Tell us a bit about yourself I'm a long time writer for over 15 years but only started getting serious about getting my work 'out there' in probably the last six years. I write steamy to erotic romance and am a self-confessed genre-hopper with contemporary, historical and paranormal stories either written, published or WIPs. I have way too many first chapters of started stories but am trying verrrrry hard to just stick to two at a time and actually get something finished. I'm currently working on a vampire romance for an upcoming box set and Book 1 in a planned contemporary series. How do you find time to write? I gave up my 'day job' (office manager) four years ago to take up house renovating/flipping. When I have a project on the go, there isn't much time for writing but it's only for a couple of months at a time. The rest of the time I have no excuses not to write as my time is my own. I am most productive with a bribery system and with writing in short bursts. I set myself a daily word target and write in 100 word sprints with 'rewards' after completing each spring. Mind you, a reward might be something like getting the dishes done or doing the supermarket shopping - but when you struggle to get the words out of your head and on to paper, even something like taking the bins out is preferable. Sometimes it'll be a yummy reward like a hot chocolate and a biscuit. I'm easy to please lol. What’s your publishing tips? My main publishing tip relates to self-publishing as with a traditional publisher most things are out of your hands. Getting your book written and online is the easy part. But just having it sitting in Amazon will not sell it. The real work is in marketing and there is so much to learn. There are some excellent online courses and if you're friends with self-published authors, pick their brains about what they do and what works. This is information you really need before you hit 'publish' because effective marketing happens before that point. It's time-consuming and can be expensive but unfortunately an integral part of this journey. Any promotional and marketing tips? I don't know nearly enough yet to give any specific marketing or promo tips but as I'm just re-releasing a story this week I've had to dip my toe in the promo waters. I've become a huge fan of Instagram and have an author account. I ensue that only post writing-related posts but ensure they are a mix of blatant promo, something personal but always tie it into writing somehow, share inspirational writing posts. I have a separate account for anything else I want to share. Learning about how to use hashtags was a great help and I am slowing building followers (whether any of them turn into readers remains to be seen). I don't mind devoting time to Instagram because I enjoy the graphics side of it, creating attractive posts to ensure my grid has a cohesive look. I have the time and the inclination for this, but it mightn't be for everyone. I only have a FB author page and Instagram as my only author social media and it only takes a few minutes a day to keep them updated. Tell us about your recent book. My current release is a shortish steamy contemporary Christmas story which I'm releasing for Christmas In July. Holly James, restaurant manager and temporary Christmas elf, has no time for families. Her own was virtually non-existent and the concept of happy families is something she can't comprehend. When she's stranded in a snow storm, and rescued by sexy widower Ryland Maxwell she has no option but to spend Christmas with the family. Since his wife died, Ry keeps his amorous adventures way from home and away from his young daughter - until he kisses their unexpected elf under the mistletoe. I've never had the privilege of a white Christmas, so I enjoyed living vicariously through writing this story. I also enjoyed bringing together two characters who had put their hearts aside and have them overcome their fears. Buy link : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TCX2P3K
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Tell us a bit about yourself I’m a compulsive writer and insatiable reader. My to-read list is huge and my house is proof to that, with books in every room. There is little more I enjoy than curling up with a good book, a little coffee and chocolate at my elbow, and my sweet puppy napping nearby. How do you find time to write? I’ve always been a writer, first as a journalist and now a novelist. Because this is the BEST job in the world, I don’t have a problem sitting down and getting to work at my computer. There is nothing more satisfying to me than creating new worlds and then populating them with characters I love. What’s your publishing tips? The best advice I can give aspiring writers is to never stop believing in yourself. This can be a cruel business with so many rejections churned out each day. It’s true, however, that none of those rejections are personal. They don’t necessarily mean you’ve written a bad book. Timing and targeting are everything. Make sure you only submit to editors/agents/publishers who actively seek your genre. Make sure you follow their submission guidelines exactly. Treat each submission like a job application. If a rejection follows, move on as quick as you can and remember why you’re writing. You love it, right? Keep at it! Any promotional and marketing tips? Ugh. Marketing. So difficult for someone who just wants to write. This was the hardest part for me. I make a list at the start of every year. The first year was about setting a foundation – website and build a social media presence. The second year was learning how to reach these audiences. Every genre is different and you have to find your audience. My best tip is get started somewhere, whether it’s Instagram or a newsletter or Twitter, and be patient while your audience grows. Don’t try to do it all at once. Tell us about your recent book. My sale book this week is Crime Times Two, which appropriately is my second book and part of my Wild Crime series. The book follows Meredith Lowe, who moved to a small isolated town with an abusive husband. In the wake of her husband’s murder, she seeks to get her life on track. A chance meeting with a man fearful his wife wants to kill him shatters her new confidence. There’s a little of everything in this book: murder, mayhem and romance. Crime Times Two now on a summer sale for 99 cents! Tagline: When divorce is out of the question, can murder be forgiven? Blurb from “Crime Times Two” Meredith knows three things: First, the man in the library begged her to help him. Second, he was afraid of his wife. Third, now he’s dead. While the evidence first points to a natural death, Meredith is certain there’s more to discover. People are tight-lipped in this small mountain village, and the man’s wife isn't talking either. Then a second death occurs, with remarkable similarities. It’s time to talk about murder. As a slow-burning relationship heats up in her own life, Meredith struggles with concepts of love and hate, belief and suspicion, and absolution and guilt. Nothing is clear cut… She must decide: Is guilt, like evil, something you can choose to believe in? Excerpt from “Crime Times Two”: Jowls quivered under the man’s weak chin, and Meredith noted the stained and frayed shirt of someone who spent a lot of time alone in dark rooms, sending out a better version of himself into the virtual world. His eyes were anxious and beseeching at her as though she should have a clear understanding of him and his life. Somehow, over the past hour and a half they’d been sitting next to each other – him playing video games and sharing his life story and her ignoring him the best she could – she had become his confessor and friend. Meredith gave him what she hoped was an impartial-though-quasi-friendly smile. She reached for her purse and papers and rose from her chair. “Well. Nice talking with you.” The man was lost in his own train of thought and seemed only slightly aware that Meredith was leaving. He shook his head, morose. “To make a long story short,” he summed up, “I think my wife is trying to kill me.” Bio: Julie Howard is the author of the Wild Crime series. She is a former journalist and editor who has covered topics ranging from crime to cowboy poetry. She is a member of the Idaho Writers Guild, editor of the Potato Soup Journal, and founder of the Boise chapter of Shut Up & Write. Learn more at juliemhoward.com. Buy Links: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VMZlUv Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crime-times-two-julie-howard/1129472600?ean=2940161941164 IBooks: https://books.apple.com/au/book/crime-times-two/id1436345028 Social media links: Website: http://juliemhoward.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/juliemhowardauthor Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18116047.Julie_Howard Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07D6CS4NQ Twitter @_juliemhoward Tell us a bit about yourself I’m Karen Hugg (“Hewg”) and I write literary mysteries and thrillers inspired by plants. I worked as a gardener in the Seattle area for years so my passion and knowledge are rooted (excuse the pun!) in all things green. Plants are these silent, fascinating beings and I want to bring that fascination to the page in exciting ways. How do you find time to write? Well, if you’re a mom and/or you have a full-time job, it’s really hard! Luckily, I always worked for myself in my gardening business and was able to carve out hours during the day when my kids were at school. Also, when they were little, my husband would take them away every Saturday morning and I’d focus on writing for a couple hours then. Now, they’re a bit older so I can actually work when they’re home. What’s your publishing tips? Try to craft as good of a story as you can. Take writing classes. Find writer friends and get feedback. Then, when you’ve gone over the story so many times you can’t see straight, submit it for publication. And brace yourself for rejections. It may take time. For some authors, it’s a hit after a few tries, but for most, it’s a hit after about 100 tries. One thing I recommend is trying to publish shorter pieces in newspapers or on websites while you’re querying. Because rejection hurts, you need some sort of counter to that. So if you can publish a small thing, that one little “yes” will give you the confidence to keep going with your larger project. Any promotional or marketing tips? I would say zero in on why you’re writing, what your passion is, and then share that with the world. If you don’t know, search on mission statements and the OGSM business model for help. There’s a great book called Brand Yourself Royally by Nancy Blanton that I got a lot out of. She helps not only creatives but authors specifically figure out who they are as a public face (or brand) and how to communicate that to the world. It’s an excellent resource. Tell us about your recent book My latest novel is called The Forgetting Flower. It’s about a young woman who hides a dangerous plant in Paris. Here’s the description: Secrets and half-truths. These litter Renia Baranczka’s past, but the city of Paris has offered an escape and the refuge of a dream job. The specialty plant shop buzzes with activity and has brought her to a new friend, Alain. His presence buffers the guilt that keeps her up at night, dwelling on the endless replays of what happened to her sister. All too suddenly, the City of Light seems more sinister when Alain turns up dead. His demise threatens every secret Renia holds dear, including the rare plant hidden in the shop’s tiny nook. It emits a special fragrance that can erase a person’s memory—and perhaps much more than that. As Renia races to figure out the extent of the plant’s powers, she’s confronted by figures from her past who offer a proposal she can’t outright refuse. Bit by bit, she descends into a menacing underworld of blackmarket mobsters, navigating threats and fending off abuse to protect the safe peaceful life she’s worked so hard for. Desperate to outwit her enemies, Renia maneuvers carefully, knowing one wrong move will destroy not only the plant, but the lives of her sister and herself. You can order it from Amazon or through physical bookstores. Also, until I run out, I’m offering free The Forgetting Flower T-shirts to all new newsletter subscribers. There’s more info on my website. www.karenhugg.com. Thank you! INSPIRATION – WHERE REALITY AND DREAMS COLLIDE Writers are often asked about their inspiration for their books. I’m not sure the fascination with this, but I expect it’s because it is such a mystery and so different for each writer. Sometimes it might be some big epiphany moment perhaps or from a magnificent dream or they were looking at something one day when, ‘bang’ a thought for a story idea/character came into their mind and they just had to write it. I’ve certainly heard stories from many writers like this – we all know the famous Stephanie Meyers story of having a dream about two teenagers in a field of flowers and she woke up and had to discover their story and that’s how Twilight was born. For me, most of my novels are born out of dreams I have mixed with things from reality. I can dream quite vividly and when a particularly dream occurs, it will often occur again and again, sometimes the same scene or sometimes the scene continues on from the previous night, unfolding more than a scene or a snippet of dialogue or character or place, giving me a sense of story so strong, I have no choice but to write it. Sometimes these dreams have strange inspirations in real life. The dream that started me out on the journey to write my Pack Bound Series for instance, came from an event that happened at the snow many years ago, where a snowboarder ran into me and hurt my leg. There was nothing romantic or happy-ever-after about it – the snowboarder, embarrassed and on a run he shouldn’t have been on, barely checked if I was okay before jumping up and taking off down the slope, leaving me to deal with a hurt knee, being winded and equipment that had scattered everywhere when he smacked into me. However, my mind must have played over that scene in some way, until one night, years later, I had a dream about it happening to someone who wasn’t me and the person who smacked into her was her fated mate. I woke up so excited to write their story and explore them and their world that the words flew from me and before I knew it, I had a book filled with magic and witches and Weres and Shifters, good and evil and overcoming it all in the search of personal fulfillment and love. My new novel, Climbing Fear: Book 1 in the CoalCliff Stud Series, also came from a mixed inspiration of reality and dreams. From the age of 13 to 21, I used to attend a horse riding camp once or twice a year. Up until the age of 18, I was an attendee on this horse riding camp – one of the 40 kids who turned up and had the week of our lives riding through State forests near Anglesea. When I turned 18, I became one of the staff on my University holidays – a tough job wrangling 40 boys and girls ranging in age from 8-17, but one that was worth it if for nothing other than I got to be on the farm and among the horses, riding every day. That of course, was many years ago and I had no idea then that I would write a novel set on a similar horse stud one day. I had no intention of doing so. Until I had a dream about a woman returning to the stud she grew up on and bumping into the boy – now a man – she’d had a passionate fling with before she ran away to get married to someone else. And in the dream neither was happy about the reunion. The dream continued the next night and the next, their pain and passion so real it swept me away with the visceral need of it, mixed with a suspense element that heightened the tension that demanded to be written and made my fingers fly over the keys to get their story out and onto the page. I have no idea where that particular idea of conflict came from, but the fact it was on a horse stud seemed right. Although, when I started writing it, I realised I wasn’t writing about somewhere like the place I’d been to, but somewhere in the Victorian Alps near a town called Walhalla – a place I’d visited years ago when I was tour manager for a theatre restaurant show and we were in Moe and I took the cast on a drive up into the mountains crowding the edge of the LaTrobe Valley and we found beautiful little ex-goldmining town, Walhalla, a magical place that had stuck in my mind and was now finding its way out onto the page in this new, suspenseful emotion-filled story. So, Climbing Fear is part reality, part dream and part muse inspired – that magical mix that so often makes the writing experience so visceral for me and makes me push myself hard to do the best I can by this magical culmination of the real and unreal. I hope everyone enjoys the experience of reading the novels I write as much as I enjoy writing them. Climbing Fear A Coalcliff Stud novel—His beloved home is under threat, and with it the beautiful, haunted woman he's never been able to forget … X-Treme TV sports star Reid Stratton has everything—until his best friend falls to his death on a climb while shooting their show. In the fierce media fallout, Reid begins to question everything about himself. Crippled by a new fear of climbing, Reid returns to CoalCliff Stud, his family’s horse farm, to recover. Single mother Natalia Robinson is determined to start afresh, away from the shadow of her past. A job at CoalCliff Stud where she lived as a child is the perfect opportunity to live the quiet life she always wanted. But she is unprepared to see Reid, and is even more unprepared for the passion that still burns between them. But after a series of menacing events threaten the new home she is trying to build, Nat realises that Reid is the only person she can rely on to keep her and her daughter safe. Together, Reid and Nat must face the pasts that haunt them if they are to survive the present and forge a future of hope. Buy Links for Climbing Fear: iTunes Amazon Aus Amazon US Kobo Google Play Leisl Leighton Author Bio: Leisl is a tall red head with an overly large imagination. As a child, she identified strongly with Anne of Green Gables. A voracious reader and a born performer, it came as no surprise to anyone when she did a double major in English Literature and Drama for her BA, then went on to a career as an actor, singer and dancer, as well as script writer, stage manager and musical director for cabaret and theatre restaurants (one of which she co-owned and ran for six years). After starting a family Leisl stopped performing and instead, began writing the stories that had been plaguing her dreams. Leisl's stories have won and placed in many competitions in Australia and the US, including the STALI, Golden Opportunities, Heart of the West, Linda Howard Award of Excellence, Touch of Magic and many others. Leisl lives in the leafy suburbs of Melbourne with her two beautiful boys, lovely hubby, overly spunky dogs, Buffy and Skye, and likes to spend time with family and friends. She is addicted to the Syfy channel, and her shelves are full of fantasy and paranormal books and scifi DVDs. She sometimes sings in a choir, has worked as a swim teacher, loves to ski, can talk the hind leg off a donkey and has been President of Romance Writers of Australia from 2014-2017. If you’d like to know more about me, my books, or to connect with me online, you can visit my webpage www.leislleighton.com, follow me on twitter @LeislLeighton https://twitter.com/LeislLeighton, or like my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Leisl-Leighton-Author-367381126695193 My other books are: Dangerous Echoes: Book 1 of the Echo Springs Series. Or if you like your suspense mixed with the paranormal, then you should try my four book Pack Bound series: Pack Bound, Moon Bound, Shifter Bound and Wolf Bound—available now. Buy Links for Dangerous Echoes: iBooks, Google Play, Kobo, Amazon AU Or you can buy the four book series, Echo Springs in paperback at Big W, Kmart and online at Angus&Robertson, Booktopia, The Nile, Boomerang Books, Dymocks Buy Links for the Pack Bound Series: Amazon Here, iBooks Here, Google Play Here, Kobo Here |
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October 2020
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