead on finishing your rough draft.
This is the greatest challenge for writers. Each time you come back to your manuscript after a break, continue where you left off without going all the way back to the beginning. The editing and polishing of your book can only be done after you have a completed manuscript.
8. Gather the elements that can help convey your message.
Help your reader have a deeper and more meaningful experience by including relevant illustrations, quotes, tips, activities, charts, guides or other features.
9. Write your introduction telling the reader what they can expect from your book.
10. Now that you've finished your rough draft and introduction, print off the whole thing and read it through from beginning to end.
Use your red pen to edit your manuscript. Make the changes in your manuscript then turn over to a professional editor (not your nephew.)
By following these ten steps you can complete your nonfiction book successfully and in a short period of time.
Flora Morris Brown, Ph.D. is an author, coach, speaker, radio host and entrepreneur. Her book, Color Your Life Happy, promotes making choices that give you the life you want. Her forthcoming book, Color Your Life Published: How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 90 Days, gives the ordinary person reassurance and guidance in getting their books published and creating multiple streams of income. Join Flora on Facebook under Color Your Life Published. Get her free ebook, It's Time to Write Your Book, at http://www.coloryourlifepublished.com
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