I know I'm a writer when...

I decided to keep this post short and sweet today. After all, Fridays are meant for the relaxed and fun just before the weekend! I also have recently realized my husband puts up with a lot for me being a writer. The midnight conversations I have while I sleep and he so sweetly remembers so he can tell me later just in case it would be good for a story. I do love being a writer... you can get away with so much fun!

So, I know I'm a writer when...

1. I talk about eye lashes in my pancakes.

2. I make my husband catch falling stars with brown paper bags.

3. My excitement for a book expo is that of a child opening Christmas gifts.

4. My girls night out consists of cocktails and our version of boy talk – cute characters in books.

5. My diet consists of caffeine and candy.

How do you know you’re a writer (besides writing a book)?

Wednesday Wordies

Instead of our typical first sentence fun what if I mixed it up? So many people aren’t sure they want to choose a book by the first sentence, but what if I gave you the description of the novel instead? Would that sway your line of thinking?

Below I’ve listed three descriptions. Let’s see if more of them catch your eye now that you’ve been invited into the books world.

1. (BOOK TITLE HERE) Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

2. (BOOK TITLE HERE) The Official Truth about dating the male human species!

Can taming a gorgeous boy really be as easy as walking a dog?

Circe Shaw is on a mission. She must transform into a fabulously sophisticated journalist and discover the amazing scientific truth about boys. Urgently.

But life is beyond complicated. Circe has to deal with a poisonous rival, her mum’s annoying ‘just friends’ men and her own Dark Past.

Can Circe’s daring investigation really teach her the facts of love?

Will it help her finally get a boyfriend?

Or will it break her heart…?

3. (BOOK TITLE HERE) Kyla’s memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.

She’s been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?(

First sentences aren’t often as exciting as their premise but descriptions are… which one caught your eye?

Marketing Monday - Characters

Marketing your novel is more than just showcasing your cover art and giving away swag. We as authors want our readers to connect not with our book but with future books.

What’s a great way to keep readers involved and talking about your latest and past reads?

One way is to make your characters more involved.

We as authors do our duties by going around the blogosphere and doing interviews. Those can be fun but after a while the questions are the same and so are the answers. You don’t want a reader getting tired of seeing your book everywhere. You want them more excited each time that cover art pops up.

So what are some secrets that help keep your book alive using the characters in them?

Treasure Hunts – Keep other bloggers excited about your books. After all, they’ll be the ones who are not only your readers but sharing about the books. Give clues for teens and adults to acquire throughout a few weeks. The end result can be a giveaway. In the end you’ve given a book away and also provided yourself mad press from the excitement.

Swag – Books, bookmarks, and tattoos aren’t the only things that can promote a book. Pins, key chains, and things that relate to your character are other great. Does she love boas? Is he a water gun enthusiast? Giving away items that relate to your character keep people excited and they can’t help but share with others around them in the real world let alone the blogging world.

Accessories and Wear – Do you believe in your book? Show them. Have shirts made, scarves, earrings, shoes, they can all be made into wearable marketing. I have what I call my ‘book shoes’. When I wear them I get a ton of compliments and it’s my segway to share about my stories.

 There are so many other ways to market in the world… what are your marketing secrets?

Jolene talks Self Publishing

The fabulous Jolene stops in again to talk about the publishing world! I know it's one of our favorite topics, so here she is!!!!

THANK YOU JEN FOR TURNING YOUR BLOG OVER FOR A DAY!!


Normally I’m HERE.
So, I’ve been on Unedited before, and I talked about publishing, and then I asked to come back to…well, talk about publishing…

Er…

*shrugs*

So, I hate to admit this, but I used to be very anti-self-publish. Very.

I’d read (or half read) some really bad books, and then I read a bunch of awesome ones in a row –

Grounding Quinn by Steph Campbell
Loving Emily by Anne Pfeffer
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Because of Low by Abbi Glines

And just recently – What A Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn

(Yes, I write YA and therefore am a YA junkie)

I’ve become crit partners with both Steph and Nyrae after reading their books, and then Steph and I decided to write one together (I love collabs by the way – if you want to really stretch yourself as a writer, they’re a great way to do it).

When Steph and I finished our book, we had two choices:

1. Turn it over to my agent

2. Self publish

With my agent having three books on sub, I’m at a standstill until I either strike out, or get an offer on something. So, Steph and I were looking at 3-6 months before we could put the book on submission to editors, and then 3-8 months (yes, I have a book that’s been on submission for eight months – the first one that went out) for our book to be on sub, and then most pub houses are out 18-24 months before a publication date…

You can see where this is going.

Why self-publishing has been my favorite mode of publishing so far:

1. I’m not a patient person.

2. I write fast and have projects stacking up

3. We’ve done everything OUR way on OUR schedule.

It’s been the most relaxing, fun way to publish that I can imagine. Is it the only way I’m going to publish?

Definitely not.

Am I going to do it again?

Funny thing… once we finished our joint project, I picked out a few others that I’ve had tucked away. It’s addictive (like querying was when I was at that stage) and now I’m thinking I’ll move forward with a few more…

I’m always curious how people feel on self-publishing. For it? Against it? Not for it? For it all the way?

Just curious where y’all stand :-D

~ Jolene

Wednesday Wordies - Giveaway

Ready for three more reads?

I've chosen them out of my wide selection grabbed at TLA!

Wanna know what makes this one special?!

There's a giveaway involved!

You tell me what sentence captures you and it's yours should your name be pulled out of the random org hat!!!

1. The storm came out of nowhere.
2. What if a young woman was both a girl to the living and a portal to the dying?
3. On the last day of Hannah Armstrong's existence, things were normal for a while.

Which one captures your eyes? Check out the links to see the cover art too!