Getting What You Want

Happy two year publishing anniversary to RJ Scott!

RJ had a great idea for her two year celebration- she invited authors to talk about what they'd learned in the time since getting published. I first submitted Almost Paradise to Silver Publishing in April. It's now August and this is what I've learned;
Always go for what you really want. Always. You and your publisher are a team and that team consists of a number of people that all work together but the main focus of any publisher is to put out great books. With that being said, they're there to work with you to make your book the best one it can be. But that doesn't mean that you should ever sacrifice part of the vision of your book for the sake of trying to agree with a publisher. I've been very lucky in that the people I've worked with at Silver Publishing have all been extremely helpful and accommodating when I've asked for something. It's about being nice and knowing how to ask for something. If you don't like the cover that's turning out, figure out why and let the artist know. If you like a particular artist, request them. If  an editor is giving you suggestions that you think aren't right for the overall story, let them know. In the end its about putting out a great book and giving you, as the author, a good experience that way when you write your next bestseller you'll bring it to them instead of submitting it to another publisher.
Another hugely important thing to remember is that friends matter, especially in the writing community. You need to guest blog, host other authors, share links, do anthologies, etc. Promote them and they will promote you. It's about making sure that your books and your name get across to a wider audience. Take advantage of every potential marketing tool out there. It will pay off in the end for you with more readers and more book sales. Network in every way that you can. 
And in the end just be nice to other people. You don't have to agree with reviewers, you don't even have to read the reviews, just thank them for taking the time to read your book and move on. Being nice goes a long way in the writing world and it all matters. 


Contest!

Alright, so you made it through my spiel. Thank you. Now for the fun stuff. Leave a comment and be entered  into a drawing for your choice of an e-book copy of Almost Paradise, Taming the Lion Tamer, or Marked by Grief. This contest closes at midnight (US Mountain Time) and the winner will be announced Monday morning. Thanks for stopping by!