Hope Bolinger's Blog

Authors will ask this question at one point in their lives.It doesn't matter if they have a marketing degree, or if they recently started an author Facebook page with minimal marketing experience. We post, we try, we observe, we repeat ... and with little impact. So what happens when we give it our best effort and almost nothing happens?What's worse is when we have a writing friend who seems to do the same thing we have in terms of marketing (or even less) who somehow ends up with 50-100+ reviews on Amazon and enormous sales. For those in the midst of the void, I write for you. Allow me to provide some encouragement for you today.My Friend's StoryI have a friend who has a Master's Degree in Online Marketing. She literally got this degree to find out better ways to sell her books.She works relentlessly. When she teamed up with another relentless marketer (a famous one at that) to sell their book, they did just about anything an author could do. They sent out 100+ targeted review copies, entered contests (and won awards), ran free seminars and conferences, did readings, had tons of free opt-in content for their newsletters, got A-list endorsements, and so much more. Not to mention, they had a mid-size publisher who did a decent amount of marketing as well. The result?Almost a year later they have about 20 reviews on Amazon, and the sales didn't turn out how they expected.Does this mean that my friends didn't give 100 percent? That they didn't market appropriately?By no means. They worked harder than most authors I know. They had the expertise, the education, and the drive. Sometimes sales fall flat and reviews fizzle, and you did everything you could.My StoryLet me start this by saying I do not have a Master's in marketing. Not even a BA or BS. But that doesn't mean I don't try when it comes to launching a new book.Usually, for any given book, I will have a 15-25-page marketing plan. These included targeted reviewers, podcasts, launch team opportunities, and so much more. I've compiled what I have seen work successfully for authors and have combed through countless resources, conference teachings, and more to know what works and what doesn't.I've had launch teams of 100+ participants and have sent out 100+ targeted review copies for other books.The result?My launch team maybe had 10 percent participation (even with a $50 Amazon gift card at stake for those who completed challenges). As for the reviewers, the book has not launched yet, but I do know only about 30% of them responded to my initial request.Does this mean I didn't try? Absolutely not. I've dedicated literally hundreds of hours (and plenty of a financial investment) into marketing, giveaways, ads, and contests. I had a consistent posting schedule, made challenges clear to the launch team, and optimized my SEO best I could. But the results don't show as clearly as I would have loved them to.Marketing during COVIDOf course, a big piece of this boils down to COVID-19. People have cut most spending, especially due to a lack of job security, and often books are one of the first expenses to go.I remember a distinctive phone call I had with my sister recently. She said, "I would've pre-ordered your book on your publisher's website, but I waited for it to show up on Amazon for a better deal."I know instantly what she meant: a better price.Readers will wait around until a book is listed for free, and even then, won't click download. If my own lifeblood has not purchased, reviewed, or even read (yes, even read) my books, what does this look like for the general public?Authors haven't figured out how to market books during this crazy time, and so if you have launched a book recently, have grace for yourself. And often readers who enjoyed your book don't write reviews or even mentioned they loved the read. It happens.Keep writing, and we'll get out of this void together.

There's, of course, no easy way to answer this.Certain books take a lot more marketing than others. For instance, I have a Christian YA book and a general market YA book, and the former will require a lot more marketing to get it in front of a wider readership since it's more of a niche market.With that said, I wish I had an easy answer to this question. But I can provide insight into my own marketing process and just how many no's you might get before you receive a yes. If this helps put things into perspective, my first book Blaze sold about 1,000 copies in a year. Not bad for a Christian YA book (trust me, it's almost impossible to find a more niche market). I did everything below and more to promote the book. EndorsementsOne of the first things you do when you market a book is reach out to fellow authors for an endorsement. No hard and fast rule exists for how many you need, but most authors try to aim for 10.Ten, you might think, no problem. But many authors juggle really busy schedules. Or they may have 10+ endorsement requests in their queue.For my general market YA book, I reached out to 30 people and only 12 got back and did an endorsement. About 40 percent. Keep in mind, my co-author and I reached out months in advance and gave a lengthy amount of time for the author to review the book. I have personally received endorsement requests where the author gave me only two weeks to review the book. Although I could make that time frame, most can't. ReviewersBooks need reviews.Reviews help a book to get visibility, and you need to reach out to reviewers with an ARC of your book at least 2-3 months in advance. For our book, we reached out to about 100 reviewers in the past few weeks. During that time we had about 30-40 say they'd be willing to review it. So about 30 percent. Many publishers suggest a book get 50+ reviews on Amazon to help with its visibility. Launch Team Most publishers suggest you have about 50-100 people on your launch team. But this doesn't mean that all 50-100 of those people will participate.For instance, my launch team for my book releasing in July has 100+ people, but I want to say about 20 of those people participate. People have tried to alter how they run launch teams ranging from email campaign challenges to Facebook groups to offering prizes for people who participate the most. No fast and easy way appears to work. Unless you launch with a large publisher who can afford to be picky about launch team members, it involves a lot of trial and error. Giveaways and Opt-InsMany authors will offer signed copies of their books and other giveaway items to generate more subscribers for their newsletter or get more engagement on social media.The end goal, of course, is to sell more books, but often you'll run a giveaway to boost numbers.I had 100+ entries in my last giveaway, but because I opened it internationally, the shipping costs were a little on the high side. Through the process, you learn what does and doesn't work when it comes to these. Pre-Orders and Cover RevealsUsually you want to do both at the same time. If you do a cover reveal first and then release the pre-order links later, you'll lose some of your audience. People can sometimes forget you have a book coming out.Usually you want some sort of team (whether your launch team or a separate cover reveal team) to do a cover reveal/pre-order campaign. That way, you have the best chance to reach as many people as possible.Sounds easy. The kicker? Usually people will say they want to support you, but they may not want to share a cover on their Instagram or Facebook feed. It could possibly disrupt their aesthetic. Even if you create amazing mockups, like I had through a program known as AuthorLab, they may still not go for it. Even if you directly message someone on Instagram (a tactic I do not recommend because of its invasive nature) they may offer to share a cover in their story, but not on their main page.Armed with a unique book hashtag and a small ragtag team, you post. Most often, to get people to join the team, you need some sort of prize. Maybe you enter all of them into a giveaway. Maybe you give them all a bookmark. But you need to have incentive. If it helps put this into perspective, I had about 30ish people want to be on the cover reveal team for my last book, and I want to say about 13 delivered. Even when you send reminder emails, people forget.Website/Social Media UpdatesEvery bio you use, every social media header, everything should have a link to your book.People get lazy, and if you don't directly send them to that Amazon page, they will not put in the effort to find it.This means that you need to constantly update your website and social media channels. People should be able to find your book instantly, no matter via which medium they found you (Instagram, Website, Twitter, etc.). Blog/Radio/Podcast ToursIf you want to get the word out, you have to visit a number of blogs, podcasts, radio stations, and sometimes TV stations. You also send press releases to newspapers and other publications (but steel yourself to get turned down by these or hear crickets ... they get a lot of PR from authors). Technically, there's no correct number of blogs/podcasts to stop by. But I recommend the following:Rule One: Try to have somewhere between 10-20 days mapped out for a tour for your book, a little before and a little after the book releases. You can have more, but aim for somewhere in that range.Rule Two: Have backups, and keep track of dates in a spreadsheet. I cannot tell you how many times bloggers backed out at the last minute. Send them reminder emails to make sure they get the post up for when you both originally agreed. Rule Three: Give yourself plenty of time to do the work ahead of time. If you guest-blog ten places, that means you have to write ten 500-1000-word articles. Not to mention, some bloggers will make you edit the voice to sound more like their blog's aesthetic. Rule Four: Steel yourself for rejection. Bloggers get overwhelmed by requests from authors. They may have people scheduled out months in advance.Rule Five: When they do post, make sure to share and tag them on social media. Not all bloggers/podcast hosts will share the post. Bylines and Newsletter Shout-Outs Blogs and podcasts can only get you so far. It helps to also have articles in publications, especially publications that fall under the niche of your book.Now, let me show you where numbers can often be deceiving.I write five articles a week for Crosswalk (a publication with millions of viewers and subscribers). I also wrote modern-day Daniel (so Crosswalk fits the niche). Many of my articles get thousands and up to ten thousands of views per week.Let's do a conservative estimate and say that I get about 10,000 views per week. From those viewers I may get:- 1-2 book sales a week- 3-5 new subscribers to my newsletter each week Now keep in mind at the end of every article, I have a byline with my books hyperlinked. In addition, writers will often ask those with larger newsletters for shout-outs. Sometimes authors will offer this for free out of the goodness of their hearts. Other times, they will charge you $100+ for an email blast to curated lists. So really ask them for the numbers: open rate and click rate. If they have meager numbers, use your finances elsewhere, like Amazon ads. Countdown Posts Long before your launch day, you need to inform people of the date of your book release. Because they will forget.My own sister in the past week asked me when my book launches. It launches in a week. About three months out from your launch, in every post, remind people of the date when your book will release. And starting two weeks out (or ten days away) have a countdown post every single day before your launch. That way people can remember, "OK, five days until Den launches," "Four days until Den launches," etc. People often need to see a post seven times before they remember it. So post frequently. Launch Parties Not every book requires a baby-shower-scale Launch Party, but you should do something to celebrate your book launching. This may look like doing a book signing at a local bookstore (be warned, they may ask for an ARC copy to review beforehand so plot out lots of time).Or maybe you book a party room at a local place and offer to sign books and hold a giveaway for those who attend.No matter what you choose, have a backup plan. And have a virtual party as well as a physical one. I knew many authors who had a physical book launch planned, and then COVID hit. Post-LaunchThe fun doesn't stop once your book baby enters the world. You still have a great deal of marketing to do.You have to:- Ask launch team members and readers to post reviews (and do so with a great deal of zeal and fervor). This means anytime someone mentions they read your book, commenting on their post (or replying to their message) and asking them to put a review up. You would not believe how many reviews Amazon takes down. - Enter your book into contests. Award-winning books get more publicity. Get prepared for rejection. Many, many authors enter these contests to end up on the shortlists. - Do group promotions with other authors, sell your books at conferences and expos and local craft fairs, and continue to do author talks, book signings, and interviews to get more publicity for your new release. - Get a move on that sequel or next book (if you have not already). Most publishers want to release the second installment within 6-12 months of the first release.- Doing a huge social media push when your publisher offers a discount, including BookBub ads (near impossible to get, and cost hundreds of dollars), and listings on sites such as Fussy Librarian and My Book Cave (also costs money). - And so much more!In short, you can't simply post once or twice on Facebook an expect enormous sales. For more ideas on how to market your book, check out my course at Serious Writer here.

I've been wanting to write this bad boy for a while. Actually, I wanted to do it in video form. But since I lack a certain finesse for creating graphics for YouTube, I had to settle for the next best thing.First of all:Why is this blog post even necessary?Often, when I tell people, "I got a book traditionally published," they give me a deadpan expression. Or they'll say something like, "Oh. Cool." Because in their mind, anyone can publish a book. Anyone can hit publish on Amazon and boom, instant author.Although true, that doesn't guarantee book sales. And a traditional contract is something else entirely. I want to scream, "No, you don't understand how hard I had to work to say that. How many years I invested."And I know many other authors who face the same conundrum. Who have family members, best friends, and even fellow writers refuse to read or purchase their books because they don't understand how much a writer had to go through to get from point A to point Z. So I'll break it down for everyone here. Buckle up, everyone, we're about to embark on a wild ride.A caveatI should note that no matter whether someone chooses to do the traditional route or the self-publishing route that publishing doesn't get any easier. But because I have gone down the traditional route myself, I want to de-mystify the process for everyone.This will probably be one of the longest blog posts I've ever written, because writers endure a long and hard process to get their books with traditional publishers. I've frequently complained to fellow writers about the lack of blog posts and videos that highlight just how difficult the journey from draft to contract is. So I wanted to create a resource that people could share once they finally get that book deal. So let's explore just how much work you have to do to get that deal.Step one: the writingBelieve it or not, writing styles go in and out of vogue. The telling and head hopping you saw in books ten years ago will not fly in today's market. And Lord help you if you do not go deep enough in POV in third person limited.In fact, most books, even famous ones, published ten years ago would not publish today.I'll repeat myself: famous books published ten years ago would not get acquired today.Publishers have upped the ante. They require: More researchMore complexity in characters Stronger dialogueDeeper POVAvoiding all cliches that have plagued your genre for the past few decadesSensitivity readers And so much moreAnd that just tips the iceberg. We haven't even dived into platform yet (will touch on that later).Let's say you've mastered your own writing voice, which takes about a million words, by the way. Let's say you've got a high-concept idea, there's a clearly defined market, and it fits the vogue trends of books published in the last five years ... you still may not have a guaranteed book contract.Or you may have several edits to go.When writing a book, you have to pay attention to so many things. You have to make sure:That you're pacing it quickly enough to keep reader interest, but not too fast that they get whiplashThat you've given enough character backstory, but don't info-dump too muchThat you set up your world so readers can be grounded, but don't spend too much time describing it that you bore themThat your dialogue is realistic but not banteringThat you've done enough research on even minor details so that someone who is an expert in that particular area won't wave red flags and claim you didn't read up enough on the subject matter That you avoid cliches in your genre, but also make sure to stick closely enough to tropes to have a higher marketability And once again, we've just tipped the iceberg. Writing can go wrong in so many ways. And agents and publishers will reject you on account of even minor (fixable) plot issues. So let's say you've finally polished your draft enough through self-editing to get it to a point where you can't even look at it anymore. Are you ready to submit? Nope. Let's go to the next step.Step two: the editingWriters like to skip this step. And most writers who take shortcuts don't get a traditional contract.Truthfully, all authors have blind spots. We miss big plot holes. We don't realize we have a massive amount of cliches. We've riddled the manuscript with typos and copy editing errors.So we have to do a number of things.First, especially early on in our careers, we need a professional editor. We need someone to tell us exactly what an industry professional will say when they read our book. And it takes an investment. Editors can charge thousands of dollars to edit manuscripts.In addition to a professional editor, we need other readers. We either get beta readers or critique group members to tell us their honest opinion on a manuscript. We watch in horror as they rip it apart, make us completely redo sections, have us get rid of characters, and make the book so unrecognizable from its original form.But after you've edited it dozens of times, you have a guaranteed contract, right?LOL no. First, you gotta enter the querying trenches to get an agent. And trust me ... it takes years.Step three: the agent"Can't I skip this step?"If you want a traditional contract? It's pretty much almost impossible to get a contract now without an agent. Even smaller presses who used to take on unagented submissions won't take a look at a manuscript from an author who doesn't haven an agent. So to maximize your chances at getting a contract, you need an agent.And this takes forever.Even if you expedite the process. If you spend hundreds of dollars to pitch one at a writer's conference, and they just happen to like your pitch at a meeting (and trust me, they usually don't), and you submit them your proposal, you have absolutely no guarantee they'll take you on.Agents get literally thousands of submissions each year. And most agents I know will maybe take on one or two clients each year.Let's do a conservative estimate. I get about 5,000 submissions a year. If I only take on one client that year, that client had a 0.02% chance of ending up with me. Let's make this abundantly clear:You'd have a greater chance at getting drafted by the NBAthan getting acquired by an agent. Well, let's say you finally get an agent after years of pitching and trying. Easy street from here, right? Mkay, let's just assume the answer to all my rhetorical questions is gonna be "Nah, man." And let's dive into the next part of the process.Step four: the submissions processThe industry has hundreds of agents. That means publishers get swamped too. Even if they only take on agented submissions. That means they get unbelievably picky when it comes to rejecting books. At our agency we've had picture books rejected because they didn't like the rhyme scheme (even though they had a prose manuscript available). We've had every excuse in the book sent our way, including a rejection I received that said, "It's perfect. We literally can't find anything wrong for it. We just don't have room for it."I've gotten many clients contracts, but let me break down for you how many submissions their books went through before someone picked it up:One of my picture book clients (42 submissions)One of my middle grade clients (45 submissions) One of my young adult clients (59 submissions)One of my new adult clients (50 submissions) Even if a publisher likes your book, you may have to go through several rounds of pub board to get their approval. A pub board will try to find reasons to say not to a book ranging from a lack of platform to a saturation of books like yours in the market. One of my books had to go through three separate pub boards and get the approval of two publishers to get a contract. Even if a pub board approves of you, they may send back more edits. I once had a publisher offer a contract. Revoke the contract and send back edits. I did the edits in full, and then the publisher rejected the book. This process takes years. It takes your agent getting onto calls, meeting editors at expos at their booths, asking for rare feedback, asking for a chance to resubmit, and honestly, sometimes a miracle for a book contract to come through.And when it comes through, it could be a terrible contract. They may put lots of trick clauses in it, and when your agent pushes back, they may say, "Well, take it or leave it."But let's say you luck out and get a contract that doesn't ask you to sell your soul. As we've learned from Hope's rhetorical questions, it doesn't get any easier from here.Step five: preparing the book for publicationPublishers do not like picky authors.This means your book will go through several more edits. They will ask you to make changes to your manuscript that you may not like. They may give you a book cover that didn't capture what you envisioned at all for the story.And in most cases, you need to roll with the punches. I've known authors to be far too high-maintenance and the publishers dropped the contract with them. Just because you have a book deal doesn't always guarantee that the books will hit the store shelves. In addition to edits, your publisher will walk you through a marketing plan. Even though publishers have marketing teams, most of these efforts fall on the author. This means you need to:Find endorsers:Authors who wrote similar books to yours who will say nice things about your book. Sounds easy, except authors are swamped and usually will turn down endorsement requests. Even if they say yes, they may find they don't like your book and will turn down saying anything nice about it.Find reviewers:Sounds a lot easier on paper. Reviewers are swamped with book requests. And even if they do accept your request, you have no guarantee they will say anything nice. In fact, many will have a lot of critical notes for your book, so get ready for your Goodreads and Amazon star rating to plummet.Find launch team members:You need people to share about your book, because your social media alone won't cut it. I have 30K followers across social media and I only have a fraction of that number in book sales. It doesn't matter how many "buy my book" posts you put up, very few people will buy the book. So you get a team together. But even when you do so, only a fraction of the team will participate in challenges and will share about you book, even if you offer prizes. People are swamped and sometimes things fall through. Life happens. Do interviews: You will interview on blogs, podcasts, newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and in some cases, TV. Will this drive your sales up? Usually, no. But you get the word out as much as possible. And, like reviewers, these outlets are swamped with requests, so get ready for many of them to turn down an opportunity to interview you. Do author talks: You visit schools, conferences, and do book signings in the hope you can get a handful of sales or new readers for your books. And many libraries, schools, churches, and other venues (swamped with similar requests) will not return your call. Do giveaways: People love free stuff. So you offer signed copies of your books as well as other giveaway items in the hopes that your social media following will go up and that you have a greater audience who might be interested in reading your book.Post consistently on social media: If you aren't constantly growing your social media platform, publishers will not want to work with you. You have to maintain a constant posting schedule, and share memes and other useful articles on top of posts about your own writing. Once again, we've only just tipped the iceberg. We haven't gotten into newsletter opt-ins, book hashtags, cover reveals, book unboxings, pre-order versus launch day, and so many other things that go into book's launch.My marketing plan for a book is usually somewhere between 15-25 pages, if that gives you an idea of how much goes into a single book.So you launch!Step six: time for book two?Hold your horses there, eager beaver. Even if you have a book two for a series, or have another book you want to pitch, publishers take a look at sales.If your book didn't have enough preorders. If enough people don't buy the book in the first few months, they shoot the sequel dead in the water. It doesn't matter if you've left them on a cliffhanger. Doesn't matter if you've spent years planning the whole series. If you have poor sales, or not enough sales, they won't do a second book.And let's say you have a book for a different series. Will that remain unaffected by another book's sales.Nope.In fact, many publishers will head to NPD Bookscan (usually a pretty unreliable source for exact book sales). If you don't have what they deem to be enough sales on one book, they may not take on a book in a different series by you. Takeaway?What was the point of this post, Hope?Good question. I want to help people to understand the lengths authors do have to go to get a traditional contract. If you have an author friend who is traditionally published, support them in any way you can. Buy their books, review their books on Amazon, share their posts, and cheer them on.Because you may be the difference between them getting rejected and getting their next book contract.

I absolutely cannot wait to introduce you to our lovely author today. The moment I read the first chapter of this book, I was absolutely in love. This is the book I desperately need to read in high school, and I can't wait for it to release out into the world this week.Without further ado, let's meet Tara Ross, author of Fade to White!Tara, tell me about your bookFade to White is a contemporary young adult novel with a touch of magical realism and a dusting of inspirational hope. It is the story of Thea Fenton, an anxious teen girl who despite having a picture-perfect life is falling apart on the inside. Wracked by anxiety no one seems to understand or care about, she resorts to self-harm to deflect the pain inside.When a local teen commits suicide, Thea’s anxiety sky-rockets. Unexplainable things happen, leaving her feeling trapped within her own chaotic mind. The lines between reality and another world start to blur, and her previously mundane issues seem more daunting and insurmountable than ever.Then she meets Khi, a mysterious new boy from the coffee shop who seems to know her better than she knows herself—and doesn’t think she’s crazy. His quiet confidence and unfounded familiarity draw her into an unconventional friendship (cue romantic subplot). Khi journeys with her through grief, fear, and confusion to arrive at compassion for the one person Thea never thought she could love. Absolutely love it! And speaking of love, it's difficult not to love all the characters. Do you have a favorite character?They’re like family to me now, so it’s so hard to choose a favorite! As far as characters who I enjoyed creating out of nothing, I loved writing about Ashley. It was so much fun writing dialogue for her spirited sassy best-friend persona. I needed a ton of help with getting her Texan accent correct, and fortunately for me, my editor is a Texan, so it will hopefully read as quite authentic.I also loved writing from Thea’s point of view. Because I resonated most deeply with her, some of her scenes were both painful and cathartic to write. She is also an amalgamation of so many vibrate young women that I know in real life. Although, she also holds many facets of myself, including a love for tea, running and the dramatic arts, beyond her hobbies, anxiety and affection for a furball named Woolie, our stories and lives veer drastically apart. I agree, it would be really hard to pick just one. And writing really can be a healing process, for sure. Favorite scene to write?This is another tough question. There are two that stand out right away as being high on the list. The one scene is set within an ice cream parlor in the middle of November. Thea knows that her mother is about to unload bad news on her, as they never go to the Cow’s Pint in the winter, unless there is bad news. I adore ice cream, but can’t eat it myself anymore, so writing this scene was very nostalgic of my own childhood and a reminded me of some of I had at times with my own mom. The other scene comes later in the novel and a critical plot point. I can’t share it here, as it will be too much of a spoiler, but know that every time I look at framed family portraits now, my eyes burn a little. That is so sad that you can't eat ice cream. I have a coffee allergy, and so I can relate in part to the sad deprivation at the loss of ice cream in your life. Most difficult part about the writing or publishing process?Given that I do not have a background in English, the technical side of writing is always the hardest. I have studied passive voice and comma usage multiple times. I have taken courses in syntax and still my brain can’t parse sentences into independent and dependent clauses. Thank the Lord for editors, because, honestly, I love every other aspect of writing from brainstorming and outlining to drafting and revising.Editors really are super heroes. Any advice for writers?Oh man, I feel like my advice to writers changes every time I read a new book or chat with a new writing friend. I think the most consistent piece of advice I give is that you can write a book. You should finish your book. Your story is important and needs to be shared.All the stuff that happen between thinking you should write a book and actually making it happen will vary, but one piece that must happen for you to be successful is a willingness to share your words with others. Find a few people beyond your circle of trust (i.e. beyond your mom, best friend and/or high school English teacher), and let them write all over your first draft with red pen or track changes. It will be painful at first, but you’ll grow so much and so quickly! Agreed! Finish that first draft! Anything you'd like to add? Reading changes lives. Plain and simple. You don’t need to read my book if it’s not your thing, but read something. Find a story that moves you, that forces you to think beyond your every day routines. Find characters that resonate with our own life and struggles. Take those struggles and think about them in the real world. Then, after you have digested those fictional lives, let those words change your life. Because it is the people we meet and the books we read that move us forward. Books have power and I am honoured to be one choice within a sea of possible life changes. Wow!! So good! Thank you so much for joining us, Tara! Everyone, go check out her book below, and make sure to give Tara a follow. She's the author to watch.BIO: Tara K. Ross lives with her husband, two daughters and rescued fur-baby in a field of cookie-cutter homes near Toronto, Canada. She works as a school speech-language pathologist and mentors with local youth programs. When Tara is not writing or reading all things young adult fiction, you can find her rock climbing the Ontario escarpment, planning her family's next jungle trek or podcasting/blogging at www.tarakross.com.FADE TO WHITE is her debut novel.Instagram: @ tara.k.ross : https://www.instagram.com/tara.k.ross/Twitter: @tara_k_ross : https://twitter.com/tara_k_rossGoodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18889509.Tara_K_RossFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014749334644BUY LINKS: Amazon.com:https://www.amazon.com/Fade-White-Tara-K-Ross-ebook/dp/B085HKBG4P/ref=sr_1_1?crid=K9KEA661L73&keywords=fade+to+white+tara+k+ross&qid=1584668666&sprefix=fade+to+white%2Caps%2C284&sr=8-1Amazon.ca:https://www.amazon.ca/Fade-White-Tara-K-Ross/dp/1645262634/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2KNIF10PXVFT6&keywords=fade+to+white+tara+k+ross&qid=1589998881&sprefix=fade+to+white+tara+%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-1LPC: https://shoplpc.com/fade-to-white/Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fade-to-white-tara-k-ross/1136991829?ean=9781645262633

I'm always pumped to interview authors here, and have been waiting to host this writer for quite some time. If you want a book that will split your sides and make you want to wear a tutu, you've come to the right place.Let's dive right in.Hi, Kristiana, tell us about your book.Pitched as Doctor Who meets Frozen, Legend of the Storm Sneezer is a middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of time travel, ghost stories, humor, and the darkly whimsical. It’s the story of a 13-year-old girl named Rose Skylar who sneezed a magical storm cloud at birth, and it’s followed her around ever since. But when “Stormy” causes one too many public disasters, Rose is taken to an asylum for unstable magic located in a haunted forest whose trees have mysteriously turned to stone. Guided by her older selves via time traveling letters, Rose must team up with Marek Knoxwind—a guardian angel who may or may not be imaginary—to solve the mystery of the specters and the stone trees. But will they find what killed the ghosts before what killed the ghosts finds them?I absolutely love it. A instant classic. Now, having read this, I've fallen in love with several of the characters. I think Sephone is my fave. Tell me about your favorite character?So, I’m one of those authors who doesn’t have favorites. Like, at all. Each of my babies has a little piece of my soul, and I adore them all equally. BUT! I will say that I love telling the story through Rose’s voice because she’s just so dang adorable and compassionate and funny. Writing her is a total joy, and her perspective is so refreshing. I think readers are going to find Rose to be a very different protagonist than what they’re used to—and that’s a good thing!Oh, absolutely agreed. Love Rose! What was your favorite scene to write?Oh, gosh, you’re making me choose? I think EVERY scene was my favorite scene while writing it…but I’ll try and narrow it down. ;) I love writing scary scenes, and there’s this one scene where Marek takes Rose to a haunted house (*cough* on purpose *cough*), and—well, I can’t spoil anything here, but let’s just say that at this point in the story, Rose and Marek have been apart for quite some time. They’re best friends and the perfect team, but they’ve lost their groove a bit. Yet in this scene, here they are back-to-back in what they like to call their “I’ve got your back, you’ve got mine, now what?” formation, facing down a gruesome ghost in a haunted cottage that’s falling to pieces…and finally, finally, they’re together again, back in sync, doing their thang.And it’s such an epic moment that it became one of Legend of the Storm Sneezer’s five full-page illustrations!And they're absolutely beautiful! What was the hardest part of writing the book?Keeping everyone’s motives and agendas straight in my head and making sure they came through clearly in the story! My editor, Cammie, was a huge help with this. Also, anytime time travel is involved, there’s always going to be a moment where the author would rather pull their brains out through their nose than try to untangle the twisty timelines woven into the story. But we do it—and it’s worth it!No doubt about it. You had a lot of moving parts, but it worked. Advice for writers?There is no “one size fits all” for writing journeys. It’s good to listen to other authors and their publishing stories, but don’t expect yours to turn out the exact same. And just because something is good advice doesn’t mean it’s the right (or write!) advice for you. Find what works for you, and embrace it! Also, don’t be jealous of the success of others. Celebrate the small victories. Be loyal to your writing friends, community, and readership, and be kind and encouraging to all—even when (especially when) you’ve been asked to critique their work. Loving people is a greater success than any Big 5 book deal.6. Anything you want to add?Amidst the craziness of the COVID-19 crisis, it’s awesome to see parents stepping up to the challenge of homeschooling their kids! I was homeschooled myself, and I created a Teacher’s Guide for Legend of the Storm Sneezer that follows the example of my amazing schooling experience. It includes a full Unit Study that covers Literature, Creative Writing, Drama, Vocabulary, Social Studies, History, Science, and thematic snack ideas! My hope is that it will be a useful tool for parents and help inspire a love of reading and learning in their kids. :) This Teacher’s Guide can be found at: https://www.kristianasquill.com/teacher-reader-resourcesThank you so much for joining us, Kristiana! Folks, if you haven't ordered this book, you are really missing out. Make sure to check it out below, and follow Kristiana. Book Blurb: Legend Seeker. Part-time Ghost Hunter. Time Traveler.Thirteen-year-old Rose Skylar sneezed a magical storm cloud at birth, and it’s followed her around ever since. But when “Stormy” causes one too many public disasters, Rose is taken to Heartstone, an asylum for unstable magic. Its location? The heart of a haunted forest whose trees have mysteriously turned to stone.They say the ghosts are bound to the woods … then why does Rose see them drifting outside the windows at night? And why is there a graveyard on the grounds filled with empty graves? Guided by her future selves via time traveling letters, Rose and Marek—best friend and potential figment of her imagination—must solve the mystery of the specters and the stone trees before the ghosts unleash a legendary enemy that will make their own spooks look like a couple of holey bed sheets and destroy Heartstone Asylum.Letters from the future are piling up. Rose can’t save Heartstone herself. However, five of herselves, a magical storm cloud, and a guardian angel who might very well be imaginary? Now that’s a silver lining.But will they find what killed the ghosts before what killed the ghosts finds them?Author Bio: As an author, Kristiana Sfirlea knows what it means to get in character. She spent five years volunteering as a historical reenactor and trying her best not to catch her skirts on fire as a colonial girl from the 1700s (leading cause of death at the time next to childbirth). Working at a haunted house attraction, she played a jumping werewolf statue, a goblin in a two-way mirror, and a wall-scratcher—so if she’s standing very still, growling, checking her reflection, or filing her nails on your wall, be alarmed. Those are hard habits to break. Kristiana's speculative flash fiction has been published by Havok, and her debut novel Legend of the Storm Sneezer is a whimsical Middle Grade fantasy involving time travel and things that go bump in the night. She dreams of the day she can run her own mobile bookstore. Or haunted house attraction. Or both. Look out, world—here comes a haunted bookmobile! (And this is precisely why writers should never become Uber drivers.) She loves Jesus, her family, and imaginary life with her characters.Social Links:Twitter: @KristianasQuillInstagram:@KristianasQuillFacebook: Kristiana Sfirlea – Author PageGoodreads:Kristiana SfirleaWebsite:www.KristianasQuill.comBuy Links: Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Legend-Storm-Sneezer-Stormwatch-Diaries/dp/1948095572/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/legend-of-the-storm-sneezer-kristiana-sfirlea/1136471405?ean=9781948095563Indiebound - https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781948095563Bookshop.org - https://bookshop.org/books/legend-of-the-storm-sneezer/9781948095563?aid=0&fbclid=IwAR2crgR7pvdySajP03qq2QvN0SxFc6njRI2J9LF5xmSTwFpy9vaiwO3YgekE-book retailers - https://books2read.com/stormsneezer?fbclid=IwAR1bxYTGlx4jKHV4TMswX1iyih_bUhqf-jCU_qQl2Q3EUvI8K_w0LOvijlE

[image error]With everyone under quarantine or self-quarantine right now with the COVID-19 Virus, many people have endeavored to finally start writing more each day. I did not expect to be one of those people.Because I recently finished a book with a friend (contract in the works at the moment) in February, and because I write 6,000-7,000+ words weekly for freelancing jobs, I figured I'd take a break from book writing.Until, my grandma passed away two weeks ago.I'd meant to write a book titled, "A Country of Their Own," for my living grandparents, a book that explores generational tensions, but when she passed unexpectedly from organs shutting down (read more about her condition here), I decided to write the book I put off for two or three years. And I dedicated it to her.So I started writing.Part of me wanted to get it done relatively quickly while all the emotions from the sudden passing were still fresh. I wanted to write this book as a tribute to her, so I tried something I never had before: I wrote 5,000+ words a day, while working 3 jobs, while still writing 6,000-7,000+ freelance in addition, and while grieving.Ordinarily, when I write a book, I tackle about 3,000-3,500 words a day, and finish the project within 3 to 4 weeks.So this time, I decided to add 2,000 to that daily number. How did I handle it?Oh my goodness, guys, there's a reason why I cut myself off at 3,500 before this.For some reason, those last 2,000 words sap all of your energy. Your brain hurts, you have to do breathing exercises, everything within you aches. You desperately want out. In short, it's painful. I already didn't have much of a plan going into this book. I decided to pants about 80% of it, even though I function best as a plotter. So I already walked into this process at a disadvantage.But still, I managed to accomplish what I thought impossible. Let me lay out some lessons I learned from writing 5,000 words a day until two weeks later, I had a 75,000-word book. 1. You Learn Your LimitsEven though I did accomplish my goal, oh goodness, did this process hurt. I did fall in love with the characters, the setting, and marveled how the twists managed to intertwine at the end. Maybe there's more to this pantsing thing than I thought. But I will never write 5,000 words a day again.Part of the reason I reached this conclusion is even when I plotted ahead for the next few scenes, I never reached that 5,000 word count. I'd have to go shower, go exercise, do something to help plan out the rest.I think I'll still keep my goal at 3,500/day next time.2. You Learn There's a Reason Why Authors Don't Write Books in 2 WeeksIt's not that it's impossible.As we learned above, I managed to do it.But you don't realize how much a book will wreck you emotionally, physically, and mentally until you start. It really is like running a marathon. The book takes a toll on your body, mind, and emotions.Although most of this book didn't deal with heavy content, unlike certain other series I have written, it still deals with death of loved ones and how elderly people we care about can pass from this world so soon, so unexpectedly. I had to kill off one character in this book (at least), and only got to meet them for thirteen days before removing them from the picture. 3. You Learn to Accept the Messiness of the First DraftYou don't have time to edit when you write a book in two weeks (and work three jobs).I'm pretty sure one of my side characters switched jobs halfway through the book, and I'll have to go edit it. I didn't even name some of the characters. I just put [Name] and plan to adjust that in the second draft.Although I will wait a month before editing this, I already know plenty of areas I need to fix. But because I didn't give myself time to fix every comma and word, I learned to accept that I had to write a horrible first draft. And that's OK.4. You Learn that You Have More within You Than You ThoughtWriting a book is a frightening process. Once you reach the middle, you hate your story with a burning passion, and wonder how in the world you'll tie the A-plot with the H-plot, and all the other plots in between. But through this process I learned that I had more strength, gumption, and perseverance within me than I thought possible. ConclusionAlthough I don't plan to write 5,000 words/day for a book again (or anytime soon), I learned that even though I've written twenty novels since I started in high school, that I still can challenge myself with each project.Do you purposely try to give yourself challenges when you write? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Thanks for being patient with me during my hiatus. Buying a house and getting settled can absorb a lot of time, but I am so happy to return with interviewing a wonderful author and friend. She is so inspiring, and she just released a book. Taylor, I'm so happy you can join us to talk about Barefoot Memories. Tell me about your bookBarefoot Memories is the final (*sob*) book in my Tradewinds trilogy—a set of three contemporary YA books set on the beautiful Hawaiian island of Maui.Barefoot Memories picks up where my last book left one. Readers can expect the return of favorite characters like Olive (my very and quick-witted, yet still slightly awkward, MC), Brander, and Jazz, as well as a few new surprises…one of which has four legs and a tail!This book is a bittersweet farewell to everything I’ve loved most about writing the series, and it’s my hope and prayer that it’s a worthy conclusion to a series that is incredibly dear to my heart.I love this! I've loved following your journey throughout the trilogy, and am so excited to hear reader's reactions to the final installment. You'd mentioned in your social media that it's been a labor of love. What is the hardest part of the writing process/writing this book?Saying goodbye! I had no idea how difficult it would be to bid my beloved characters farewell. I’ve been fully immersed in the world of Tradewinds since I was fifteen years old. Olive, Brander, and Jazz have seen me through over half my high school career, my gap year, and—now—my first year of college. They’ve grown and changed with me, and typing “THE END” on Barefoot Memories was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done!Oh, absolutely. Finishing a series can be so hard because of all the memories associated with it. Favorite scene to write?It’s been a while since I was drafting Barefoot Memories, so it’s a little hard for meto remember which scenes I loved writing and which made me feel like I wasdragging an ornery donkey through quicksand (we all have those chapters, right?)but I know one of my favorite scenes ended up being one in which Olive and herdad (with whom she doesn’t have the best relationship) are playing cribbage. Myown dad and I have played a lot of cribbage together, so it was fun to usesomething from my own life as a way to bring Olive and her Dad closer.LOL. I love the imagery of the donkey in the quick sand. And I love that! Favorite character?OLIVE!! Olive is my dear, beloved, angsty-teenager-with-the-heart-of-a-cinnamon-roll character, and I absolutely adore her. She’s denitely not perfect (who is?!) and has a lot to learn about life, love, and the Lord, but she almost feels more like a good friend than a mere figment of my imagination.So true. Characters are real people. They're part of us, and we're part of them. OK, last question. Advice for writers?READ. I know that advice is everywhere, but that’s only because it’s true! Nothing helps us grow as writers—or even just as people, for that matter!—like reading can.Reading in a variety of genres (and don’t forget those classics!) stretches ourliterary muscles and bolsters our vocabulary. Plus, unlike a lot of other thingswriters can do to grow their craft (like studying grammar rules…) reading is FUN!Couldn't agree more. Thank you so much for joining us, Taylor. And everyone, go check out Barefoot Memories! Taylor Bennett is a dandelion-wishing, world-traveling lover of books, words, and stories. Based in the PNW, she dreams of seeing the world and writing stories set in unique locations.Although she dreams of traveling to many different places, her favorite destination thus far (aside from her charming hometown in Oregon) isLahaina, Hawaii. Her love for this tropical hamlet led her to write about it, hence her debut YA novel, Porch Swing Girl, the first in a series of books set in Hawaii.Book Blurb: What if the biggest decision of your life wasn’t yours to make?With the New Year upon her, Olive Galloway is determined to put the past behind her and uncover the new future waiting for her in her island home.However, her best friend Jazz seems dangerously close to giving up on her alcoholic mom—as well as her own dreams. Together with an unlikely ally, Olive helps Jazz regain her confidence and enter a high-stakes race, but there’s still trouble on the horizon. Their friend Brander is due to come home from a whirlwind music tour on the mainland, but he’s holding tight to a secret that could change their friendship forever.Offered the chance to fulfill all of her wildest dreams with a single word, Olive realizes that she could be headed back to the mainland sooner than she’d imagined. Caught up in a whirl of possibility, Olive struggles to decide between returning home to fulfill her childhood wish or building a new life in Hawaii. The choice could change her life forever.Order Barefoot Memories here. Connect with Taylor on Instagram: @Taylor.bennett.author

I'm a huge fan of FairyTale retellings, so I absolutely cannot wait for you to meet the author of a unique angle on Snow White.Melanie, welcome! Tell us about your book.My book is a Snow White retelling with a twist. Queen Matilda's tale from the 12th century is woven throughout making for a very interesting Queen bent on doing anything to rule as an Empress.It's a book about two women's lives. How they each dealt with toxic parents and its affect on their paths, for better or for worse. It's about finding strength within our weaknesses, true purpose through sacrifice, love despite losing everything, redemption and how holding onto pieces of the past can sometimes direct our future.I love the idea! So fun. I'm sure there was a lot that went into the book. Tell me about the biggest difficulty in writing this.This book took over a year to complete. With 5 children and a full-time job, it was a difficult accomplishment. I also have dyslexia. And even though I've completed the novel with its first edited draft, I know it won't be completely polished. I have to work three times harder than the average person to complete a first draft being Dyslexic. There are things within the book that I'll have completely missed because of my disability and there's nothing I can do about it. That is frustrating. Though it can also be rewarding. Because despite this and through God's strength alone, I completed the book. That in itself is something to be proud of because its half the battle. Absolutely. And you certainly will inspire other authors and readers who are dealing with similar struggles. Thank you so much for sharing! OK, I love this question. What is your favorite scene/scenes to write? My favourite scenes to write were actually of Queen Amara. Her role was imperative to the narration of this novel and I wanted to bring Queen Matilda's historical past to life in her. Her life had been an incredible impact on history and I wanted to represent that through Queen Amara.You certain have some intriguing characters in this. Do you have a favorite one? Favourite character is... all of them. It's like asking which child of mine is my favourite, lol! I can't pick one.Totally get it! It's so hard to pick. OK, last question. What is your advice for authors? My advice for writers would be to continue your dreams of being an author despite your mistakes along the way. Don't be afraid of them. Learn from them and be dedicated, keeping your hand to the plough. Give God the Glory when you make it through, He deserves it!Well, I absolutely cannot wait to see this book when it comes out. When it does, we'll have to have you come back to this blog so we can spotlight the book again! Readers, give Melanie a follow (social media links below). Back Book CoverQueen Amara wants more than Eira’s beauty, she wants the Empire and she will do anything to get it. Even if it means killing whoever got in her way.Only ever wanting to be loved, Eira White is thrust out of her kingdom by the very man sworn to protect her--her father. Now, she's being hunted by the only mother she had ever known--Queen Amara. In her weakness, Eira White clings to the voice of her father and the memories of her past to help save her future. "Remember Eira. Remember what your mother told you..."Prince Owen Wilhelm of Wales has left his father’s kingdom on pilgrimage and will travel the world if it means bringing his missing sister back because if he can't, he will be forced to marry and become King after his father dies instead of his eldest sister. So when a sinister plan reaches his ears, he has to choose between finding his sister or aiding a beautiful girl in the fight against a wicked Queen for a Kingdom that's not his own.Biographical SketchMy superhero gig is being a mother of 5 energetic children, but to them, I'm just mom.I’ve worked as a pastor’s wife for 6 years, written various articles, poems and book reviews for Love Is Moving, a Canadian Youth Magazine and published one Christian Contemporary novel called, Facing The Grey with Tate Publishing—though the Publisher went under and it never fully published. Building a community of Christian believers who love to read clean books centred on Christ is my passion. I'm on BookTube, Twitter and Bookstagram. Currently, you can find me nestled under a canopy of forest trees penning Fairy Tale's and intertwining history within them, making for one epic adventure. My hope is to draw readers closer to the love of my life--Jesus.Follow Links@realitywriter4g on Twitter@ChristianYABooksandMore on Instagramwww.realitywriter.wordpress.comhttps://www.youtube.com/christianyabooksandmore

OK, let me explain.It all started when Alyssa Roat and I created parody accounts on Twitter. She was a cliche YA villain, I, a cliche YA hero. We would playfully insult each other and interact with the other parody accounts.Then the inevitable happened when I read a book of love letters back and forth between two unlikely characters (and my best friend hopped onto one too many dating apps).Why not merge the two?So I sent Alyssa this text message:We decided, after about an hour's worth of thought, to do a dating app instead of letters, and upped the ante with super heroes.Both of us were working 7+ jobs (combined) that summer and didn't think we'd even get it done by the time we returned to Taylor University that fall.So we hopped on a Google doc and planned to write it in 60 or so days.Nine days later we'd finished, "Dear Hero," where a superhero and villain meet on an app to find their future nemesis. Whoops.That never happened before. I usually don't co-write well with others, but we just clicked. It just worked. Recovering from our lack of sleep, we got to work on editing and preparing the manuscript to pitch to editors.Caption: Alyssa and I cosplaying our characters. Yeah, here's how that went.In person and over email, editors turned it down almost immediately. Because of the text-message/chatroom format it was too out of the box. It didn't really fit conventions or set formulas.The age group seemed tricky, too. Cortex and V, the two main characters, were on the edge of YA, being 18, but too young for New Adult or Adult. So we figured no one would pick it up after a while.Fifteen months later, something strange happened.A publisher actually loved it. They loved how quirky it was and the out-of-the-box plot ideas.That publisher was and is INtense Publications.After Alyssa and I fan-girled over their team and mission, we waited for our agents to do a long process of negotiating (two months).Lo, and behold, as of yesterday, we signed the contract with INtense, and anticipate a January 21, 2021 release. We cannot be more thrilled:So in short:- We wrote a book in 9 days- The editors said "Bleh, no."- One editor said "Amazing!"- We got a contractAnd we cannot wait for you to meet the characters.

I'm absolutely ecstatic to host Martin Wiles and hear about his latest devotional. He has an impressive bio, and I can't wait for you all to check out his newest work.Martin, welcome!We're going to mix things up a little with our questions today. What is the hardest part of being an author? Why?For me, the marketing. All publishers expect authors to do this now. It can be time-consuming—and expensive if paying someone else to do it for you. I also try to promote other authors on my website and with social media platforms.Absolutely! You've been so kind to help me in my author journey as well. But marketing is an extremely tough part. How about on the other end of the spectrum? What’s the best part of your author’s life? Why?I love telling my stories, applying a spiritual aspect, and knowing they’ll be read all over the world. I love helping other authors. After all, we are all in this writing journey together, not lone rangers. I also enjoy meeting and getting to know other authors through conferences and by online correspondence.So true! I love that! Why do you write? What drives you?What drives me is the possibility of going insane if I don’t write. I write what I do because I want others to experience God’s love through true stories with biblical application—much as Jesus did. Like the prophet Jeremiah, stories burn in my body, and they must come out. My hope is to encourage others, regardless of what they are experiencing on their life journey.That's a really good way to describe it. That stories burn you from the inside. Advice for writers? Don’t give up. Getting published, whether for a book, devotion, or article, is getting increasingly more difficult, so patience is necessary. Write for the right reason, and God will open the doors he wants your publication journey to take.What is your work schedule like when you're writing a book?Since I am a teacher and have a day job that often extends into the evenings and weekends (grading papers)—and since I am editor as well, my preferred time to write is at 4:45 a.m. This is when my mind is the sharpest. If I don’t write then, other things that come up during the day—life—get in the way.Wow! You're juggling a lot! But your hard work and perseverance certainly has paid off. Thank you so much for joining us. Readers, make sure to go check out Martin's newest devotional. Details below! Bio:Martin Wiles is the founder of Love Lines from God. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, minister, and author who also serves as Managing Editor for Christian Devotions and as a proof-editor for Courier Publishing. He is the author of six books and has been published in numerous publications. His most recent book, A Whisper in the Woods: Quiet Escapades in a Busy World, was released in December 2019.Blurb:My latest book, A Whisper in the Woods: Quiet Escapades in a Noisy World, combines my love for the outdoors and my passion for devotions. Since the “silence” of nature seems to be the place where God speaks the loudest to many people, I decided to filter through the many devotions I’ve written and select those that dealt with my hiking, backpacking, and camping experiences—especially those that had spiritual implications.Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Whisper-Woods-Quiet-Escapes-Noisy/dp/1620208652Website:www.lovelinesfromgod.comSocial media links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/martinwilesgreenwoodscTwitter:https://twitter.com/linesfromgodInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/lovelinesfromgodLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-wiles-5a55b14aPinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/martinwilesGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/27658029-martin-wiles