It's coming up on the end of the old year and beginning of the new, and you know what that means... Goals. Look at how you did on the old ones and set some new ones. I do this every year for personal and professional goals. Let's take a look at those author ones. 2018... Continue Reading →
WIP Status Check
I used to share my WIP status a lot more. Lately, it feels like my writing life has sped up exponentially. When I first started, I'd spend six months on one book, and only work on one book at a time--not just the writing, but the editing, publishing, and marketing. These days, I'm on fast... Continue Reading →
Author Marketing – Sharing What I’ve Tried
My publisher, Wild Rose Press, holds a chat every Tuesday evening covering various topics for writers. This week we talked about various aspects of marketing a new release. This chat came on the heels of a separate conversation I had with a fellow local RWA chapter member on marketing and FB promotions. At the same... Continue Reading →
Begging, Editing, Writing, & Ideas
That's right, I am in several different phases on several different projects at the moment. You know how much I love to be busy. Well, we're in a holding pattern on the move right now as we wait for our house to sell, so what better time to go crazy on my writing, right? (Actually,... Continue Reading →
Five Word Friday (Feb 20, 2015)
Five Word Friday is my goofy way of sharing what’s top of mind for me each week – usually writing related, but not always. If you think it’s a fun concept, I invite you to reciprocate with your own five words/topics that are top of mind for you – either in the comments below or... Continue Reading →
Book Trailers: Do I? Or Don’t I?
One of the marketing trends out there for authors are book trailers. These are a lot like movie trailers for but books. I actually like the concept a lot. It puts images and drama to the selling of the story, and I could see how that would be useful as a marketing tool. The question... Continue Reading →
Designing My Owen Book Covers
Over the last few months I've been on a bit of a journey in relation to my book covers. Let me start at the beginning... Tax season rolled around this year and, of course, we had to submit all my book related stuff. I'll admit that for the year 2013 I was a tad disappointed... Continue Reading →
Finding the Right Swag
I'll admit that I've been struggling with the topic of author swag because I wasn't yet ready to spend money on Abigail Owen branded items (and by that I mean on creating the brand first and then buying the items). I took a shot at creating an author logo myself, but decided to wait a... Continue Reading →
Reaching More Readers: Getting Started
Now that my debut novel, Blue Violet, is released, my primary goal for this book has shifted from writing/publishing to attracting readers. Based on blogs I've read, and my own personal feelings, most writers will tell you that their main objective is to reach readers (and give them a positive reading experience). The side-benefit of that goal is making enough money to sustain the habit.... Continue Reading →
Social Media for a 1st Time Author
In one of my very first posts on this blog I talked about my initial foray into the use of social media as a self-marketing tool for a first time self publishing author. I am now 6 weeks, 18 blog posts, 73 tweets, and multiple Facebook entries and Pinterest boards into the process. I have to... Continue Reading →