Spunk On A Stick's Tips

The Insecure Writer's Support Group

2012-03-07T06:30:00.000-05:00

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, hosted by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

I decided I’d offer something to writers to help ease their concerns. Most finish a book and wonder ‘What next?’ Well, there are several things you need to do - hire an editor or use an expert critique partner; make a detailed list on your target audience (helps to start this before writing though); and the biggie - decide which publishing path you will take.

Pursue a publisher, an agent, or self publish?

You should research all of your options before making a final decision - and be willing to change your decision if it doesn’t work out as planned.

Here are some website to get you started:

Pursuing a publisher or agent:

1) Research & study publisher/publishing industry
Preditors and Editors - full list of publishers, agents. & editors
SFWA - Writer Beware - guidelines & warnings
Every Writer’s Resource - publisher listing
Publishing Central - listing of publishers
Publishers Global - listing of publishers

2) Understand forms
SWFA - query letter sample
James Russell Publishing - query letter tips
Charlotte Dillon - query letter tips, articles, & books
Fiction Factor - synopsis and outline details

3) Understand contracts
Ivan Hoffman - publishing lawyer – information
Pub Law - publishing law information

If you decide on the self-publishing route:

Para Publishing - self publishing & promoting resource
Book Martket - John Kremer’s site
Ink Tree Marketing - self publishing & book marketing
Aeonix - independent publisher resource
Literary Marketplace - book publishing industry resource
Publishers Global - lists service providers

May those guide you on your publishing path!

Creating Characters and Book Cover Love

2012-03-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

A special person I’ve gotten to know over the years through Book ‘Em is Bonnie Watson. She’s the author of the Blue Moon Trilogy (Books 1 and 2 are now available) and she’s an amazing artist. She designed the cover art for her books and also works as a freelance graphics designer. And she’s a musician! You can see her work at her website, WISDOM NOVELS

Bonnie invited me to do a guest post on her blog about the creation of my characters in The Circle of Friends and do I have a favorite? Her blog SCRIBBLES is located HERE

Bonnie’s covers are beautiful. I’ve always preferred rich artwork on fiction books. Before you go visit Bonnie, take a look at these gorgeous covers:

I have the full, framed artwork of this one on my wall - just love this cover.

This is the cover of the book in my boxed set. Such a shame they changed them.

Book for the role playing game Call of Cthulhu.

Yes, I do like my own covers! This one is the most gorgeous...

I loved the covers of Richard Scarry's books when I was little. Simple but detailed and with so much going on.

I love Michael Whelan's covers...

And McCaffrey's books! This one featured a simple but lovely painting.

This one shows a real sense of characters in the little Fuzzies.
If you’d like to know from where my characters originated and meet the talented and bubbly Bonnie, please visit SCRIBBLES

And Now For Something Completely Different

2012-03-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

“It's not pining, it's passed on. This parrot is no more! It has ceased to be. It's expired and gone to meet its maker.This is a late parrot. It's a stiff. Bereft of life, it rests in peace. If you hadn't nailed it to the perch it would be pushing up the daisies. It's rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. This is an ex-parrot.”

I’m returning to an older format I used to do several years ago, with news and humor. Hope you enjoy!

Five Publishers to Follow on Pinterest

Are Ebooks Fairly Priced Part 1

PayPal Strong Arms Indie Ebook Publishers Over Erotic Content

Laura Marcella at Wavy Lines posted a list of misused words/grammar mistakes that is the best I’ve ever seen.

I Can Has Cheeseburger changed their site recently. I registered and was still unable to get the html for any of the images! So, these are from much older posts. (Because I still have the html - ha,ha,ha!)

And for a little inspiration...

My Book Festival Experience

2012-03-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was the Book 'Em North Carolina book festival. Packed with over 60 authors, plus panels and discussions all day, it was a major event. There was an author meet-and-greet dinner Friday night and then Saturday was the festival.

For me, the fun is meeting up with author friends! Like authors Judy Walters and Pamela June Kimmell.

I also got to see author Betty Schiefelbein and her husband, along with author Bonnie Watson who is also an amazing artist. (And I’ll be a guest on Bonnie’s blog next week.)

I’d set up my table on Friday, so Saturday morning before the doors opened, I roamed around. I got to meet Susan Whitfield for the first time. We’ve known each other through the Internet for years but we’ve never met - and we only live 30 minutes apart!

I tracked down Valerie Connelly, who owns Nightengale Press. I’d done an interview on her radio show a few years ago and met her when she came to Lumberton for a talk. I just adore Valerie - she is so knowledgeable and fun!

I roamed one more time and when I returned to my table, there was the last author I was seeking - Elizabeth Spann Craig! We know each other online but never met in person, so it was a real treat. I’ve always thought Elizabeth was so organized, professional, and wise. I also thought she was reserved.

That notion went out the window!

Elizabeth is FUN. She is just so bubbly in person. Someone you feel comfortable around immediately. She ended up setting her table up in the same area so we got to chat quite a bit. She also attended my panel discussion on ebooks and then we were on a panel together about book promotions.

As for the great ebook experiment, since I was one of only three authors selling ebooks… I sold half and half. I think next year it will be more ebooks, too.

It was a fun weekend filled with books and friends!

How many of your writing or author friends have you met? And have you been to a book festival or writer’s conference to do it?

Time to Catch Fire!

2012-02-28T06:30:00.000-05:00

It was an interesting weekend at Book ‘Em and I’ll give you a full account on Thursday, including the time I got to spend with the wonderful Elizabeth Spann Craig. But today it’s all about one Ninja Captain and one of the nicest bloggers in the world!

Today is the Catch Fire Blog Party, celebrating the release of CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh! The goal is to help CassaFire “catch fire” on the best seller charts and achieve the success of the first book, CassaStar. There’s also a special package of prizes being given away at the author’s blog (copies of CassaFire, CassaStar, tote bag, mug, and bookmarks) as well as book giveaways during his two-week blog tour. See Alex’s BLOG for details.

CassaFire
by Alex J. Cavanaugh

CassaStar was just the beginning…

The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend - to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather.

The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan’s technology and strange mental abilities.

To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves; the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…

Available today!
Science fiction - space opera/adventure
Print ISBN 978-0-9827139-4-5, $15.95, 6x9 Trade paperback, 240 pages
EBook ISBN 978-0-9827139-6-9, $4.99, available in all formats

CassaFire is the sequel to Cavanaugh’s first book, CassaStar, an Amazon Top Ten Best Seller:
“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” - Library Journal

You can visit the author’s site HERE and his book is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Amazon Kindle.

Congratulations to Alex! I know he’s been working so hard to make this day a big success. (In fact, he worked so hard he became too sick to attend a book festival this past weekend.)

Weekend Sillies, Skydiving, and Book 'Em NC

2012-02-24T06:30:00.000-05:00

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes last week - do you know what I did? My husband surprised me by taking me indoor skydiving!

If you’ve never been, it is just incredible. We were first time flyers, so we got t-shirts and a video. We were only supposed to get three turns each in the tunnel, but our instructor treated us to a fourth (since it was my birthday) and shot us both to the ceiling three times. We dropped five stories in total freefall! I can’t wait to go again.

This weekend I am attending the first ever Book 'Em North Carolina in Lumberton! We have a meet and greet with the other authors Friday night, and I’m looking forward to old friends and meeting a few authors in person for the first time.

I Can Has Cheeseburger recently switched formats, requiring folks to become members in order to access the html coding for the pictures. I didn’t have time to mess with it this week due to Book ‘Em and a seminar to teach, so this weekend you get my own cats being goofy. They do it so well, too.

Boing!

Why is everything upside down?

Ah, essence of badminton birdie...

Dear Lord, I'm covered in cats!

Don't shoot! I surrender.

Stephen Tremp - Promoting Beyond the Bookstore

2012-02-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today I welcome Stephen Tremp to share some promotional tips while I appear on his blog, Breakthrough Blogs, with marketing tips of my own.

I have to admit the closing of Borders Books and Music was a huge blow to me. I had many book signings there at the dozens of locations within driving distance of where I live. I had set up an account and Borders carried my books in their warehouse. I could call or email any Borders store in the country and ask tem to place a copy or three on their shelves. Over half would oblige. They were so easy to work with. For two years Borders was my meat and potatoes.

But things are different now. They’re gone and now Barnes and Noble (who I also had an account with) now refuses to carry my books or allow me book signings. So I had to take stock and look for other ways to promote OPENING other than virtual marketing through my Blog and other social media venues. And what I found, to my surprise, was a resurgence in sales of BREAKTHROUGH. Now that I’m with CreateSpace (I left iUniverse), I can buy breakthrough for under $6.00 a copy and sell them for a larger profit.

Example: I can purchase copies at $5.80 including shipping and sell them on the street for $10.00. As I thought this through, I realized I spent two to three hours at a book signing and made much less per copy sold. I can set up shop and sell where people are out and about and sell more books in the same amount of time. And I can repeat the process every weekend, often in the same spots, with similar results. And with OPENING coming out in paper form February 15th, I will have two books to sell! And having a second book opens up new opportunities.

Foot Work: I’m also doing some old-fashioned advertising. I’m printing flyers and my kids and I place them on people’s windshields. At first, I was hesitant to do this. But I can print of two color flyers per page at a cost of $0.015 per flyer. I cut the pages in half at Kinkos Copiers. And it only takes a few minutes to hit a hundred cars when we go to the mall, grocery store, or wherever. Tip: When printing flyers, use a lot of secondary colors. You’ll get more copies per cartridge rather than burning through one primary color and wasting the rest of your ink cartridge.

Grocery Stores: I’ve contacted most major grocery stores and chains like CVS and Walgreens. Just contact the main office and submit what they can purchase and sell a book for. I’m willing to let sell BREAKTHOUGH to them on consignment at cost. They can sell it at $12.95. That’s over seven dollars profit per book to them. I’ve made it three levels up the corporate ladder with two of these major chains. No decision yet, but they like the money they can make. My goal here is exposure and with OPENING out and ESCALATION due out this fall, I’m hoping people will purchase these at full price through Amazon.

Indie Bookstores: They’re Baaaack! Indie bookstores are becoming popular again and willing to take my book on consignment and do book signings. I love that personal touch! Most in my area will carry my books.

Hotels: I also found many of the hundreds of hotels of hotels will carry my books on consignment. I may make a buck or two off each copy sold, but they add up over time. Guests see them displayed on the lobby and are happy to buy a book with a local theme.

Question: What are some of the creative promotions you use or have you seen that work?

You can visit Stephen Tremp at Breakthrough Blogs. His books can be purchased or downloaded at Amazon and Smashwords.

Smashwords for $1.99
Kindle
Smashwords

Thanks, Stephen. Be sure to visit Breakthrough Blogs for my suggestions on promoting in the real world.

Weekend Sillies - LOL Cats Birthday Bash

2012-02-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Since February 16 was my birthday (just missed being a Valentine’s baby by 26 hours) I wanted a little LOL Cats birthday celebration today!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

And the saddest LOL Cat in the world! I want to find this cat and throw him a big party.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Origins Blogfest

2012-02-13T06:30:00.000-05:00

This blogfest is hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh, DL Hammons, Matthew McNish, and Katie Mills. We are to post about the origins of our writing. As there are so many participating, I’ll keep it short.

I was always an avid reader and won every reading contest in grade school. As an only child, I often had to amuse myself, so I developed an active imagination.

The writing bug hit when I was 13. I found a newly released paperback book called The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey. The cover captivated me and later led to a love of artist Michael Whelan. I devoured the book within a week and was soon reading all of her books.

Anne McCaffrey always focused on the characters, and I liked that aspect of her books. I began writing my own stories, including short stories, song lyrics, and two never completed novels. I easily wrote 5000 words every week for years.

But it was that day in the bookstore that sparked my urge to write. I envisioned my name on the book cover instead of Anne’s. Right there and then, I set my goal of becoming an author.

With six published books and another in revision, I can say my dream came true. My name is on a book cover!

Visit the hosts for others participating in the blogfest. And let me know what sparked your desire to write.

I'll Tumble 4 Ya and the Weekend Sillies

2012-02-10T07:04:00.001-05:00

The I’ll Tumble 4 Ya blogfest, hosted by Nicki Elson is today.

I had several crushes during the 80’s, including Joe Elliot of Def Leppard, but my biggest crush was singer Richard Marx. He was just adorable and I loved his voice. The first time I heard “Should’ve Known Better,” I was hooked!

And now, a little LOL Cats humor for you:

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Speaking to Promote

2012-02-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Public speaking can be anauthor’s greatest marketing tool. It opens up unique promotional opportunities.It can supplement the author’s income. It sells books! And in today’s market,authors need to employ every possible angle.

At its most basic, speakingplaces the author in front of real human beings. The lure of the Internet hasprompted more and more authors to remain hidden behind a website. While blogsand social sites provide a certain measure of interaction, it cannot replacereal-world contact and physical appearances. Readers like to know about thecreator behind the book, and meeting an author in person provides a humanquality that is lacking online.

Not every writer is destinedto be a professional speaker, but learning the craft is vital. For theintroverted author too nervous to speak in front of two people, let alone acrowd, training is required. A media coach teaches poise and confidence. An organizationsuch as Toastmasters offers critique sessions in a secure environment. Publicspeaking courses are available at almost every college. There are ampleopportunities to train and prepare for public speaking.

Remember, there is power inthe spoken word! Now, how do we use that power?

At the very least, everyauthor should be able to discuss his own book. This will be required forsignings, book readings, and library appearances. Book clubs and writer’sgroups are also open to the author. These opportunities provide more than justa personal touch, as promotional materials distributed by the author caninfluence later sales.

However, magic happens whenan author moves beyond his book and develops a platform around his area ofexpertise. This should be a natural transition for the non-fiction writer. His education,skills, and experience led to the book’s creation, and he can build a platformaround this very knowledge. This doesn’t preclude the fiction writer, though.Every book requires research, and a level of expertise is required to writefiction as well. Regardless of genre, all authors possess the ability todevelop a platform and message.

The author who marketshimself as a speaker gains several advantages. Professional speakers usuallyreceive payment for their services. Speaking engagements can supplementroyalties (which are rarely enough to live on) and the income from day jobs. Theseevents often allow for back of room sales, netting additional income. An authorwith a platform is also more appealing to the media, as they want experts whocan inform and entertain. The author who delivers what the media seeks anddesires gains exposure to a far greater audience.

The list of venues forspeakers is endless: libraries; businesses; schools; churches; colleges; writerand book festivals; organizations; clubs; conferences; etc. All of theseprovide an opportunity to reach a wider audience and generate greater bookssales. Once established as a professional speaker, the author’s reputation willdrive the sales of future books as well, thus laying the groundwork for a longcareer!

The Weekend Sillies

2012-02-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Insecure Writer's Support Group

2012-02-01T06:30:00.000-05:00

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, hosted by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Today, it’s not so much an insecurity as just the unknown.

The industry is changing so fast right now. Since I teach seminars on publishing and promoting, I’ve worked hard to stay on top of things. There have been several major shifts over the past year and the one I’m most focused on right now is ebooks.

Last May I attended the SC Book Festival. Two things really stood out. First, all of the vendors reported less sales than the previous year. Some said by more than half. (I’d never attended the festival so had no point of reference.) Second, I was asked many times if my books were available as ebooks. I believe the two are connected.

On February 25th I will be participating in the first Book 'Em North Carolina Knowing the state of Robeson County, I feel certain many of those people will be seeking physical books. However, there is a big shift right now to ebooks. How well will the authors fare?

I’m fortunate that I’ll be one of only three authors selling ebooks. We are like the guinea pigs to see how well it works.

What will happen on February 25th is anyone’s guess. We’re going into the unknown. What do you think will happen?

The Best Book Festival Ever

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

I’ve attended many book and author events over the years, but nothing compares to Book ‘Em. I’ve participated in events in Virginia and S. Carolina and this year I’m thrilled to attend the first ever Book ‘Em in N. Carolina. I’m also honored to be on the Book ‘Em committee and will participate in two panel discussions during the event.

If you are a reader, writer, or author, you don’t want to miss Book ‘Em NC!!

Book 'Em North Carolina
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Robeson Community College
Lumberton, North Carolina

Attendance is FREE and open to the public.

Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair brings together more than 75 authors, including two New York Times bestselling authors, Carla Neggers and Michael Palmer, more than 24 award-winning authors, and authors of almost every genre for all ages under one roof to sell and sign their books, participate in panel discussions and talks, network and interact with fans one-on-one.

It is open to readers of all ages. There are book readings and events scheduled for children from pre-school to teens. There are panel discussions and talks for writers trying to break into the field or working to increase their sales or exposure. There are talks and events for readers of various genres, including mysteries, romance, true adventure, historical, biographical, and many others.

The purpose of The Book 'Em Foundation and this event is to raise public awareness of the link between high crime rates and high illiteracy rates. Proceeds from the Book 'Em North Carolina book fair will go directly to increasing literacy in Robeson County, North Carolina and to reducing crime in the area.

The Book 'Em Foundation was founded by suspense author p.m.terrell and Waynesboro, Virginia Police Officer Mark Kearney as a partnership between authors and law enforcement. The mission of The Book 'Em Foundation is to raise public awareness of the correlation between high illiteracy rates and high crime rates.

Visit these sites for more information:
Official Website
Twitter
Facebook
Book ‘Em NC Blog

Please join us on February 25th!

Weekend Sillies and Condemned Gingerbread House

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

Starting your weekend off with a laugh!

The first one reminds me of what someone says right before doing something really stupid and earns himself a Darwin Award.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

And I had to add this photo from last month. We attempted to make a Gingerbread House (it was a gift from someone) but there was no frosting-glue in the kit. So we purchased some tube frosting, hoping that would suffice.
As you can see, it didn't work and our Gingerbread House had to be condemned...

Conductiong a Book Blog Tour - Part II

2012-01-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

After six blog tours of my own, there are a few things I have learned. This is a continuation from Setting up a Blog Tour.

Dates are set, you have your topics.

What happens leading up to, during, and after your tour?

Before tour:

List your upcoming tour on your blog and website.

Make sure you know exactly what each host expects and wants.

Prepare all guest posts and complete interview questions. This should not be something you rush through - it will take time. Go over these several times, looking for errors. You don’t want mistakes or poorly written guest posts.

A week or more before your tour begins, send your hosts all information, including:

Guest post/interview

Short bio

Short book blurb

Links to your site and where to purchase book

Jpg images of your book cover and a promo photo if you have one

Your book’s information - price, ISBN, genre, etc.

Html code or link to book trailer

Confirm dates, information received, and time of post with all hosts.

During tour:

Post link to tour stop on your blog and all social sites. Entice your followers, readers, and fans to visit your host’s site.

Check your guest post several times a day and respond to comments. The key to a successful tour is your interaction with the host’s followers. And remember, no matter what is said, remain positive. Even if your stop that day is a review and it’s not the most flattering.

Check back on earlier stops, as some people will comment late.

Be sure you have made it easy for people to follow your blog and other sites. (Because you should gain during a tour.)

After tour:

Thank each host!

For sites featuring giveaways, be sure to get winner’s contact information for sending books or passing along to your publisher.

Thank your followers and fans for keeping up with your tour.

Continue visiting your host sites. If you never visit again, you are sending the message that you were just using them.

Problems can arise at every stage of your tour, so be prepared:

Hosts that forget to post on time. (Or at all.)

Hosts that are indifferent or don’t interact with those who comment.

Incomplete posts or links that don’t work.

Hosts that continue to make demands or complain even after your guest spot.

(Sometimes things happen. All you can do is learn from the experience and avoid problematic hosts in the future.)

Your tour is successful if any one or more the following happens:

Your book sales increase during or after a tour.

You are exposed to a lot of potential readers.

Your own sites gain followers. (Hits are good, visits are better, followers best.)

Remember to visit Setting up a Blog Tour if you missed the first part of this series.

Now who is ready for a virtual tour?

Weekend Sillies and New Resident

2012-01-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

Weekend Sillies will now start kicking off on Friday as I switch to Monday-Friday posts.

Monday the How to Set up a Book Blog Tour series will continue.

Today it's not just funny cats - last picture is of a new resident in our neighborhood.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

This beautiful hawk has claimed our area as his turf and sits on our fence or deck railing every day. This drives Rocko and Spunky crazy.. What Rocko doesn't realize is that this hawk could probably carry one tiny black kitty away.

Setting Up a Blog Tour

2012-01-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is Part I - I will post Part II next Monday.

A lot goes into setting up a blog tour. I’ve done six toursnow, on blogs as well as other social platforms, and hosted many, many authors.For those of you about to embark on a blog tour (or plan to one day soon) belowis a list of tips and suggestions.

There are two types of tours - the short burst and themarathon. A concentrated book tour should be ten stops in two weeks maximum.(You will burn out yourself and your followers otherwise.) A more relaxed tourconsists of a couple days a week spread over a month or so.

Start contacting potential hosts at least two months inadvance. Large blog sites tend to fill up quickly.

Select a variety of venues. Don’t just visit the blogs ofother writers. Consider your target audience - what sites are they most likelyto visit? Mix it up to get the most bang for your buck.

A relationship with the host site is very important. (Thisis why paid blog tours tend to be a waste of money - you don’t have arelationship with the host.) Follow and comment on the blog long before you askthe site owner to host you.

Look for large sites with lots of traffic and visitors. 500followers and 20+ unique comments is best. If it doesn’t have a wide following,you won’t get the exposure you need, and interaction is important.

Many sites post guest guidelines - read these carefullybefore contacting the host. (And hosts, when contacted, please state up front yourguidelines and if you require a review copy!)

Contact the host, providing them with your full bookinformation.

Don’t be upset if they say no. Sometimes your book isn’t agood fit for the site or the blogger is already booked.

Be prepared to suggest post topics and send a review copy ifrequested. Book bloggers will almost always request a review copy and should becontacted many months in advance. (Book bloggers are a special consideration,because even though they may be doing it for fun, it’s still ‘business.’)

Schedule a variety of stops - guest posts, interviews,reviews, giveaways, and possibly podcasts. Don’t offer the same thing at everystop.

You do not have to do a giveaway at every stop. For somehosts, that is their trademark - they always feature a giveaway - and you mightsteal their thunder. It also takes away the novelty. The Big Six can afford it,but smaller publishers and self-publishers can’t afford to give books at everystop. And while ebooks might be free, don’t devalue the effort you put intoyour book by giving it out as if it were nothing.

Coordinate with your publisher.

Consider an announcement day for your book or the beginningof your tour if you have many host offers.

If there are issues with the host, graciously withdraw andfind another. The success of your tour does not hinge on just one stop.

There is a give and take - you are gaining access to thehost’s followers in exchange for bringing your own followers the day of yourpost. That is the tradeoff. You can also reciprocate by featuring your host onyour site either before or after the tour. In general, most of the onlinecommunity is generous, unselfish, and willing to spread the word about your newbook.

Remember, treat your author status as a business. It takes alot of effort to put together a blog tour. Make yours count by selecting goodhosts and smart post topics that will appeal to your target audience. And don’tforget to have fun in the process!

Remember to come back February 23rd for the second part.

The Weekend Sillies!

2012-01-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Do Looks Matter? With Morgan Mandel

2012-01-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today I welcome author Morgan Mandel!

Do looks matter? Even asking such a question seems superficial. Still, in today’s society, though I hate to admit it, looks do play an important role. If you want to look normal, you need to look and dress the part. If you’re going for an interview, you’d wear clothes appropriate to the position to make a good impression, and not what you’d wear shopping at the local grocery store. (Unless you’re more fastidious than I am when you buy food.)

In the everyday world, if you see an unshaven dude with greasy hair and dirty clothes walking down the street, would you steer clear of him, thinking the worse, though you know many criminals look like perfectly groomed citizens?

Would you roll your eyes if you saw a chick with overdone, painted on makeup, scant or skintight clothes? She sure seems an easy mark, doesn’t she?

What if, the guy you’d normally steer clear of on the street turns out to be a decent, hard working man, who works two jobs just to get by and barely has enough time or energy to get from one of them to the other?

What if the chick who looked so easy actually has no idea of the image she projects and is merely copying her favorite rock star’s style, or, perhaps is overcompensating due to an inferiority complex because of some horrible happening or person that shaped her life?

The advantage of books is that authors can sprinkle in clues which peel off the facades of their characters, affording glimpses at what hides beneath. Once readers see past the obvious, the marvelous miracle of character bonding can take place.

In Forever Young: Blessing or Curse, Dorrie, the main character, reverts from 55 to 24, and gets a taste of what it’s like to be admired for her looks. When something happens to threaten them, she’s depressed, realizing her values have changed and not for the better. Another character, which I’ve dubbed the Angel Man because of his flowing blond hair and angelic blue eyes, values his appearance over everything in life, so much so that he feels superior to others less fortunate.

Looks are certainly important to both of them, too much so. To learn more about Dorrie, Roman, and what events led to their views on looks, this book is available at Amazon or Smashwords, also on Nook this week, or next.Can you share an instance where a person’s looks have fooled you? Or, maybe something from a book where the author uses looks to portray a character’s flaws or good points? Or any other instance where looks seem important?

Morgan Mandel
Blog
Website

BIO:
Along with writing mysteries, thrillers, and romances, Morgan Mandel loves to blog and network. You’ll often find her on Facebook, Twitter, and other social sites, as well as at various e-groups. Her previous books, still available, are Killer Career, Girl of My Dreams, and Two Wrongs, all on Kindle and Smashwords.
She’s a past president of Chicago-North RWA, past library liaison for Midwest MWA, belongs to Sisters in Crime and EPIC.
Her next project is a sequel to Forever Young: Blessing or Curse, called Blessing or Curse: A Forever Young Anthology. This book will describe what happens to other subjects who take the Forever Young pill.

BLURB:
Fresh beginnings turn tragic when Dorrie Donato’s husband, Larry, is killed in a hit and run accident a few months after starting a new job at the Life is for Living Institute. Discouraged and desperate after suffering countless setbacks, Dorie accepts an offer by Larry’s boss, the famous Angel Man, to be the first to test an experimental pill designed to spin its user back to a desired age and hold there, yet still retain all previous memories. The pill seems too good to be true. Maybe it is.

Thank you, Morgan, and good luck with your new book!

Please feel free to leave questions here for Morgan.

Struggling with Book Formatting?

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Book formatting is one of the greatest challenges for a self-published author. (Forgive me if I don’t use ‘indie’ - it still means a small, independent publishing company to me.) Outside of the cover art, it can cause the most frustration. You’ll either struggle to learn the program/formatting procedure or run the risk of producing a book that appears very unprofessional. (And the three things that mark a self-published book - unprofessional and poor cover art, editing, and formatting.)

This is also a service some smaller publishers outsource rather than do themselves.

One of my goals this year was to focus my efforts on what I enjoy the most. I’ve recently dropped some clients in one area to allow for more in another. I’m learning to play to my strengths, which involve the fact that I am very organized and enjoy detail work.

And that includes book formatting!

I format both print and ebooks. Recent clients include Drake Publishing and author Michael Taylor. I even formatted an ebook for our own Karen Walker. (And it was such a joy to hear her voice!)

If you are a writer, author, or publisher in search of book formatting, please visit my site, Spunk On A Stick, for details and prices. I am very reasonable (believe me, I’ve checked, and it’s scary how much some companies charge) and I guarantee my work. I am not happy until you are happy!

So before you beat your head against the keyboard or shell out $600.00 for a program like In Design, contact me. Trust me, I’ve already shelled out the cash and beat my head on the keyboard enough for both of us!

But you know what? I love it!

And just because... one more photo from our front seat TSO experience:

The Weekend Sillies and Front Row Seats!

2012-01-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Weekend Sillies a little early and some concert photos to die for...

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

And if you didn't find those funny, you know where to go...

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

And as an added treat...
On December 4th, we went to see Trans Siberian Orchestra for the 6th year in a row. We are in the fan club, so always get good seats. This past show was very special - I nabbed us front row seats!

Oh yes - it was AMAZING!

The Insecure Writers Support Group

2012-01-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, hosted by one of the nicest bloggers in the world, Alex J. Cavanaugh. He just might be the most popular, too.

Monday’s post was all about my Christmas gift, the Dragon Naturally Speaking software. I am still loving it! It has made such a difference in my desire to write. Because that desire has been absent for a very long time.

Becoming an author is something I dreamed about since I held a newly released paperback of McCaffrey’s The White Dragon. I have hundreds of short stories I wrote during the next ten years and a complete novelette stashed in boxes. It wasn’t until ten years ago that I attempted to write a complete novel, inspired by just the wisp of a dream. That one novel soon became my series of five, The Circle of Friends, and I eventually wrote a non-fiction book, too.

Once I’d finished book V of my series, I lost some steam. My sixth book, I was very happy with the story and felt it was my best effort to date. After its release almost two years ago though, my drive to continue writing fiction fizzled and died. It was so much work to write and promote and it just didn’t sell as well as non-fiction. Of course, my desire to write non-fiction wasn’t faring much better.

That Dragon program has really made a difference. I have a non-fiction book I am editing, and since it is about publishing & promoting, I need to hurry and complete it before everything in the industry changes again. But with the new software, I am so excited!

And I might be brave enough to tackle another fiction book, too. The past few months have seen a large increase in the sales of my series in eBook form. That’s always a good ego boost!

Either way, I am happy about writing again. Although there are still other aspects about this industry I enjoy, too. But that is for another post.

Talking to Your Computer - Dragon Naturally Speaking

2012-01-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

My favorite Star Trek is IV - The Voyage Home. In it there’s a scene where Scotty tries to talk to the computer, which of course was impossible in 1986.

Not anymore!

One of my Christmas presents was a software program called Dragon Naturally Speaking.

I love this program! Put on the microphone, run through the set up, and you are ready to roll.

What does Dragon do?

“Dictate documents, send email and instant messages, search and surf the Web, and more -- using just your voice. Dragon adapts to your voice and the words you use. You can even personalize Dragon with your own word lists of acronyms, proper names and other unique phrases.”

This program is incredible and it’s spurred me to write again. Actually, I’m editing. I’d written out my next book, about publishing and promoting, but just wasn’t motivated to do the first round of edits and enter it into the computer. (Also because I’m still doing research for websites and such.) But with the Dragon software, I don’t have to type it into the computer - I just say it. What a difference! And so fast. I produced three pages in an hour the first night and that is a record for me.

I have the home version, which is $99 at Nuance and Staples, but there are many different packages. There is even an app in iTunes.

Now Scotty can talk to the computer!

Have you ever tried the Dragon software?

The New Year's Sillies!

2011-12-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Time to party with the cats!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

glitter-graphics.com

Industry News and October Book Sales Figures

2011-12-27T12:18:00.000-05:00

A little industry news to wrap up the year...

From All Things D -Apple launched its Newsstand feature this past fall, giving newspapers and magazines their own dedicated shelf space, in hopes of boosting sales. According to Apple, it has, and it’s also boosted the sales of magazines. Popular Science reported a large increase in subscriptions when the Newsstand feature launched. As always, there are lovers and haters on both sides. Either way, more media are moving towards paperless.
How do you feel about reading a magazine on a tablet?

Want to find a bookstore in North America? Publisher’s Weekly has an interactive MAP that also shows where Borders used to reside, as Books-A-Million is now moving into some of those sites.
Since bookstores are slowly dying, I do have to wonder if that’s a smart move on BAM’s part. I’m not a fan of BAM (most disorganized bookstore I’ve ever seen) but will you shop at a former Borders turned BAM?

And the downward spiral continues...
According to Publisher’s Weekly, Ebook sales rose 81% in October while sales of physical books were down except for Religious titles, which saw an increase of 12.4%. Mass markets took the biggest hit - sales were down 37.6%.
Are you buying more Ebooks and less paperbacks?

Merry Christmas and Enjoy the Sillies!

2011-12-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

Industry News About EBooks and Christmas Giveaway Winners

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

CBS News posted an article - Will Publishers Kill Amazon’s Golden Goose?

Big publishers are starting to push the price of their ebooks up again. Since ereaders such as the Kindle require an investment to begin with, this could hurt sale. Who will get hurt more - publishers, Amazon, or both?

The New York Times featured an article - Pulp Fiction: The Kindle Debate

It’s in response to an earlier article concerning the dissatisfaction of Kindle Fire owners. It does end with a note that Amazon does have the advantage, even though the Barnes and Noble Nook Tablet is better and the Apple Ipad years ahead of either device.

Anyone care to share your thoughts?

And the winners of the Christmas Giveaway-

One print copy-
A Southpaw’s POV - Holly
Cruising Altitude - DL
Ciara Knight

One ebook copy -
Sia McKye
Visiting Reality - Linda
Nancy Williams

Congrats, everyone! Send me an email and let me know what book you want.(The Circle of Friends Books I-V or Overcoming Obstacles.)

The Weekend Sillies - Christmas Kitty Time!

2011-12-17T08:30:00.000-05:00

Déjà vu Blogfest

2011-12-16T06:30:00.000-05:00

Hosted by DL at Cruising Altitude
On December 16th all of those taking part will re-post their favorite blog offering, or one that never received the exposure it should have.

This post originally appeared May of this year, but as I continue to get hits and comments, I thought repeating it would be good.

Writing From a Male POV

Writing from the point of view of the opposite sex can be challenging. Viewing the world from another perspective requires that we abandon our natural instincts. Since the books in my series, The Circle of Friends, featured a male lead, I had to understand the differences.

I read dozens of relationship books, seeking to comprehend the distinct qualities of the male gender. The books that provided me with the most insight were Men Are From Mars, Women From Venus and the Connecting With Your Husband/Wife series. Men and women really do view the world through different eyes!

- Men are not detail-oriented, at least not in the area of observation. They are focused on the big picture. When a man walks into a room, it’s doubtful he will notice the pattern on the couch or the smell of flowers by the window.

- Men tend to process information internally. While a woman will discuss her situation with friends, a man will privately think through his problems. Men tend to internalize rather than verbalize when seeking an answer. If he does discuss the situation, he wants answers not support.

- Because men normally do not discuss their problems, they use fewer words than women – by half! They tend to verbalize facts and opinions rather than feelings, too.

- Men focus better than women, who rely more on ‘diffused awareness.’ Once a man selects a course of action, little can distract him. While women multi-task with ease, men tend to focus on one thing at a time.

- Due to the amount of testosterone a man’s brain receives before he is born, he cannot think both logically and emotionally at the same time. Thus, when a man offers a logical explanation, a woman’s emotional reasoning simply doesn’t compute. And when a man grows angry, rationalizing with him is difficult as logic has gone out the window at that point.

- Men are not as emotionally expressive as their female counterparts. They are simply not wired in that manner.

- Last but not least, women seek to connect emotionally while men seek to connect… physically. The stirrings of love in a man come from physical attraction and contact first, emotional attachment second.

While all of that may appear to be stereotyping, it does provide a fundamental base for the male POV. Environment, background, and basic personality type also factor into the equation.

Armed with this knowledge, I found writing from a male perspective much easier. It was refreshing to discard my women intuitions and interpretations and just deal with the basics. I’d say it was almost liberating!

Are you comfortable writing from the opposite sex's POV?

Today is the last day for the Christmas Special Giveaway!

Amazon's KDP Select - Author Beware

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Last week Amazon’s KDP Select program was announced to authors and small publishers:

"Here's how KDP Select works:

When you make any of your titles exclusive to the Kindle Store for at least 90 days, those with US rights will automatically be included in the Kindle Owners' Lending Library and can earn a share of a monthly fund. The monthly fund for December 2011 is $500,000 and will total at least $6 million in 2012. If you haven't checked it out already, the Kindle Owners' Lending Library is a collection of books that eligible US Amazon Prime members can borrow for free once a month with no due dates.

You'll also now have access to a new set of promotional tools, starting with the option to promote your KDP Select-enrolled titles for FREE for up to 5 days every 90 days."

Sounds like a good deal, right?

Ah, but there’s always a downside and authors need to be aware they are giving up their rights to distribute their books elsewhere.

The Writers Beware Blog had this to say:

"Also important to consider, if you're thinking of participating: you must be willing to distribute your work exclusively on the Kindle. Here is the relevant language:

1 Exclusivity. When you include a Digital Book in KDP Select, you give us the exclusive right to sell and distribute your Digital Book in digital format while your book is in KDP Select. During this period of exclusivity, you cannot sell or distribute, or give anyone else the right to sell or distribute, your Digital Book (or content that is reasonably likely to compete commercially with your Digital Book, diminish its value, or be confused with it), in digital format in any territory where you have rights.

This is a grant of rights and a non-competition clause all in one, and authors need to think carefully before agreeing to it."

Mark Coker, CEO of Smashwords, had this to say on the Smashwords blog:

When authors enroll a title in the program, they're contractually obligated to remove their books from all other distribution channels.

Wow. Most indie authors appreciate their independence. This rule is quite restrictive.

Impact on authors:

* Forces the author to remove the book from sale from the Apple iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony, Kobo, Smashwords and others, thereby causing the author to lose out on sales from competing retailers.

* By unpublishing a title from any retailer, the author destroys any accrued sales rank, making their book less visible and less discoverable when and if they reactivate distribution to competing retailers.

* Makes the author more dependent upon Amazon for sales. Do you want to become a tenant farmer, 100% dependent upon a single retailer?

Yes, Amazon is the largest online retailer and the Kindle the #1 selling ereader. But B&N’s Nook is tied for second. Apple’s devices are also right behind Amazon’s Kindle. And the Apple IPad accounts for 88% of all tablet sales. 88%!!! Add in the Kobo and all of the other ereaders, and that’s a large slice of the pie you are losing.

Amazon wants to do it all - publish and distribute - and in the end, control. And when one company has total control, it’s not good for consumers, retailers, or the economy.

Authors beware…

The Weekend SIllies

2011-12-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Snutt the Ift - Finding a Gem at the Bologna Children's Book Fair

2011-12-08T06:30:00.000-05:00

When Rana DiOrio visits the Bologna Children’s Book Fair each spring in Italy, it isn’t just to market her own titles for Little Pickle Press, the publishing company she formed several years ago. She is also looking for foreign rights acquisitions, particularly picture books with stunning artwork and stories that fit her award-winning collection. At the last show, she acquired a title by popular UK artist and illustrator, Helen Ward, a reclusive artist represented by Templar Publishing since her graduation from art school. For some of us, obtaining foreign rights to a book might sound daunting, but Rana DiOrio has a former life as an attorney, so when asked how the entire process transpired, here is what she had to say:

I found the book myself in the Templar booth. I quickly brought our Foreign Rights Agent, Sylvia Hayse, over with me to see if she liked it as much as I did. She did.

We subsequently set up a meeting with David McMillan, Templar’s U.S. sales manager. Sylvia continued her dialogue with David after the Fair. We inked our deal on July 25, 2011. As part of the agreement, Templar and Helen agreed to let us change the title, subject to Helen's final approval. The pub date was September 2011.

That is lightening-fast timing!

An important consideration in the contract is one that every agent and publisher is negotiating these days, and that’s the issue of digital and other rights. Because Little Pickle Press is a B Corporation and has a strong environmental focus, all the books are printed in North America with recycled papers using soy inks. But another major part of their production model involves digital, product, and performance assets for all their titles. So the negotiations with Templar Publishing included rights to create e-books, enhanced iBooks, posters, apps, and even original music for the North American market.

The book was first published as Wonderful Life in England, but that title was entirely too reminiscent of the classic Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. So the title was changed to Snutt the Ift, after the main character, and was thus re-born in North America.

What is the book about? Please take a peek at the content by watching the lovely book trailer:

The story, about two explorers from different species and different worlds, who nevertheless discover common ground, will strike a warm and resonant note with anyone who has ever felt homesick or lonely or lost. It’s a children’s picture book, yes, but the message, like most classic children’s literature, will also resonate with adults. Consider giving it to your best friend. BUY HERE

Readers, if you have questions for Ms. DiOrio, please leave them in the comments. Also, there is a grand prize driving for nine award-winning Little Pickle Press books if you sign up for their monthly newsletter at their website or blog.May the best fan win!

A little about the author:
Helen Ward has written and illustrated children’s books for over twenty years. She trained at the Brighton School of Art under such well-known illustrators as Raymond Briggs, Justin Todd, and John Vernon Lord and has accrued numerous awards and accolades for her work, including twice winning the prestigious National Art Library Illustration Award.
Helen’s illustrations are renowned for their vitality and painstaking attention to detail, and this is never more in evidence than in the fantastical, imaginative world she has created in Snutt the Ift, a Small But Significant Chapter in the Life of the Universe. Originally published in the United Kingdom as Wonderful Life by Templar Publishing, the poignant story speaks to all who have discovered the elevated beauty of a world shared with kindred spirits. The message will resonate with those who understand, value, and seek true friendship. A children’s picture book, this book speaks to adults as well, and makes a lovely gift for all ages especially during the holidays.

Insecure Writer's Support Group Post

2011-12-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today’s post is for Alex J. Cavanaugh’s The Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

A recent post by Elizabeth Craig asked the question - what are your writer goals?

I realized, I didn’t have any.

Not that I don’t have goals. I’m big on goal-setting. It’s just that my goals don’t include writing anymore.

After an incredibly busy fall and the events of last month, my perspective has changed a bit. As I stated last month, I am juggling many things. Too many things. I am ready to cut back and focus on what I enjoy.

I’ll be setting my goals for next year and making some changes soon.

Anyone else in need of a little change?

And if you missed it, I am holding a Christmas Special Giveaway.

Christmas Giveaway Special!

2011-12-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

As a thank you to all of my blogger friends and faithfulfans, I have a special giveaway for you.

There are two parts to the giveaway:

1 - Comment to win a free book -

Must be a follower & comment - 2 points

Tweet this giveaway #SpunkyChristmas - 5 points

Post giveaway with button in sidebar of blog - 5 points

Post giveaway on Facebook - 5 points

Blog post about giveaway - 10 points

Three physical books and three ebooks will be given out tosix random winners - the more points, the more times you are entered! Book iswinner’s choice.

Contest runs until December 16, 2011 - winners announced onDecember 19, 2011

2 - Purchase a book to receive free book -

Buy any book from the list below and receive free books!

Purchase a print copy and receive ONE free, autographed copyof your choice.

Purchase an ebook copy and receive TWO free ebooks of yourchoice.

Books must be purchased between December 1 -16, 2011. Sendcopy of receipt from any retailer to wolferock@earthlink.netand let me know which book(s) you want. Don’t forget a snail mail address forprint books!

Qualifying books:

OvercomingObstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership & Goal-Setting

Non-fiction- self-help/inspiration

Print ISBN 978-0-9816210-2-9 $13.95
Ebook ISBN 978-0-9827139-2-1 $1.99

The Circleof Friends series -Fiction -YA:

Book I…Lori

Print ISBN978-0-9816210-0-5 $20.95

Ebook ISBN978-0-9816210-8-1 $1.99

Book II…Sarah

ISBN978-0-9816210-1-2 $20.95

Ebook ISBN978-0-9816210-9-8 $2.99

Book III…James

Print ISBN978-0-9816210-3-6 $19.95

Ebook ISBN978-09827139-0-7 $2.99

Book IV…Mike

Print ISBN978-0-9816210-4-3 $19.95

Ebook ISBN978-0-9827139-1-4 $2.99

Book V…Heather

Print ISBN978-0-9816210-5-0 $19.95

EbookISBN978-0-9816210-7-4 $2.99

Books available retail and online and in all ebook formats.

For a full description to all books, click the tab above marked ‘Books’

You have until December 16 - now go!

AndMerry Christmas! (Doesn't Spunky look festive and happy?)

The Weekend Sillies Return!

2011-12-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Promotions That Don't Break The Bank

2011-12-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Promotion special today as I welcome Bob Sanchez to share some ideas with you. Book promotion takes time, effort, and money - but it shouldn’t take A LOT of money. Bob has some great ideas for you.

Thanks for inviting me to guest post, Diane.

I thought I’d share some promoting ideas that work and some that don’t. The past couple of years have given me a different perspective on promotions. I spent $150 on a mass mailing to a half million addresses of book buyers and experienced a tiny blip in my book’s Amazon rankings. A friend reported a similar experience, having shelled out more money for a larger mailing.

Someone made money, but not the writers. There is a whole industry profiting from writers’ hopes, with publicity campaigns that include press releases, interviews, and shilling your wares to Hollywood. All of that is money out of your pocket, with no guarantee and little likelihood of getting your investment back. The result is that I, who am normally an affable fellow, am fast becoming a curmudgeon on this topic.

My attitude has become this: Spend little to no money, and do as much as you can on the Internet. Here are a few things you can to increase your book’s exposure:

1. Set up a web site or blog that features your work. You can get a free blog through Blogger and other places. You could hire a web designer, but try doing it yourself with free templates. It’s easier than you might think.

2. Visit other writers’ blogs regularly and leave comments. Often those people will visit your blog in return, and you’ll see what their posts are like.

3. Be sure to get your book reviewed at Midwest Book Review which reviews self-published and small-press books. Your only cost is mailing them a couple of copies, and your chances of getting reviewed there are high.

4. Offer to post reviews of other writers’ books on Amazon in exchange for their reviewing your book. In fact, you can start with me (desertwriter1@gmail.com).

5. When you get a nice review, tell people about it. That applies to Midwest Book Review as well. Most of the world doesn’t read book reviews without a little prompting. Where to brag? Your own blog, Twitter, Facebook, and any writing or book discussion groups you might use.

6. Is your novel available as an ebook? If so, then see if your potential reader would accept an e-copy. That will save you time and money.

7 .If your novel is available on Amazon, let people know, and remind them with a link in your email signature. My own signature, for example, reads:
Bob Sanchez
http://bobsanchez1.blogspot.com (links to my blog)
http://tinyurl.com/bobsanchezauthor (links to my Amazon page)

These are just a few ways to build up your Internet presence as an author. Do you have more ideas? Please share them here, and we can all benefit in 2012.

P. S. My latest novel is Little Mountain, and I will be glad to trade Amazon reviews with you.

Thanks for sharing those ideas today, Bob!

Refreshed and Ready to Move Forward

2011-11-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

Thank you to everyone who left a comment on my last post. Our trip to see my husband's parents was wonderful and I enjoyed ten days away from home. And the Internet. I think I checked my email twice and that was it.

But it was wonderful to share it with my husband's parents, who were thrilled with our visit:

We didn't do much, but that was fine with me. Went out to eat, went to downtown Little Rock and rode the Trolley, went for some walks, went to a movie. And, we went to see the Big Dam Bridge:

It's one of the largest footbridges in America and it goes across the Big Dam - thus, the name! And we did walk all the way across and back.

And no road trip that passes through Memphis would be complete without a shot of the defunct Pyramid, a really bad idea for an arena. (Too small to be of any use - what was the owner thinking?) I remember a weekend trip to Memphis over twenty years ago and seeing it in the process of being built...

All in all, it was a wonderful time. I so appreciate my husband's parents. Now that my mother is gone, they are my only family. The trip put some things in perspective, too. Going to make some changes next month and make 2012 a better and less jam-packed year.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and didn't lose an eyebrow during the Black Friday sales. I have a special guest this Thursday and then the Weekend Sillies return!

The Weekend Sillies - with Turkey Gravy

2011-11-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

I'll be offline for a while as we spend some time with my husband's parents over Thanksgiving. We realize how precious these moments can be.

However, I wouldn't want to leave you without some turkey and gravy... Happy Thanksgiving!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!
see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!
see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!
see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!
see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!
see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!
see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!
see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!
see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Finding Your Own Publishing Path

2011-11-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today Stephen Tremp talks about publishing and why he chose his current path.

Hieveryone. Thanks for stopping by. And thanks Diane for hosting me! Today I’mdiscussing why I’ve gone the self-published road rather than hooking on with apublisher.

Ofcourse, I want one of the New York Big Six (Hatchette Book Groups,HarperCollins, MacMillan, Penguin Group, Random House, and Simon &Schuster) to publish my books, or at least one of their subsidiaries.

ButI feel that with publishing, it’s all or nothing. Perhaps I’m missing thepoint. But I’m not sure what a mid-level publisher can do for me. Afterquerying hundreds of agents and publishers for my novel BREAKTHROUGH, Ireceived interest from a number of mid-level publishers. At first, I was veryexcited. However, after listening to their pitch, I realized signing on wouldnot be a win-win situation.

Example:First, I would have to do most if not all the marketing and promoting. Isn’tthat what self-published authors do? Second, I would have to sign on with themfor three to five years (depending on the mid-level publisher). I don’t want togive up that control, unless it’s with one of the New York Big Six. Third, whygive someone else a chunk of my money when I’m doing all the work?

Iadmit I made the terrible, horrendous, bone-headed mistake of originally payingover a thousand dollars to have iUniverse publish BREAKTHROUGH. The problemhere is iUniverse makes their money by selling services rather than sellingbooks, and selling books is the name f the game. And their services, from theinitial sign-on, to editing packages, to marketing packages (that can cost$7,000 to place your book on a shelf with hundreds of other books at a bookfair) are an outrageous rip-off.

Ifinally woke up and smelled the coffee and left iUniverse for CreateSpace,which was free and gives me a far larger profit than iUniverse could ever do forme. I’m too embarrassed to state what I made off each sale with iUniverse.Needless to say, my commission is far higher with CreateSpace.

Okay,so I’m still querying agents and subsidiaries of the Big Six in hopes someonewill pick up OPENING. But I’m under no false illusions. I’m doing just fineself-publishing with CreateSpace, thank you very much. The market has shiftedso much the past few years. Little guppies like me swimming in a vast ocean ofpublished and self-published books and ebooks can actually be somewhatsuccessful.

Example:I can buy books directly from CreateSpace for less than $6.00 (includingshipping) and sell them for $10.00 - $12.95. Out of the back of my SUV, to local books stores, and through family andfriends across the country and around the world. I’m even working with scoresof hotels up and down the southern California coast to carry my book onconsignment. And I’m working with the vendors who place books in grocerystores, airports, and pharmacies like Ralph’s (Krogers) and Walgreens. So thereis a lot I can do on my own to sell my books at a very mice profit.

Howabout you. Are you with one of the New York Big Six or their subsidiaries? Howabout a mid-level publisher? Or are you self-published? I’d like to hear yourstory and how you got to that place. Again, thanks for stopping by!

Thanks,Stephen! I learned the hard way about subsidy presses such as iUniverse, too.We learn and move on!

Visit him at his blog, Facebook, and TwitterPurchase Breakthrough at Amazon and Smashwords

Seizing Opportunities!

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

My very special guest today is fellow DancingLemur Press author, Charlette Denise Sutton. I’ve known Denise for many years and she’s anaccomplished author and songwriter. Her Ebook, Seizing Opportunities ThatPropel You Forward, officially comes out Tuesday. I asked Denise what led tothe creation of this book. (And it’s a wonderful read if you’re in need of someinspiration!)

My first love has always been poetry becauseI have always believed that something introduced in rhyme is morememorable. However, after publishing twobooks of poetry and going to workshops and book signings with other writers, Ifound that I was the only one that wrote just poetry. I soon found that mostwriters concentrate on different genres of writing to increase theirexposure. So I decided to expand thetype of writing that I would promote in order to reach a larger audience. Ibriefly considered fiction but soon found out that coming up with plots andendings did not interest me. I did remember, though, that I had a great lovefor empowering and motivating others and thus came up with the ideas behind SeizingOpportunities That Propel You Forward.

Every day, I meet people who seem to befrustrated because they do not know what their talent or "calling"is, or in other scenarios, know what their talent is, but don't know how to useit to get the most potential out of it. That is when I decided to write a book to encourage people to stop justlooking for big events that may take years to occur and search for small thingsthat could make their dreams explode into reality over time. As I begangathering material, I became more aware of how often even I have passed upsmall opportunities that could have been a large breakthrough in disguise. I often remember the words of wisdom thattell us to not look down on humble beginnings, for they often lead to greatthings. Constantly putting in place the principles that I teach has led me to"think outside of the box" and grow in my own creativity and I feelthat it could do the same for others. Sharing this knowledge is truly an exciting and rewarding experience.

About Denise:

Author, Speaker, Songwriter
Writing poetry since grade school, she discovered at an early age howcomforting words can be in lifting people out of despair and pushing themtowards achievement. Each word she writes is carefully chosen to bring meaningand relevance to others. Denise often compares herself to the greeting cardmagnate, Helen Steiner Rice, as she strives to capture the feeling one getswhen they find the right phrase for the right occasion! She has published twobooks of inspirational poetry, MyWords and Me and DoYou Know Him? and one motivational book, Seizing Opportunities That Propel YouForward. She has also co-produced several CD's, one titled"Words Can't Tell."She loves to share her words of inspiration and prides herself in being amusician, songwriter, and inspirational speaker.
And Blogger is being fussy, so could not insert hyperlinks to her sites, but they are:

www.mywordsandme.com/

http://cd-sutton.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/mywordsandme

http://twitter.com/ccddsutton/

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/denise-sutton/37/8a1/b6a

Seizing Opportunities That Propel You Forward

By Charlette Denise Sutton

Self-help/inspirational (SEL021000)

$2.99 eBook ISBN 978-0-9827139-7-6

Available in all eBook formats on November15, 2011

Seizing Opportunities That Propel You Forward, stresses the importance offinding powerful opportunities to make a difference in everyday living. Instead of becoming discouraged from notencountering those envisioned "big breaks", readers are encouraged towatch for those "little instances" that could profoundly affect theirlives and forever change their destiny. Many people overlook the challenge offinding creative and almost hidden ways to make their skills, knowledge, andconnections work for them. This book focuses on preparing yourself daily totake full advantage of every situation that comes your way! One of her favoriteexcerpts from the book include:

“Looking high, looking low…

How much farther do I need to go?

It took a while, but now I understand

The ‘opportunity’ I was searching for was right in my hand!”

Available now at Amazon, Smashwords, and Dancing Lemur Press. Ready for some inspiration?

What led you on your chosen writing path?

Weekend SIllies - Celebration and Party Time!

2011-11-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who left the kind comments last week regarding the passing of my mother. God had a hand in our trip to Oregon, as everything went as smooth as could be expected.

There was no Weekend Sillies last week because of that. It's time to return to the Sillies and lift the spirits. Besides, it seems there has been a lot of good news and cause for celebrations lately.

Elizabeth S. Craig’s latest book came out last week, Hickory Smoked Homicide. Jessica Bell’s book, String Bridge, came out, along with her new CD. Alex J. Cavanaugh’s book, CassaStar, hit the Amazon Best Seller list. RaShelle Workman has a new book, Exiled. Morgan Mandel and Stephen Tremp are preparing book releases. NaNoWriMo is in full swing. Time for some party celebrations! Enjoy these party LOL Cats.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

This one is for Alex...

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Create Visibility Before Getting Published

2011-11-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'd like to welcome Karen Cioffi today with some marketing tips!

Create Visibility Before Getting Published: Basic Platform Building

The road to publication can be long and winding ... andfilled with rejection. So, what do you do while you’re submitting yourmanuscript and waiting patiently? Okay, maybe not patiently, but waitingnonetheless.

That’s easy. And, it’s very important: create visibility. Idon’t mean standing on the street corner singing at the top of your lungs, Imean creating an online presence that depicts who and what you are. In otherwords, you need to create your platform.

There are a number of writers who are reluctant to beginpromoting themselves because they haven’t landed a publisher yet. Or, they’restill learning the craft. This mentality won’t cut it today. You need to beginthat visibility.

First step in yourplatform journey is to create a blog using a blog site such as Blogger, ora website; either one is relatively simple to create, and can be free. Obviously,you will want to create your platform right from the beginning by posting toyour blog with content that is in the genre you are writing.

Important Tip:Make the name of your site something that will grow with you, and your nameshould be part of the site name.

But wait a minute, let me backtrack. For those of you whoaren’t sure what a platform is, it is a means to let readers know what yourarea of expertise is. You need to let your target market know who you are, whatyou have to offer, why you’re qualified to offer it, and where they can find you.

Yes, I know, you might be shaking your head and thinkingthat you don’t have an area of expertise, but this is how you create it.

The next step in yourjourney is to create visibility and build your platform. Learn your craftand as you’re learning, write about what you learn. In other words, if yourbook is about cooking, blog about cooking—you will be creating your area ofexpertise.

Once you feel comfortable adding content to your blog, startwriting articles and submitting them to article directories. Again, keep themfocused on the area of expertise you are trying to create. You may not get paidfor them, but they will establish an online presence. And, if your articles arebeneficial or interesting to others, it will bring traffic to your site, and goviral.

The publishing and marketing industry has changed. Intoday’s writing market publishing houses, big and small, expect you to:

Have and online presence (website or blog)
Have a platform
Have a following
Have the potential to increase that following
Have a marketing strategy
Have a saleable book

Selling books is now a jointeffort between the publishing house and the author. And, if you’re venturinginto the self-publishing arena, promoting yourself is even more important.Don’t procrastinate. Start creating your online presence and platform today.

For more on writing and marketing visit Karen Cioffi Writing and Marketing and sign up for her FREE newsletter, A Writer’s World. You’ll get TWO free e-books on writing and marketing in the process, and two more free e-books just for stopping by.

Offline

2011-11-03T10:37:00.002-04:00

I will be offline for the next week. My mother passed away Thursday morning and I've a lot to deal with right now.. I had a special Weekend Sillies planned but have postponed it until the 12th. I hope to be back online soon and have a guest, Karen Cioffi, visiting on the 10th.

Thanks everyone for understanding. I will be checking email and responding when necessary.

The Insecure Writer's Support Group

2011-11-02T06:30:00.000-04:00

I am posting for Alex J. Cavanaugh’s The Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

My insecurity today might be all over the map, but I’ll tryto focus.

Sometimes I think I’ve diversified myself too much. I’ve gotso many projects in the works and going a million miles an hour with speakingand book formatting and consulting and numerous other ventures. Does anyonestill remember that I am an author, too?

I see others continue to put out books. (I do have one inthe works for next year.) I see authors networking and still marketingthemselves and their older books. I see authors having great success withebooks. And I wonder, did I miss the boat somehow? Did all of these otherventures drop me off the author radar completely?

Does anyone still remember a series called The Circle of Friends? Or my book based on two seminars I teach, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK? Will people continue to find these books and enjoy them?

Or is Spunky just the crazy redhead who posts LOL Cats everyweekend?

The Publishing World is Changing Fast

2011-10-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

During the annual conference of Novelists, Inc., Smashwords founder and CEO, Mark Coker, was interviewed by Chris Kenneally of Copyright Clearance Center. THIS interview was done between Mark’s appearance on a panel and his keynote address at the conference.

Mark discussed manyaspects, and while none of his observations should come as a surprise, theyshould definitely be an eye-opener for all writers, authors, and publishers. Henoted the change ebooks have brought to authors:

“They can publish toa worldwide audience immediately, they can publish faster, they can publishtoday, not a year and a half from today. And then they can publish their books– they can price their books at a much lower cost than publishers. To create someperspective here, a self-published author can earn more selling a 99-cente-book than they can an $8 mass-market paperback.”

He said he hasnothing but respect for the big publishers and the publishing industry, butthere is tension:

“…bigpublishing, as an industry, has become so consolidated, so calcified, sohampered and hamstrung by legacy business practices, print business practices,and these high expense structures, that they’re having great difficulty makingthis transition to this new world.

“In this new worldof publishing, over the next few years, cost and cost containment will be thecode words of the day. And they need to get their costs down. Customers demandlower-priced books. Customers don’t want to pay $12, $13, $14 for an e-book.”

Mark also talkedabout his concerns over a growing power - Amazon - and authors who depend whollyon Amazon:

“I think there’s aconcern that among the authors who recognize this, that they could becometenant farmers to Amazon. And so completely dependent upon them that they losechoice and lose freedom. I think it’s in everyone’s best interests – authors,publishers, readers – that we have a vibrant, competitive ecosystem forpublishing.”

The whole transcript is available HERE as a downloadable pdf file. I encourage everyone to go read it.

Nine months ago, itwas thought that 80% of the print business would be dead in ten years. Now theyare saying it will happen in three to five. Are you ready? Have you putyourself in a position to be ready?

The Weekend Sillies - Halloween Edition

2011-10-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

Looking for Guests

2011-10-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

The focus of this blog is publishing and promoting tips. Since I teach seminars on those subjects and I'm the author of six books, I've had plenty of material from which to draw.

However, there is only so much I know and so much I can tell you!

Since the blogging world is full of experienced authors and publishers, I'm opening this blog to some fresh ideas!

If you would like to do a guest post and share some of your tricks of the trade, leave a comment and a way for me to reach you. (You can comment even if you're not offering! LOL)

What has worked for you? What publishing path did you chose and why? And social networking tips? Anything wacky you've tried that actually worked?

Bring it on!

Every Writer Does It...

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

What does every writer do?

No matter how talented, how precise, how good?

Every writer will at some point type a blank space at the end of a paragraph.

Most writers do it multiple times. Some add more than one space, too!

The habit of hitting that space bar after finishing a sentence is so strong, we do it without thinking, even when we're completing a paragraph and don't need to hit it.

And when it comes time to format, we have a million of these:

See that dot before the paragraph mark? That is an extra space! (The line below without one is correct.)

Now that I've been formatting a lot of books for other authors, I realize how common this is among writers. We all do it. (Yes, I do it, too!)

The moral? The next time you are feeling inferior, just remember - when it comes to spaces at the end of a paragraph, every writer does it.

Just please try to catch all of them before sending me a book to format!

Do you sometimes hit the space bar before hitting return? You might want to check...

The Weekend Sillies - Special Tiger Edition

2011-10-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Many of you probably read about the animals released from a private reserve in Ohio this week - the full story is HERE.

Ohio has some of the most lax laws when it comes to owning exotic pets and the owner had been fined for animal abuse in the past. This week, he released all of his animals before committing suicide. Of the 56 animals that escaped, 49 were shot and killed, including 18 rare Bengal tigers.

This sort of thing enrages me! Why was this guy allowed to have so many animals? Why weren’t they taken away? The Ohio government knew there was a problem and keeping an eye on him, but why didn’t they do something? And I know the public’s safety was a concern, but they shot and killed almost every animal! All of those animals would be alive today if someone had just taken action.

Today’s sillies are dedicated to the tiger, one of the most beautiful creatures on earth…

Visual Inspiration

2011-10-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

Thought we'd go for a little visual inspiration today! I haven't done that in a while and I have some new images to share.

Perhaps you'd like to head out to the fair?

Maybe your story needs a hurricane? (Yes, that was the view out our window for Irene.)

Maybe you need some hungry creepy-crawlies?

Maybe you're feeling a little pyro? (Quick story - I started building a multi-layer castle back in Albuquerque, but never got more than two layers of dungeon and the main floor completed. My husband got tired of it in the garage and offered to tape it and put it on YouTube if I'd let him burn it. Video will be up someday, but at least I took pictures of the event! It was strangely satisfying...)

Perhaps a more eerie setting...?

Or maybe you are just inspired by psychotic cats?

Have a great day!

Nicknames

2011-10-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

I’m not sure when nicknames became popular, but it’s a rareperson who doesn’t have one.

Goodness, our cats have so many, it’s no wonder they don’tanswer to anything!

Nicknames can be a variation of a person’s actual name orsomething entirely new. When I was younger, the title ‘Lady Di’ was bestowedupon me. (Although I am NOT a Diana.) I also gained the nickname of ‘Spunky,’which eventually led to my speaker name, ‘Spunk on a Stick.’ For the most part,only people I meet in real life call me Spunky though.

Sometimes nicknames become like pet names. My husband knowsif he hears ‘Baby…’ it will be followed by a request for something. (I know, I’mterrible!)

Sometimes nicknames go the cutesy route. Although too muchand it sounds childish and gay. (Marvin Wilson is the only one allowed to call methe Spunkster)

Regardless of how we feel about nicknames, people use them.And depending on the setting of your novel, a couple of your characters mightuse them, too.

Consider the friendships in your manuscript and theresulting nicknames. (Which could sound insulting even though spoken out offriendship.) Think about the couples in your story. They might haveaffectionate, even secret pet names for one another.

Do your characters have nicknames? Do you have a nickname?

And if I see anything other than Diane or Spunky in thecomments, you’re in trouble!

The Weekend SIllies

2011-10-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

Pay it Forward Blogfest

2011-10-14T06:30:00.000-04:00

Alex and Matthew are hosting the Pay it Forward blogfest today. Visit either of their blogs for a list of participants.

The idea is to pay it forward - list three blogs that you would recommend to your followers.I’d like to introduce you to these three ladies:

Wavy Lines
Laura Marcella is a sweetheart. She blogs three days a week - Monday is quote day, Wednesday is writing workout day, and Friday is open. She bubbles with enthusiasm and I always enjoy visiting Laura’s site.

Mystery Writing is Murder
Elizabeth Spann Craig is the most consistent blogger I know. She posts in the same style every day and relates life to writing in a way that really causes you to think. Elizabeth’s relaxed, friendly nature is refreshing - and I look forward to finally meeting her in person at Book ‘Em NC next year.

LD Masterson’s site is just fun! And she is so loyal to those who visit her. I can always count on her stopping by even when I’ve been a busy Spunky and not visited her.

Who do you recommend?