Ask the Author: Autumn M. Birt
Answered Questions (8)
Autumn M. Birt
Ahhh... book marketing. Usually, I'd say you need to go to where your readers are, but kids don't usually have credit cards. So, in this case, you need to go to where parents are and will be interested in buy your book.
Here, on Goodreads, is a great place to start. Run a giveaway, join children's book groups, read and review other children's books (consider it research as well). Are there children's book newsletter swaps on Bookfunnel or Story Origin? I don't write, or read, children's books, so you'll have to do some research.
Look into how parents find children's books. Is it through recommendations by teachers? Great! Find a way to get your books into the hands of some teachers! Story time at the library? How can you get in on that? Offer your book as a freebie to a library if they'll read from it. Hold some Zoom kids book reading sessions and post them on Youtube for stressed out parents to let their kids watch. Be authentic, love your book, do things to reach parents and so that they will love you and and your story, and the book will find its market.
Here, on Goodreads, is a great place to start. Run a giveaway, join children's book groups, read and review other children's books (consider it research as well). Are there children's book newsletter swaps on Bookfunnel or Story Origin? I don't write, or read, children's books, so you'll have to do some research.
Look into how parents find children's books. Is it through recommendations by teachers? Great! Find a way to get your books into the hands of some teachers! Story time at the library? How can you get in on that? Offer your book as a freebie to a library if they'll read from it. Hold some Zoom kids book reading sessions and post them on Youtube for stressed out parents to let their kids watch. Be authentic, love your book, do things to reach parents and so that they will love you and and your story, and the book will find its market.
Autumn M. Birt
I love this question! Gavin is a character who sort of snuck up on me and ended up beginning a big part of the show (wait to you see her role in the later books!)
I knew Riasg, Bramble, and Sgleò were on their way to a healer in Dark Fae Outcast, but I honestly didn't sit down to think about who that would be until the chapter they arrived. I'd originally thought a man, but then woman, and then I found this picture.
Something in the confidence and the gender ambiguous persona, beautiful and strong, really resonated. Gavin (which is a traditionally male name) was born.
I immediately liked her feisty spirit, her care of small fae, and her compassion for Riasg (well, eventually) even though he is dark fae. Every time I wrote her POV, I fell more and more in love with who she is. Which is how she ends up playing such a BIG role in the books! A character like that is not going to sit idly by or fade away.
I knew Riasg, Bramble, and Sgleò were on their way to a healer in Dark Fae Outcast, but I honestly didn't sit down to think about who that would be until the chapter they arrived. I'd originally thought a man, but then woman, and then I found this picture.
Something in the confidence and the gender ambiguous persona, beautiful and strong, really resonated. Gavin (which is a traditionally male name) was born.
I immediately liked her feisty spirit, her care of small fae, and her compassion for Riasg (well, eventually) even though he is dark fae. Every time I wrote her POV, I fell more and more in love with who she is. Which is how she ends up playing such a BIG role in the books! A character like that is not going to sit idly by or fade away.
Autumn M. Birt
Oh, that troublesome, spiny brownie ...
Of course! He popped into Dark Fae Outcast and nearly stole the show (and certainly saved Riasg more than a few times). Yes, as the cover to Dark Uprising hints with a tiny, spiny urchin on October's shoulder, Bramble definitely has a role to play in the next book in the Tainted Fae series.
Of course! He popped into Dark Fae Outcast and nearly stole the show (and certainly saved Riasg more than a few times). Yes, as the cover to Dark Uprising hints with a tiny, spiny urchin on October's shoulder, Bramble definitely has a role to play in the next book in the Tainted Fae series.
Autumn M. Birt
This is always a good question! The truth is that there is not one single way to get reviews and that it is best to use multiple methods.
When I first started out, I actually joined some review groups here on Goodreads! That worked great to get those early reviews as a new author. I'd recommend joining a group that is in your genre and that allows you to select a book from the other authors. That way your exchange should be enjoyable.
I also ask for reviews directly in my books at the end and have started asking readers in the email sequence if they signup to download a book that I'm offering for free. Occasionally, if I have a book that is really lagging behind in reviews and I need them for a specific reason (a promo or something), I'll even ask the readers in my newsletter, FB group/page, etc if they can help me out, but I don't do that too often.
And lastly, I organize a launch team with every new release. These are readers who get an early, free copy of the book. They help me spot any last minute edits and also agree that they will try to leave a review during launch week. Those readers are so pivotal and helpful with not only reviews but spotting things that editors have missed!
I hope this helps. :D
When I first started out, I actually joined some review groups here on Goodreads! That worked great to get those early reviews as a new author. I'd recommend joining a group that is in your genre and that allows you to select a book from the other authors. That way your exchange should be enjoyable.
I also ask for reviews directly in my books at the end and have started asking readers in the email sequence if they signup to download a book that I'm offering for free. Occasionally, if I have a book that is really lagging behind in reviews and I need them for a specific reason (a promo or something), I'll even ask the readers in my newsletter, FB group/page, etc if they can help me out, but I don't do that too often.
And lastly, I organize a launch team with every new release. These are readers who get an early, free copy of the book. They help me spot any last minute edits and also agree that they will try to leave a review during launch week. Those readers are so pivotal and helpful with not only reviews but spotting things that editors have missed!
I hope this helps. :D
Autumn M. Birt
Hi, Carol! Sorry it took me so long to answer. It's been quite the winter and spring, hasn't it? 😳
I wish I knew which pep talk you'd read! It might have been easier to track down if I hadn't waited six months to finally come back on Goodreads. 🤦🏼♀️ But in either case, I'll just go with answering your question (and feel free to shoot me any new ones!).
How did I get so many awards ... well, honestly, I never thought of them as that many. Seriously! The grass is always greener and all that.
I first published in Feb 2012, so as far as the ebook world goes, I've been writing and publishing for awhile now. Before ebooks became so popular and back when there were under 2 million ebooks on Amazon. OMG, those were the days! Ok, now I sound old ... 🤣
And back then, I imagined what it would be like to complete my first trilogy and what it would be like to be able to say, "Bestselling author" or "award-winning." Just, wow, right?
Despite that, I honestly did not go seeking any awards. I always thought my current book wasn't good enough. "Maybe the next one I write," is what I kept telling myself. And without really intending to, the awards found me. The first one was from a review website who gave me a 5 star reader's choice award. The most recent was being Fantasy Book of the Month from ManyBooks.
After getting nominated for Best Book of 2017 from Fantasia Reviews and winning Best Worldbuilding, I finally realized that my writing was pretty good and maybe I SHOULD go and seek out a few awards. And I have ... and every time I do I just don't get anywhere.
A lot of award sites have an entry level of so many votes or such and I just always run out of steam on the whole popularity bit. 🤷♀️ So, I'm REALLY excited that awards come to find me because I'm horrible at going to find them. lol.
BUT, if you are looking for awards, there are hundres, and I mean literally HUNDREDS, of places you can submit your book to be considered. Some have fees, some require votes. Just google book awards and you'll see slews of results. If you apply to enough, you'll eventually net a few.
However, the big question is if they make a difference?
Honestly, most readers say they don't care about awards. Sure, it feels good to say you have one, but they don't increase your book sales. What really matters is to keep writing and learning to write better. What means a lot is an email from a reader who says how much they love my books and what they meant to them.
One of my favorite memories is stumbling on someone here on Goodreads who had listed me as their favorite author. I still get tingles thinking about that! To see my name listed next to Mercedes Lackey on someone's profile!?@ ❤️💜❤️ Just because I screenshot things like that and store them away on my computer doesn't make them any less important. They've really come to mean more.
I wish I knew which pep talk you'd read! It might have been easier to track down if I hadn't waited six months to finally come back on Goodreads. 🤦🏼♀️ But in either case, I'll just go with answering your question (and feel free to shoot me any new ones!).
How did I get so many awards ... well, honestly, I never thought of them as that many. Seriously! The grass is always greener and all that.
I first published in Feb 2012, so as far as the ebook world goes, I've been writing and publishing for awhile now. Before ebooks became so popular and back when there were under 2 million ebooks on Amazon. OMG, those were the days! Ok, now I sound old ... 🤣
And back then, I imagined what it would be like to complete my first trilogy and what it would be like to be able to say, "Bestselling author" or "award-winning." Just, wow, right?
Despite that, I honestly did not go seeking any awards. I always thought my current book wasn't good enough. "Maybe the next one I write," is what I kept telling myself. And without really intending to, the awards found me. The first one was from a review website who gave me a 5 star reader's choice award. The most recent was being Fantasy Book of the Month from ManyBooks.
After getting nominated for Best Book of 2017 from Fantasia Reviews and winning Best Worldbuilding, I finally realized that my writing was pretty good and maybe I SHOULD go and seek out a few awards. And I have ... and every time I do I just don't get anywhere.
A lot of award sites have an entry level of so many votes or such and I just always run out of steam on the whole popularity bit. 🤷♀️ So, I'm REALLY excited that awards come to find me because I'm horrible at going to find them. lol.
BUT, if you are looking for awards, there are hundres, and I mean literally HUNDREDS, of places you can submit your book to be considered. Some have fees, some require votes. Just google book awards and you'll see slews of results. If you apply to enough, you'll eventually net a few.
However, the big question is if they make a difference?
Honestly, most readers say they don't care about awards. Sure, it feels good to say you have one, but they don't increase your book sales. What really matters is to keep writing and learning to write better. What means a lot is an email from a reader who says how much they love my books and what they meant to them.
One of my favorite memories is stumbling on someone here on Goodreads who had listed me as their favorite author. I still get tingles thinking about that! To see my name listed next to Mercedes Lackey on someone's profile!?@ ❤️💜❤️ Just because I screenshot things like that and store them away on my computer doesn't make them any less important. They've really come to mean more.
Autumn M. Birt
Hi, Naomi! Sorry for the delay but some family issues this winter kept me offline (but I've still been writing!).
Talk about perfect timing... I'm about to release TWO new novellas this spring!
The first is Born to Darkness, set in the world of Sundarkk. You can check out the book cover and blurb at http://www.autumnwriting.com/black-th.... It is dark fantasy and for mature audiences. I've finished the writing and am working on edits with a planned release date of May 15!
The next book the Light in the Darkness, which is the first book in a dark fae series, the Cailite Re. You can see its cover and blurb at http://www.autumnwriting.com/cailite-re/. This book will be released in June. I'm writing the last chapter this week!
I'm so excited to have two new worlds and characters to share. Both have already plotted series. I just need readers to tell me which they like best so I know which to write first! :D
Talk about perfect timing... I'm about to release TWO new novellas this spring!
The first is Born to Darkness, set in the world of Sundarkk. You can check out the book cover and blurb at http://www.autumnwriting.com/black-th.... It is dark fantasy and for mature audiences. I've finished the writing and am working on edits with a planned release date of May 15!
The next book the Light in the Darkness, which is the first book in a dark fae series, the Cailite Re. You can see its cover and blurb at http://www.autumnwriting.com/cailite-re/. This book will be released in June. I'm writing the last chapter this week!
I'm so excited to have two new worlds and characters to share. Both have already plotted series. I just need readers to tell me which they like best so I know which to write first! :D
Autumn M. Birt
Hi Linda! Sorry I didn't see your question earlier. I've been so tied up with the release of Spark of Defiance this month that I've neglected my account. Sorry! I'm happy to hear you've been enjoying the books so far!
Oh the Kith... that is quite the story. Born of Water is my first published book and it was years in the making. The original idea was very ... lackluster in all honesty. Truly mundane! And I knew that, so I started working on bringing a sparkle to it.
I KNEW the group would go north and Lavinia would fall in love for the first time. But I really had no good sense of who that person was for a long time. The immediate idea being a forest dwelling person was an elf. I love elves! And I really considered how to make that work.
But elves have such a legend around them. I kept bumping up against how elves are expected to act and that is not at all how I wanted Darag to be or his family and sister and friends. So I scrapped all conventions and tried my hand at creating something new, based on what I wanted the Kith to be like.
I knew they had to be something surprising despite all the rumors the Church had created about them. And isolated - so self sufficient. All those ideas churned together into their culture with a society that is very tightly knit. That their souls are bound to a tree - I wish I could say I had a major epiphany on that. I just knew that about them. That is why they lived as long as they did. Their souls were bound to a tree (I've learned so much more about how that happened, which is going into the new trilogy. Funny the things your subconscious knows but you don't realize for ages. Even when you wrote hints in the books!)
And the skin color patterned like bark (Darag meets a child on one of his journeys before he met Lavinia who described him as looking tattooed!) was actually an epiphany! I'd worked out all the details on who the Kith were and got to skin color as I wrote character descriptions. I considered black, white, tan, yellow, red ... I have just about all that in the stories already. But these are an incredibly different and important culture. And they aren't anything like we have on earth. So I wanted something really different. But I didn't want green, or brown, or ... I think I was taking a walk in the forest around my house and I stopped and say a tree. A nice big tree with thick bark and thought "That's it! duh!" Of course they resemble their trees! And so they are as varied as a forest. ;)
Oh the Kith... that is quite the story. Born of Water is my first published book and it was years in the making. The original idea was very ... lackluster in all honesty. Truly mundane! And I knew that, so I started working on bringing a sparkle to it.
I KNEW the group would go north and Lavinia would fall in love for the first time. But I really had no good sense of who that person was for a long time. The immediate idea being a forest dwelling person was an elf. I love elves! And I really considered how to make that work.
But elves have such a legend around them. I kept bumping up against how elves are expected to act and that is not at all how I wanted Darag to be or his family and sister and friends. So I scrapped all conventions and tried my hand at creating something new, based on what I wanted the Kith to be like.
I knew they had to be something surprising despite all the rumors the Church had created about them. And isolated - so self sufficient. All those ideas churned together into their culture with a society that is very tightly knit. That their souls are bound to a tree - I wish I could say I had a major epiphany on that. I just knew that about them. That is why they lived as long as they did. Their souls were bound to a tree (I've learned so much more about how that happened, which is going into the new trilogy. Funny the things your subconscious knows but you don't realize for ages. Even when you wrote hints in the books!)
And the skin color patterned like bark (Darag meets a child on one of his journeys before he met Lavinia who described him as looking tattooed!) was actually an epiphany! I'd worked out all the details on who the Kith were and got to skin color as I wrote character descriptions. I considered black, white, tan, yellow, red ... I have just about all that in the stories already. But these are an incredibly different and important culture. And they aren't anything like we have on earth. So I wanted something really different. But I didn't want green, or brown, or ... I think I was taking a walk in the forest around my house and I stopped and say a tree. A nice big tree with thick bark and thought "That's it! duh!" Of course they resemble their trees! And so they are as varied as a forest. ;)
Autumn M. Birt
I'm currently writing (and about to release the first part!) a dark fantasy/military/scifi/dystopian series that even has a touch of romance. It is a bit of a genre smashup, but that is what I love about being an indie author. We cross boundaries!
This series is titled Friends of my Enemy. The first part is a group of ten short stories under the title Stories from the War. And part 1, First Meeting will be released on my blog beginning in July and come August I'll get it formatted for free download here on Goodreads!
This story has been with me for sometime and bits of it were written years ago during a writing course. I'm reworking the two novels that come after the short stories now. Anyway, that is all the technical stuff. You probably want to know what it is about!
It is 2055 and the world has gone mad. Climate change results in upheavals from cities, states in the USA are abandoned as too brutal and too costly to maintain. At hurricanes, typhoons, and droughts impact the world in the decades proceeding the stories beginning, new diseases rip through the population. The result is a world where governments fight to control resources while keeping tight controls on populations. Especially in the United States.
Martial Law was declared in 2052 and Europe is uneasy with its negotiations to the altered US. But the US needs Europe's industry and wealth to rebuild. The new military government is still trying to figure out how to present itself to old allies, sending its best and brightest to the EU embassies to win over - and spy on - old allies. Arinna Prescot and her husband Michael are two such new embassy recruits.
Which is where the story begins...
This series is titled Friends of my Enemy. The first part is a group of ten short stories under the title Stories from the War. And part 1, First Meeting will be released on my blog beginning in July and come August I'll get it formatted for free download here on Goodreads!
This story has been with me for sometime and bits of it were written years ago during a writing course. I'm reworking the two novels that come after the short stories now. Anyway, that is all the technical stuff. You probably want to know what it is about!
It is 2055 and the world has gone mad. Climate change results in upheavals from cities, states in the USA are abandoned as too brutal and too costly to maintain. At hurricanes, typhoons, and droughts impact the world in the decades proceeding the stories beginning, new diseases rip through the population. The result is a world where governments fight to control resources while keeping tight controls on populations. Especially in the United States.
Martial Law was declared in 2052 and Europe is uneasy with its negotiations to the altered US. But the US needs Europe's industry and wealth to rebuild. The new military government is still trying to figure out how to present itself to old allies, sending its best and brightest to the EU embassies to win over - and spy on - old allies. Arinna Prescot and her husband Michael are two such new embassy recruits.
Which is where the story begins...
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