Dear Santa: Christmas Fallout

Listen up Fat Boy:

Yeah, you got me. I did it all: sat on your lap, wrote you a letter, left you homemade cookies (HOMEMADE!! I don’t even bake!) and even farm fresh milk. Yeah, I sold out. I did it all so my Christmas wishes would come true.

Christmas morning, I ran down my stairs like a kid. I jetted to my laptop, powered it on, and…. What?! No, it couldn’t be! Not even one new review on Amazon.com. Santa, you had eight books to choose from and you couldn’t even get me one bloody review? So I started thinking, well, this is because I’m Jewish. Santa’s obviously a racist. Then I calmed myself down and checked the Amazon.com pages of my fellow Indie Authors. No new reviews for them either. Hmmm. Maybe Santa didn’t dislike Jews. Maybe he disliked Indie Authors.

That’s okay, I thought, but not really. My mind was too busy scheming my retaliation. I would win one for Indie Authors. Damn right I would.

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

Dear Santa: My Indie Author Wish List

Dear Santa:

Photo Credit: EPS, Lowell, MA

Pay no attention to that menorah behind me. It’s nothing more than a fancy candelabra. Honest.

I’ve been a good girl. Hmmm. Can you be more specific as to the parameters you use to base your “naughty or nice” evaluation? I’m a little sketchy on that.

In any case, I’ve worked really hard this year. I managed to turn out 4 published titles, and all the marketing/publicity work that goes with them. That’s why I’ve finally given in to writing you this letter. I’m a little tired at this point. So I’m hoping you will be a stand-up kind of jolly dude and bring me what I want for Hanu…kuh…ristmas. Yeah, I meant Christmas. I noticed I’m developing a stutter…I think it’s all the stress.

To read the rest of my article, please go to IndiesUnlimited.com.

The Blurb Doctor Is In

In my last post, I grumbled about mistakes commonly made in book descriptions/synopses. If you missed that phenomenal piece of curmudgeonly brilliance, you can read it here. This week, I pony up and come through as promised – the Blurb Doctor is in. Trust me, this is going to hurt me a lot more than it hurts you.

Writing a book description or “book blurb” can be the most difficult part of the process for some authors. I don’t know why I have a knack for it. I also don’t know how some people have figured that out (before I came out of the closet with it just now) and have approached me to help them with theirs.

I tried to devise a formula that could be used by anyone for any book of any subject. Would you like to know how that went? Well, it looked something like this:

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com

Novel Ideas for Novel Contests

Novel Ideas for Novel Contests – or…what NOT to do when entering your manuscript in a novel-writing contest.

I’ve been a first-tier level judge for a prestigious novel-writing contest for about five years now. First-tier? Yeah, that means I’m important. Okay, maybe not. What it’s supposed to mean is that at least one someone else has already read through the entries and has sent me the very best of those. Now I get the final word. Or something like that. Sounds important, anyway.

You can imagine, I’m sure, that this gives me a lot of material for a writing advice column. Yet, each year, how MUCH material I get out of the contest surprises and somewhat distresses me. When I judge, I’m filling out a form containing four categories: 1. Plot/Story; 2. Narrative/Dialogue; 3. Characters/Descriptions; and 4.Overall Impression. This year, I believe, an additional category should be added: 5. Formatting.

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com

Timing Is Everything: Facebook Tutorial

I discovered something interesting by accident last week. How many times have you said to yourself Damn, I wish I could schedule my Facebook updates so that they’d post at a later time? Well, guess what? Now you can – at least from your “page” anyway. (I’ve not seen a way to do it from my personal profile.)

So, go to your page, and start typing in an update to all your fans. You can even upload a photo – anything you want to schedule to post at a later date. The strange thing about this (if you haven’t already “set it up”) is that once you click the little clock in the bottom left-hand corner of your posting window, you go to another screen, and moving forward will blow away what you’ve written. Make sure to copy it before you do anything else. NOW, click on the little clock.

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com

Tutorial: Setting Up Your Empire

It was one of those things: a chance encounter filled with intrigue and temptation. He had intense, dark eyes with a powerful passion smoldering just below the surface. I was drawn to him. Next thing I knew, we were standing face-to-face, and he was saying things to me in French that made me swoon. Of course I kept my cool. I didn’t want Mr. Tall, Dark and Dangerous to know that he’d gotten under my skin.

Then, in his incredibly sexy Middle-Eastern accent, he said something to me. It was lyrical and captivating and it rhymed. “You’re the author K. S. Brooks. May I ask you a question about my books?”

“Of course,” I breathed, all sultry-like, seductively brushing my forefinger along my lower lip. Just between you and me, I was checking to make sure I hadn’t drooled on myself. Ha! My lip was dry. While he told me about his book, I imagined him riding across the desert on a fine Arab charger (thank you for that, Mick Jagger) and then when he said “I’m going to get an agent and a publisher,” I snapped back to reality. Then came the glare off his wedding ring, blinding me like a spotlight from a police car during a “routine” stop. Nice buzz-kill. Thanks a lot.

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com

How to Lose a Novel Writing Contest

See, everyone reacts differently. Reading a really bad manuscript doesn’t make me want to cry. It makes me angry. No, I’m not kidding. I wish I were. This article could also be called “How to Make Me Stop Reading Your Entry” because clearly you didn’t take the time or make the effort to have someone else read what you wrote first. Among other things.

Honestly, NOT having someone else read your first chapter before submitting it ANYWHERE is clearly insane. That first chapter is your hook…that first chapter is going to dictate whether the reader keeps reading…and in my case, if the judge keeps judging. Yes, I’m back on the novel writing contest again. Hopefully, someone will gain some sort of insight from the awful, awful things I’ve seen. My eyes! (Cue music from Gone with the Wind.) Okay, I may be exaggerating just a little bit. My eyes don’t actually hurt, my brain does.

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

Tutorial: Tweeting from Facebook

I’m lazy. I’m honest about this. And I despise self-promotion. That’s not a very good combination for an author who’s expected to promote her own work. So trust me, if there’s an easy way to do something – I’ll find it.

Twitter used to be fun for me, so I didn’t mind going there. Now I’m so inundated with spammy comments that I hardly ever go there anymore – but millions of other people do. Authors are expected to have a Twitter presence and a following. But if you hate going there, how do you keep these imaginary legions of adoring followers entertained? Easy: you set up your author page on Facebook to generate the tweets for you.

First – go to your author/book/ character’s Facebook page. Since my official K. S. Brooks and Mr. Pish pages were both already linked to Twitter accounts, I set up a new page for my recurring character – Special Agent Kathrin Night – so I could show you how. At the top of your Facebook page is the attractive admin panel, which we all love so much since we’ve been forced into submission by timeline. Click on the little drop-down arrow to the right of “Edit Page” (red arrow). You’ll get a drop-down window. Click on “Manage Permissions” (blue arrow).

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

My Opinion on Everything. Sort of.

That’s right: I have an opinion on everything. I’ve shown you what your minimal requirements should be for building your author empire here. Now I’m going to tell you some other things you need to know.

1. Backlist. Having only one published book is NOT going to cut it. You need lots of books. If you expect to sell a million books, having a million titles to sell is a phenomenally good idea. That would mean you’d only have to sell one of each title to reach your goal. Of course, you know you can easily sell one book. So, your goal should be to write a good portion of the books you intend to sell. This is such simple logic. I don’t understand why no one gets this.

2. Loss Leader. A loss leader is something that you don’t mind losing money on because it draws people to your offerings and they purchase your other stuff. It’s like the sacrificial lamb of your backlist. This is something every author should have. I’m very good at loss leaders, so take my word for it. I have 10 of them.

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

Tuesday Tutorial – Facebook URLs Revisited

Since this is still running rampant amongst author pages, I felt it was a good time to re-run this post. One of the most common…flubs, for lack of a better word…that I see is a Facebook author page with a discombobulated URL. I must see at least one or two a day. “Come check out my page!” they’ll say to me, presenting me with a link that looks likehttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Judy-the-author/260458930631195. Hey, Judy, guess what? No one’s going to remember how to get to your author page with a link like that.

Don’t feel badly, authors aren’t the only ones who fall into this — lots of folks with “Business” and other kinds of pages do as well. And guess what? There is something you can do about it.


To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

Tutorial Tuesday – Klout?

Let me start off by saying I am not an expert in Klout. In fact, the more I look at it, the more I question its usefulness. That is my personal observation and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of IU Management, if they in fact have one. Anyone feeling differently is welcome to educate me in the comment section below.

This past Saturday, our Jim Devitt wrote an informative post about Klout. If you missed it, you can read it here. Jim did a great job covering the basics, so I’m not going to go over those again. I will give you, however a couple of tips on how to give someone a +K rating, and how to list them as an “influencer.”

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

Personal Appearance Troubleshooter

K. S. Brooks Reading from "Night Undone"

Last week I wrote about begrudingly participating in a public event. If you missed that post, you can read it here. Yes, I was a good girl, telling you all the reasons why you should pony up and “just do it.” Well, this week, I get to tell you how I really feel.

Many things can go wrong at an event. MANY. Unforeseen challenges, faux pas, wardrobe malfunctions and more are all a possibility. It’s best if you’re prepared, of course. Here are some product suggestions which will help you prevent a number of heinous scenarios.

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

Do I Have to?

K. S. Brooks at the PACA Awards

Yes, you do.

We all have to do things we don’t enjoy. Personally, I loathe the thought of personal appearances. I’m quite happy being a curmudgeonly hermit. It’s very safe here in my secret mountain lair. But sometimes an invitation comes my way – and I know I have to say yes.

Public appearances and events really don’t hurt that much. They can be tedious, and usually the amount of time spent in preparation usurps the event itself. So why do them? Well, unless you’re famous – or extremely eccentric – you sort of “have” to.

As a member of any community, artists – writers included – have a responsibility to promote the arts. Decline, and you’ll get a reputation as a snob, even if you’re not. Besides, isn’t a few hours of inconvenience a fair trade for free publicity?
To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

Oh, for Tweet’s Sake

So many people complain about Twitter. ”I don’t get it” or “it’s a waste of time” or “why does anyone want to know what I’m doing” or “I don’t see how it can sell books.” Yeah, that was me, too, a while back. Then I decided to grab Twitter by the…eh, well, whatever one would grab it by and use it how I wanted.

Honestly? I get most of my news from Twitter. It’s fast and easy and I can glance down my home page and see headlines on subjects which interest me. Not what Yahoo! or CNN wants me to see – what I want to see. And it’s easy.

I like hearing about hockey, whales, satire, and human rights. I also like to know what book bloggers and reviewers are talking about. So I searched on those topics and picked out a few people to follow. Twitter then gave me suggestions of subject-related people I might like to follow. I checked them out. If they were my style – basically NOT tweeting every thirty seconds, I followed them. Bingo – I’m now following 20 or so people who will keep me updated on topics which interest me. Nice. As they tweet and retweet, I’ll learn about more people I’d like to follow. And so on.

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

Not Enough Homework

I get requests every day from authors – usually via email, asking for advice. How do I market my book? What’s an ISBN number? Is it important to have an eBook as well as a print book? My eyes are starting to roll back into my head.

I don’t mind helping and advising and what have you – but people need to do their homework. I’m not going to handhold if someone isn’t willing to put a little effort into it. This world of instant communication on the internet has made it way too easy for people to rifle off an email and let someone else do the work for them.

Here’s a question back: in the time it took to email me, couldn’t the answer about ISBN numbers for ebooks been just as quickly looked up on the Kindle or Smashwords web site? And here’s the answer: Why, yes, yes it could have. How do I know? Because I just did it back in October.

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

LinkedIn Profile Tip – Links

This past Sunday, Rosanne Dingli explained why authors and businesspeople should be on LinkedIn. You can read her article here. Once you’re on LinkedIn, there are a couple of things you can do to get better exposure. The method many people agree has the most impact is the “links” section.

In the screen capture to the left, you can see at the very bottom there is a heading called “Websites.” This is where LinkedIn allows you to supply a maximum of three external links. Many people just put in their http address and leave it at that. But LinkedIn allows you to do something even better – actually describe where the link goes – so there isn’t a bunch of ugly html sitting on your profile and people have a clue what they’re clicking.

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

Amazon.com: Use the Monster Part 1

Whether you think Amazon.com is too big for its own good, or not, doesn’t matter. As Indie authors, we’re all on it, and we all need it. One thing Amazon does do well is providing authors with tools to get the word out about their work(s). You’ve got to give them that.

But not all authors are taking advantage of the free tools offered by Amazon.com. Today, we’re going to start with Amazon Author Central pages – because this is the FIRST thing an author should do.

One way Amazon makes Author Central pages convenient is that you don’t need to set up a special author account. You can use your existing customer account log-in (if you’re already a customer). If you’re not, you can set up an account. This account is NOT linked to your Kindle Direct or Createspace accounts, if you have those. This is completely separate.
To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

Twitter Tutorial - Profile Tips

Yeah yeah, I know. You’re on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, LibraryThing, Google+, LinkedIn, eHarmony and who knows what else. If you’re like me, you’re wondering if these things are helping at all in the promotion of your book(s).

Sometimes it’s not about where you are, but “how” you are using those tools. Here’s a tip on how you can use Twitter just a little bit better – and it’s something you only have to do once!

This is very quick and very easy. All we’re going to do is “spruce up” your profile. It’s really about making yourself more accessible – and giving people the opportunity to find out more about you in a quick and convenient fashion.

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

Dropbox: A Handy Tool for Authors

Have you ever lost all the work you’d done because you didn’t back up? I think it’s happened to all of us. It’s happened to me. After a power surge in my 100-year-old home, I ended up paying a computer forensics company $1500 to get my data back. That was a long time ago. And believe me, I learned my lesson.

I back up to CDs and to an external hard drive. Neither of those are greatly convenient. But there is something better.

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

That’s Awesome

I’m a purist in every sense of the word. I like things just so…or in my eyes, how they were meant to be: correct. Being that way could be construed as a bit silly or stubborn at times, but it is what it is and I am what I am.

That said, it drives me up a wall when words are misused, misspoken, or misspelled. Language is very important to me, and it’s already been adulterated enough by internet speak and colloquialisms, etc.

So when I came to realize that I was contributing to the dumbing down of our language, I was mortified. Yes, it’s true. I was and am one of the billions of people who, frankly, misuse the word “awesome.”
To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

Desperation: The Mother of Invention

Yes, I do believe necessity IS the mother of invention. I don’t know who originally said that, and I’m too damned lazy to Google it. Huh, in fact, I’m so lazy that I just used “Google” as a verb. So there.

I have no intention of defending my laziness. Frankly, I’m proud of it. I use my energy solely for writing and marketing my books. My houseplants are wilting and my dinner is still in the freezer. But I put in a long day filled with paper cuts, taping my fingers together and filling in U.S. Customs paperwork so I could send out “Advance Review Copies” of my new book.

There’s that word: review. That all too elusive review – the one that should be written quickly and gladly by the person receiving your book for free. But it doesn’t go that way, does it? BE HONEST – you know it doesn’t. Even though they basically gave their word they’d review your book – what percentage of them actually do it?

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

Wanted: Celebrity Endorsement

Yesterday I got an email from my publisher letting me know they had accepted my latest work for publication. Awesome. Now that made my day, week, month and maybe even year.

But it also posed a conundrum. I’ve been taking online seminars and reading reports about marketing your wares. It seems if you have a celebrity endorsement you are golden: magazines are more inclined to review or feature your product, and of course the press is more likely to give you coverage. So it makes sense to find a celebrity to review the book, and get it on the back cover before it goes to print.

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

Cath 'n' Kindle Book Reviews: Bad Book by K S Brooks, Stephen Hise and J D Mader...

Cath 'n' Kindle Book Reviews: Bad Book by K S Brooks, Stephen Hise and J D Mader...: BUY-UK BUY-US If you ever thought that a collaboration between three authors might be a dodgy, even risky, enterprise, think again.  ...

LinkedIn Profile Tip – Links

This past Sunday, Rosanne Dingli explained why authors and businesspeople should be on LinkedIn. You can read her article here. Once you’re on LinkedIn, there are a couple of things you can do to get better exposure. The method many people agree has the most impact is the “links” section.

In the screen capture to the left, you can see at the very bottom there is a heading called “Websites.” This is where LinkedIn allows you to supply a maximum of three external links. Many people just put in their http address and leave it at that. But LinkedIn allows you to do something even better – actually describe where the link goes – so there isn’t a bunch of ugly html sitting on your profile and people have a clue what they’re clicking.

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

The Most Expensive eBook in the World

In one corner, you have the fully-bearded JA Konrath, preaching to the Indie masses to make their books more affordable in hopes they can sell more of them, therefore increasing their income. In the other corner, wearing a goatee befitting an evil mastermind, you have Stephen Hise.

Hise is trying a different approach. In fact – he’s going in exactly the opposite direction. Stephen Hise today announced he was raising the price of all available versions of his book UPGRADE, on Smashwords, to one million dollars. This makes UPGRADE the most expensive eBook in the world, obliterating the old record held by Nuclear Energy, now on sale at Amazon for a mere $6,232.00.

 Asked why he raised the price so dramatically, Hise said, “I read an article by somebody or other who claimed that his sales actually increased after raising the price. I figured if I raised it high enough, I’d only need to sell a couple of copies—half dozen at best.”

You can read the rest of my article at Indies Unlimited here.

Oh, for Tweet’s Sake

So many people complain about Twitter. ”I don’t get it” or “it’s a waste of time” or “why does anyone want to know what I’m doing” or “I don’t see how it can sell books.” Yeah, that was me, too, a while back. Then I decided to grab Twitter by the…eh, well, whatever one would grab it by and use it how I wanted.

Honestly? I get most of my news from Twitter. It’s fast and easy and I can glance down my home page and see headlines on subjects which interest me. Not what Yahoo! or CNN wants me to see – what I want to see. And it’s easy.

To read the rest of my post, please visit IndiesUnlimited.com.

Press Release: INDIES UNLIMITED TO REVEAL NEW BOOK MARKETING STRATEGY

March 24, 2012; Phoenix, AZ – On April 1st, 2012 at 8 a.m. Pacific time, Indies Unlimited – the premier multi-national, multi-author web site for the Independent Publishing industry – will announce a new and innovative ‘reverse marketing’ book promotion tactic developed by founder Stephen Hise.

“Mr. Hise is an innovator and mastermind,” Indies Unlimited co-administrator K. S. Brooks said in a written statement. “This new method is definitely not for everyone, but I believe it could start a new trend in the marketplace. Indie book promotion will definitely be impacted, and quite frankly, may never be the same again. We’re looking forward to sharing Mr. Hise’s perspicacity with the industry.”

Stephen Hise founded IndiesUnlimited.com in October of 2011 to provide a platform for independent authors to share and exchange ideas, knowledge, expertise and frustrations; and, for readers and reviewers to become exposed to the amazing depth and array of talent in the indie community.

For more information, go to http://www.IndiesUnlimited.com

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Personal Appearance Troubleshooter

K. S. Brooks at the PACA Awards

Last week I wrote about begrudingly participating in a public event. If you missed that post, you can read it here. Yes, I was a good girl, telling you all the reasons why you should pony up and “just do it.” Well, this week, I get to tell you how I really feel.

Many things can go wrong at an event. MANY. Unforeseen challenges, faux pas, wardrobe malfunctions and more are all a possibility. It’s best if you’re prepared, of course. Here are some product suggestions which will help you prevent a number of heinous scenarios.If you'd like to read the rest of my post, please go to IndiesUnlimited.com.

On Writing Author Interview: Bonnie Gail Carter

To avoid pre-conceived notions which can sometimes be connected with certain genres, the number of books published and/or an author's appearance, none of that information will be revealed until the bottom of the interview.   So pour a cup of coffee, have a seat, and check out this interview - see how much, or how little, you have in common with this published author.

ON WRITING:

What is your favorite part of being a writer?

Being a writer allows me to say what I want to say how I want to say it. My life experiences can be shared with people with similar experiences. It's my hope that we can make a connection in having similar feelings and thoughts about these experiences.

What is your least favorite part?

My least favorite part of being a writer is waiting for the inspiration to write.

Name one obstacle you've had to overcome.

My fear of worrying what other people think.

Is there a specific part of your writing you're working on to improve?

Each time I write I see room for improvement. While I am writing I am a creation in progress.

What part of your writing makes you particularly proud?

My writing makes me proud when I find the right words to express myself adequately. Good reviews make me proud. Validation through an honor certificate or some other means makes me proud. It's always in my mind that I can do better after each project though.

What does your favorite main character have in common with you?

So far my writing has been based on my own experiences in life.

Do you do a lot of research for your projects or do you only write about what you already know?

All of my writing has been about what I already know so far. Research may play a role in my next projext.

How do you use the internet for your writing?

When I do start using research it will play a major roll in my writing.

If you've won any awards for your writing, what impact do you think that has had?

It makes me feel like I've really made a difference. Recognition can energize me to keep on writing.

What one marketing tool have you had good success with?

Ahh success, I'm still reaching for the stars on that word. The best marketing tools are social networks, interviews, perseverence, and to keep on writing.

What good writing habits have you developed that you think would be helpful to someone starting out?

Do whatever it takes to get inspiration to write. My inspiration comes from listening to music and a lot of prayer. Research is a great tool to use also.

Do you have any bad writing habits that you'd advise writers to avoid?

Try not to start out sentences with the word I very often.

Do you have any strange writing habits?

If listening to music for inspiration is strange. Usually I spend a lot of time thinking about what I am going to write before I put it on paper. That's probably common though.

When you're not writing, do you read, and if so, what?

Goodreads and Linkedin groups such as Books and Writers inspires me to want to read more authors. I'm looking forward to reading According to Luke by Rosanne Dingli.

What are you trying to accomplish with/through your writing?

It's been therapy for me. If my writing can help just one person by giving insight to a problem than I have done my job as a writer.

What advice do you have for someone looking to get published?

Learn how to self publish and market your work. If you have to find people willing to help you self publish for free or for a small fee. Never give a percentage for publication. I learned that the hard way.

So, any thoughts?  Here's the full scoop:

From Bonnie Gail Carter’s blog:  Hi everyone, I started a journal when I was 16 years old and did it for a while. In my mid 20′s I started writing poetry. When I came to the conclusion that I would never get published I quit writing. Now I’m 56 years old and trying to write again. I’ll let you be the judge of that.

Bonnie’s titles include, in her own words:  My ebook That's Life is poetry. My ebook Temporary Homes is a fictionalized memoir.  That's Life can be purchased at http://xlibris.com/bookstore or on Amazon. Temporary Homes is not yet available.

THE FUTURE

What are you working on now?

I haven't decided what my next project will be but I am thinking about it a lot of the time.

PARTING WORDS

Any thing else about being a writer that you'd like to share?

If you have a dream to write then just go for it. It's never too young or too old to start writing.

Where can people learn more about you?

A sample of my poetry is on http://bonniegailcarter.wordpress.com/ and http://bonniegcarter.wordpress.com/

Is there anything else you'd like to know about this author, or any questions you'd like added to future interviews?  Let us know...drop us a comment below.

Do I Have to?

K. S. Brooks at the PACA Awards

Yes, you do.

We all have to do things we don’t enjoy. Personally, I loathe the thought of personal appearances. I’m quite happy being a curmudgeonly hermit. It’s very safe here in my secret mountain lair. But sometimes an invitation comes my way – and I know I have to say yes.

Public appearances and events really don’t hurt that much. They can be tedious, and usually the amount of time spent in preparation usurps the event itself. So why do them? Well, unless you’re famous – or extremely eccentric – you sort of “have” to.

To read the rest of my post, please go to IndiesUnlimited.com.

On Writing Author Interview: Tia Bach

To avoid pre-conceived notions which can sometimes be connected with certain genres, the number of books published and/or an author's appearance, none of that information will be revealed until the bottom of the interview.   So pour a cup of coffee, have a seat, and check out this interview - see how much, or how little, you have in common with this published author.

ON WRITING:
What is your favorite part of being a writer?
Finding the right words. So many times I know what I want to say, can feel it with every fiber of my being, but I need the words to reflect that intensity. When I find the right ones, it’s a wonderful feeling.

What is your least favorite part?
Writing when I’m not in the mood. I believe the more you write, the better you write, so I try to write whether the muse is with me or not. It’s so much easier when she graces me with her presence.

Name one obstacle you’ve had to overcome.
Guilt. I have three daughters who are 11, 9 and 6. I can’t always force writing while they are at school, and it’s hard to write with children running around. I try and strike a balance and ask them to respect the muse from time to time.

Is there a specific part of your writing you’re working on to improve?
It changes constantly. Sometimes I focus on grammar and punctuation, other times character development or storyline. More than anything, I try to focus on writing, getting the words on the page. Without that, you have nothing to work with.

What part of your writing makes you particularly proud?
When readers like it and take the time to tell me. I’m an avid reader, and I completely understand differences in opinions. Rarely does a book bind everyone together in thought. So it’s always a treat when a reader likes my work and wants to make sure I know.

What does your favorite main character have in common with you?
She’s got spunk, and she’s not easily deterred from her goals. I gave her more spunk than I have, but I’m striving to be more like her.

Do you do a lot of research for your projects or do you only write about what you already know?
I always start with what I know and research from there.

How do you use the internet for your writing?
Beyond research and fact-checking, I blog. I try to post something three to four times a week to keep the writing juices flowing.

If you’ve won any awards for your writing, what impact do you think that has had? 
It’s a nice compliment, and I appreciate the awards I’ve received. In some ways, though, it adds pressure. I thought the first book would be the hardest, but I went into it so blind. The second is where the pressure builds. It’s like having children. You are terrified with the first kid because of what you don’t know, more terrified with the second because of what you do know.

What one marketing tool have you had good success with?
My blog, it allows readers a chance to hear my voice before buying my book. I’m an avid reader, and I love reading author blogs. It’s also a great way to get out excerpts or other writing samples, such as flash fiction.

What good writing habits have you developed that you think would be helpful to someone starting out?
Write every single day. Even if you just keep a journal next to your bed for random ideas, exercise the writing muscle.

Do you have any bad writing habits that you’d advise writers to avoid?
I edit as I write. I can’t help myself. It’s a much better idea to let the words flow and let them sit and breathe awhile before trying to perfect them.

Do you have any strange writing habits?
I speak out loud as I type. I like hearing if the words make sense, but it adds to my problem of editing as I write.

When you’re not writing, do you read, and if so, what?
I’m an avid reader and love to read across genres. I’ve been involved with book clubs for years, and it’s a great way to read outside your comfort zone. I pride myself on finding redeeming value in almost any book.

What are you trying to accomplish with/through your writing?
I want to get the ideas out of my over-full brain.

ADVICE TO OTHER WRITERS
What words of wisdom do you have for young writers?
Trust your gut, but I believe those words of wisdom help you in all things. Listen to your heart, but run it past your brain first.

What advice do you have for someone looking to get published?
Don’t take no for an answer. It might be a temporary delay, but there are so many great avenues open to writers these days. Research and talk to other writers, then choose a path.

Any thoughts on what this author writes?  How many books published?  Here's a little more information about the author...
 
How many published books are to your credit?  1

Do you have an agent?  No

Are you self-published?  Yes

How many different companies have you published with?  One

How long have you been writing?  Since I was a teen.

Do you write full-time? If not, what is your other job? And how do you balance work/writing?
I do freelance writing and editing part-time. I am a full-time mother. I haven’t found the magic balance between writing and being a mother. I simply do my best.

So, any thoughts?  Here's the full scoop:

In the words of award-winning author Tia Bach:  I’m an author, blogger, avid reader, and mom to three girls (11, 9 & 6). My first novel, Depression Cookies, is an award-winning coming of age tale co-written with my mom.

I started my writing career as a Staff Writer for my college newspaper and later a corporate technical writer for a wholly-owned subsidiary of IBM.

Tia is author of the award-winning women’s fiction title Depression Cookies.  You can find Depression Cookies online at  Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

You can learn more about Tia at her blog http://depressioncookies.blogspot.com and website at http://depressioncookies.com

 

THE FUTURE
What are you working on now?
A follow-up to our award-winning Depression Cookies
A Young Adult novel

PARTING WORDS
Anything else about being a writer that you’d like to share?

I love this quote: “And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise.  The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” Sylvia Plath

Is there anything else you'd like to know about this author, or any questions you'd like added to future interviews?  Let us know...drop us a comment below.

On Writing Author Interview: Stephen Hise

To avoid pre-conceived notions which can sometimes be connected with certain genres, the number of books published and/or an author's appearance, none of that information will be revealed until the bottom of the interview.   So pour a cup of coffee, have a seat, and check out this interview - see how much, or how little, you have in common with this published author.

ON WRITING:
What is your favorite part of being a writer?
The fame, adulation and money.

What is your least favorite part?
There has been no fame, adulation or money.

Name one obstacle you’ve had to overcome.
I had to clear a pretty high barbed wire fence once when someone gave me bad information about when her husband would be home.

Is there a specific part of your writing you’re working on to improve?
Yes, the part where the books actually sell.

What part of your writing makes you particularly proud?
I think maybe I’m most proud of the nouns.

What does your favorite main character have in common with you?
We are both fictional.

Do you do a lot of research for your projects or do you only write about what you already know?
There were a lot of steamy love scenes in my book, so – no, I just had to guess.

How do you use the internet for your writing?
Why? What have you heard? Those files were on my computer when I bought it.

If you’ve won any awards for your writing, what impact do you think that has had? 
Well, I did win a “Stevie,” which is a very prestigious award I just made up. I have to say, I didn’t expect to win and it has really encouraged me to strive further toward mediocrity.

What one marketing tool have you had good success with?
What is this “success” of which you speak?

What good writing habits have you developed that you think would be helpful to someone starting out?
When you get to the end, stop.

Do you have any bad writing habits that you’d advise writers to avoid?
Do not write out your manuscript out on the backs of twenty-dollar bills and send it off to a “publisher.”

Do you have any strange writing habits?
The list is so long and depraved, that decorum prohibits listing them here.

When you’re not writing, do you read, and if so, what?
Yes, I enjoy reading various medication labels.

What are you trying to accomplish with/through your writing?
I am trying to take over the world.

ADVICE TO OTHER WRITERS
What words of wisdom do you have for young writers?
Write slowly, some people are not fast readers.

What advice do you have for someone looking to get published?
Write something really good and send it to a publisher.

Any thoughts on what this author writes?  How many books published?  Here's a little more information about the author...
 
How many published books are to your credit?  Two.

Do you have an agent?
I used to have an insurance agent, but she doesn’t return my calls anymore.

Are you self-published?  Yes, unfortunately I cannot blame anyone else for this.

How many different companies have you published with?  Three or more.

How long have you been writing?
I think it started in the first grade.

Do you write full-time? If not, what is your other job? And how do you balance work/writing?
I stand on the side of the road holding a sign that reads, “Will write for food.”

So, any thoughts?  Here's the full scoop:

Stephen Hise lives between two dumpsters behind a seven-eleven, or his “mountain enclave,” as he calls it. He largely passes his time trying out various cough and cold remedies and chasing wildlife through the park.

The incomparable Stephen Hise’s titles include:  UPGRADE – Bodice-ripper with a Twilight-Zone twist; and Creepier by the Dozen – short story anthology written with two of his three children.

You can purchase his books at Smashwords, Amazon.com and at Wordclay. 

THE FUTURE
What are you working on now?
A laser death ray. Early results are not encouraging.

PARTING WORDS
Anything else about being a writer that you’d like to share?
Expenses and blame.

Where can people learn more about you?

I’m pretty sure most law enforcement agencies have some further information.  

If you're interested in some quick wit, reviews, interviews and interesting guest posts, check out Stephen's blog at http://www.indiesunlimited.com/

Is there anything else you'd like to know about this author, or any questions you'd like added to future interviews?  Let us know...drop us a comment below.

On Writing Author Interview: Coral Moore

To avoid pre-conceived notions which can sometimes be connected with certain genres, the number of books published and/or an author's appearance, none of that information will be revealed until the bottom of the interview.   So pour a cup of coffee, have a seat, and check out this interview - see how much, or how little, you have in common with this published author.

ON WRITING:
What is your favorite part of being a writer?
My favorite part of being a writer is inventing characters. It’s also my favorite part of being a reader, connecting with characters and following them on their journeys.

What is your least favorite part?
I’m not very comfortable with promotion, so I’d have to say that’s my least favorite part.

Name one obstacle you’ve had to overcome.
I think my biggest obstacle is my own mind. It’s easy to read that first draft and see it as unsalvageable, so that’s my big struggle.

Is there a specific part of your writing you’re working on to improve?
I have a pretty spare writing style, so I’m always working on more evocative descriptions.

What part of your writing makes you particularly proud?
When someone tells me they enjoyed a story I wrote, I feel tremendously proud. Since I’m very recently published, looking at my book page still gives me a little thrill, too.

What does your favorite main character have in common with you?
Wow, that’s a great question. Candor is a trait I share with most of my main characters. My main characters don’t tend to lie or evade their responsibilities.

Do you do a lot of research for your projects or do you only write about what you already know?
I do many hours of research, but most of it doesn’t make its way into the story directly. I like to use it as a spice to make my characters and world richer.

How do you use the internet for your writing?
The most honest answer is probably too much! However, since that’s probably not the answer you want, I use it primarily for research, and also as a dictionary and thesaurus. I also keep backups of all my writing ‘in the cloud’ because I’m terrified of losing my work.

If you’ve won any awards for your writing, what impact do you think that has had? 
I haven’t won any awards… yet!

What one marketing tool have you had good success with?
It’s a bit early to answer this for me, but I think the act of connecting with (and not so much selling to) potential readers is a powerful tool that we can all use successfully.

What good writing habits have you developed that you think would be helpful to someone starting out?
One habit I’ve developed is not to delete anything. When I decide to remove a scene or line, I put it into a spare parts file and sometimes if I’m stuck I go back there looking for inspiration.

Do you have any bad writing habits that you’d advise writers to avoid?
I do a lot of rewriting while working through my first draft. I wish I could stop because it makes my first drafts take much longer than they probably should.

Do you have any strange writing habits?
I chew a lot of gum while I’m writing, always minty flavors. No idea where I picked up that habit.  (FYI – they say that chewing gum stimulates the brain – so this is actually a very good habit!)

When you’re not writing, do you read, and if so, what?
I read a lot and my tastes are varied. I like Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Thrillers, Mysteries—I think that about covers it. *grin*

What are you trying to accomplish with/through your writing?
I just like to tell stories. I find it fun and rewarding in its own right.

ADVICE TO OTHER WRITERS
What words of wisdom do you have for young writers?
Keep working at it. I know it sounds trite, but that’s really the best piece of advice I’ve got. Write lots of words and keep writing.

What advice do you have for someone looking to get published?
I would say that you should take stock of why you’re writing before you decide between self-publishing or traditionally publishing. Do some research on the benefits of self-publishing and really consider if you can go it alone.

Any thoughts on what this author writes?  How many books published?  Here's a little more information about the author...
 
How many published books are to your credit?  1

Do you have an agent?  I do not have an agent.

Are you self-published?  I am! (Yes, I am quite enthusiastic about that.)

How many different companies have you published with?   1 – my own

How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing off and on for twenty years, but I just seriously started working at it in August of 2010.

Do you write full-time? If not, what is your other job? And how do you balance work/writing?
I have a full-time, non-writing job as a marketing analyst, basically a spreadsheet monkey. It’s really difficult to balance them, but what I try to do is set a time every night that I do nothing but write or writing related work.

So, any thoughts?  Here's the full scoop:

Coral Moore has always been the kind of girl who makes up stories. Fortunately, she never quite grew out of that. She writes because she loves to invent characters and the desire to find out what happens to her creations drives the tales she tells.

Prompted by a general interest in how life works, her undergraduate schooling was in biology. She follows science news and enjoys conversations about genetics and microbiology as much as those about vampires and werewolves. Coral writes speculative fiction and is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Writing at Albertus Magnus College.

Currently she lives in Connecticut with the love of her life, who offers both encouragement and kicks in the tail when necessary. Also in residence are two mammals of the families Canidae and Felidae.

Author Coral Moore’s new Urban Fantasy titled Broods of Fenrir – is available for purchase on Amazon.com

THE FUTURE
What are you working on now?
I have another novel completed that should be out in the spring of 2012 called Elements of Rebellion which is a traditional fantasy.

PARTING WORDS
Anything else about being a writer that you’d like to share?
I love being a writer and I encourage anyone that thinks they have stories to tell to try it out.

Where can people learn more about you?

My website: http://www.chaosandinsanity.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/coralm

Is there anything else you'd like to know about this author, or any questions you'd like added to future interviews?  Let us know...drop us a comment below.