Writing
Honoring Silence
Whenever I’m invited on a blog for an Author Q & A, one question invariably pops up: “Where do the ideas for your novels come from?” The simple answer is, “they come from within.” For me, within is the quiet, contemplative place of my mind. It is when I am silent—not engaging in conversation,…
Read MoreThe Blogger-Author Relationship—Gaining 5-Star Status
If your relationship with the blogging community consists of a mass email dump to Dear Blogger every time you release a new book, you’re missing the point. Book blogs don’t just add to the string of 5-star reviews you’re hoping to wrap around your new release. Book bloggers also host authors, participate in book hops,…
Read MoreUsing Goodreads to Increase Book Sales
Tell the truth: After indie publishing your book, did you rush to Goodreads and attempt to “friend” dozens of authors and attract hundreds of new followers in a misguided belief the effort would ignite book sales? No doubt many of those authors who ignored your friend request wish you nothing but good fortune—they’re simply too…
Read MoreIn the John with Ginger Rogers
In the early 1980s, I attended a benefit at the Palm Springs Art museum alongside a host of movie stars and business tycoons. The goody bags handed out at the door to the women swishing their way inside the marble palace brimmed with expensive perfumes and silk scarves from Saks; the sculpture gardens glittered with…
Read MoreIn Praise of Book Bloggers…and A Few Confessions
In preparing my most recent release, The Road She Left Behind, I set out to find ARC reviewers as well as rounding up contact lists for book blogs in those countries where I know I have a following. This is part of my approach to launching a new book. However, this time I wanted to…
Read More4 Strategies for Creating Book Buzz
Nothing strikes fear in an author’s heart like the prospect of self-promotion. Most of us are introverted bookaholics content to spend our days blissfully writing. Yet, creating a sellable book is just the beginning. Without promotion and a lot of buzz, readers will never know your book exists. And as an Indie Author, it’s…
Read MoreBuilding a Review Team for Your Book
I was a year into indie publishing and preparing for my third release before I got serious about developing my first Review Team. Review Teams have many benefits including gaining reviews pre-release and creating buzz in reader-focused social sites. They can also help with word-of-mouth marketing (leading to preorders of your book) months before your…
Read MoreWriting Books in a Series
Many authors consider writing a series. Some writers shy away from the idea because the task can seem daunting—which is true. When I began writing the Liberty Series I had to think about how to approach the series. How would I continue the story in book after book? Should I have a cast of characters…
Read MoreBuilding a Memorable Author Brand
Now, don’t be shy: Did you begin indie publishing with the sole objective of releasing your heart’s work to the world? Many indie authors, including many earning an impressive income, begin the journey with one book in mind. It isn’t until the second or third release that they begin pondering questions critical to long-term success.…
Read MorePR Basics for the Debut Novelist
The completion of your first novel is a reason for celebration. Many people talk of writing a novel but few possess the drive to spend day after day—and perhaps year after year—perfecting hundreds of pages of prose. After you reach the accomplishment of completed work, the challenge of promoting the book—and yourself—begins. The following are…
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