K.C. Blaze's Blog

September 10, 2015

Author Spotlight: Phoenix Williams

From poems, short stories to novels Phoenix Williams brings readers an engaging tale spun in so much reality it could be someone you know. Like many authors who started their literary careers at an early age Phoenix knew she wanted to use her literary pen to inspire. Help us here at Urban Fiction News welcome an up and coming author with multiple stories to tell.


All About The Author Phoenix Williams


Phoenix Williams is an author based out of Illinois.  Her love of writing was born during her early childhood.  Creating what she dubs “Realistic romance and family dramas with an urban twist,” Phoenix spins tales that allows the readers to see glimpses of themselves in the characters. Her works consist of several self-published short story collections—Running, Whipped, Screwed & Stripped, and Phoenix After Dark—and her debut novel with Mahogany Red Books—To Love A No Good Nigga.


Book Summary: To Love A No Good Nigga


To the outside world, the Bird sisters have it all: money, power, a successful interior design firm, and beauty. However, on the inside, these three black socialites are a mess. They have allowed the dysfunctional and at times, emotionally abusive marriage of their parents to color their views on life and love.

Robin is determined to have a family at any cost and is willing to destroy anyone standing in her way. Raven has been married for ten long years and sees no way out of her drug dealing husband’s tight grasp, until she begins to fall for his best friend. Sparrow is afraid of becoming consumed by men and love like her mother, so she leaves a trail of broken hearts in her wake and some don’t take the rejection as well as others.

When all three sisters put their trust in the wrong men, they find themselves faced with deadly stalkers, scorned ex-husbands, and jealous wives that throw them headfirst into Chicago’s underbelly. Help arrives from the most unlikely of sources, their baby brother, Blue-who has secrets of his own. With Blue and his associates by their side, Robin, Raven, and Sparrow are forced to reevaluate their life choices, commit unthinkable acts, and are pushed closer to the line of no return.


Q&A with K.C. Baylor


K.C. Baylor: Did you have an “Aha” moment that made you want to be a writer?

PW: Yes. I was in my third year of my undergrad.  I was a pre-law student and was looking at law schools.  One night, I was sitting on my couch and it hit me: I don’t want to be a lawyer.  I had always loved writing and had a blog full of poems.  Whenever I should have been studying, I was writing instead.  That’s how I knew that writing was what I was supposed to do.  A few weeks later, I dropped out of school and never looked back.

K.C. Baylor:  Is this your first published book?

PW: To Love A No Good Nigga is my first published book under Mahogany Red Books.  I have self-published a few short story collections.

K.C. Baylor:  What can readers and fans expect from you in the future?

PW: They can expect lots of drama!  They can also expect the unexpected.  I love throwing in curve balls and making the reader unsure of what is going to happen next.

K.C. Baylor:  How can you be reached?

PW: I’m all over social media.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/phoenixwilliams01
Instagram: @phoenixwilliamsbooks
Twitter: @phoenix_william
Gmail: phoenixwilliamsbooks@gmail.com

To Purchase your copy of To Love a No Good Nigga by Phoenix Williams click the book cover below!

To Love A No Good Nigga Cover


If you are an author and you’d like to be featured on Urban Fiction News Magazine Click Here

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Published on September 10, 2015 22:37

September 1, 2015

Book Spotlight: The Secrets of Yashire

Ignite your imagination with another paranormal tale from Diamante Lavendar. The Secrets of Yashire: Emerging from the Shadows.


The Secrets of Yashire: Emerging From The Shadows


The Secrets of Yashire: Emerging From the Shadows is a young adult fantasy adventure that occurs within the framework of a young girl’s subconscious mind. The main character, Brianna, finds herself thrown into a world called Yashire where she is forced to deal with circumstances that are threatening Yashire’s existence. Against her will, she is sent on a journey to restore unconditional love back to the land while also contending with the evil force in the land, Zolan. Brianna is sent on her mission by Libban, Keeper of the Land. Along the way, Brianna travels with the mystical tiger, Angelos; a huge, whitish-tan tiger with thick black stripes who sings only the purest songs of love, and the wondrous little one-eyed bird named Abiba.


During the journey, Brianna is also preparing to meet her soulmate—the one she longs to be with and the one who will bring complete healing back into her life. Together they travel through fantastic lands filled with magical creatures that could only exist in the wildest of imaginations. Through her treacherous brushes with danger and heartwarming experiences of love and acceptance, Brianna discovers many things. It is here, amidst the powers and phantasms of the mind that Brianna receives life lessons and virtues to help her. Will one of her greatest triumphs be achieved as she learns to believe in herself? For only then can she truly see all of the wondrous things that life has to offer.


 


To get your copy of this book click on the book cover below


 


secrets of yashire

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Published on September 01, 2015 15:56

August 29, 2015

Author Spotlight with Diamante Lavendar

Diamante Lavendar is not only an author of fictional tales that span from YA to mainstream but also a poet as well. Their love of writing started at a very young age, when creativity is at its peak. Creating stories filled with lively characters and having been compared to such amazing pieces as Alice & Wonderland is no small feat. Help me in welcoming Author Diamante Lavendar.


About the Author 


Diamante Lavendar has been in love with reading since she was a child. She spent many hours listening to her mother read to her when she was young. As she grew older, she enjoyed reading novels of all genres: horror, fantasy and some romance to name a few. She began writing in college and published some poetry in anthologies over the years. After her kids were older, she wrote as a form of self-expression and decided she wanted to share her stories with others. Most of her writing is very personal and stems from her own experiences and those of her family and friends. She writes to encourage hope and possibility to those who read her stories. Diamante believes that everyone should try to leave their own positive mark in the world, to make it a better place for all. Writing is the way that she is attempting to leave her mark—one story at a time. To learn more about Diamante Lavendar’s inspiring female characters, and their stories of personal growth visit her author page to read more about The Secrets of Yashire, her first novel on her website.


Q&A with K.C. Baylor


K.C:  What led you to become a writer?


DL: I have loved to write since I learned to write.  I guess that being an author was in my blood because from a young age on, I began constructing simple poems and that developed into more complex poetry and short stories which in turn became novels. I’ve always loved to express myself on paper!

K.C:  Is this your first book and if so will there be others?

DL: This is actually my second book.  My first book is entitled The Secrets Of Yashire and is a young adult fantasy adventure that has been compared to Alice In Wonderland and The Wizard Of Oz! (I’m overjoyed by the comparisons!)  There is also another book in the works which is an adult fiction book with elements of mystery, romance, inspiration and paranormal genres.  I’m having a lot of fun writing it…it is set in medieval times!  I am hoping to finish it and have it published by next March.  Then the second book of The Secrets Of Yashire will be coming!

K.C:  What do you hope your readers will take away from your book?  

DL: I hope that my readers will know that nothing is impossible and that healing is available for every ailment in life.  This book speaks of huge mountains in the main character’s way that she has to climb in order to find peace and hope in life.  I wish for the readers of this book to know that anything is possible as long as they keep trying and don’t give up!  Breaking The Silence is actually my autobiography set in a fictional, memoir format.  Life isn’t easy for any of us…but as long as we have hope, we can conquer life’s problems!  And come out victorious!

K.C: How can fans and readers reach you?

DL: There are actually many ways fans and readers can reach me.  I am available on:

Google: Click Here 

Twitter: Click Here

Facebook: Click Here

Personal Website: Click Here

Book Summary: Breaking the Silence


Growing up, she was treated differently by family members, powerless to defend herself against their sexual and psychological abuse. Feeling she had been dealt a wicked hand by the “powers that be”, she spiraled into substance abuse and troubled relationships. She became a victim of addiction and self-hatred.


Not giving up, she becomes aware of a greater spiritual being that protects her and she begins to heal. Then she finds herself pregnant. She learns to understand nothing is hopeless; that with a changed view and self discovery, there is real hope in every situation, no matter how difficult.


As she and her husband look forward to the birth of their child, she writes in her diary as a way of expelling all of the evil memories. On bed rest for the duration of her pregnancy, she endures tests and tribulations that at first she couldn’t begin to understand. But no matter how high the hurdles in Joan’s life are, she doesn’t look back, and pulls the pieces of her life together…for herself and her unborn child.


This inspirational story speaks of Joan’s gradual self acceptance and healing of her body, mind and spirit. It speaks of the possibilities of the future and the fulfillment of the dream of love and family. And it speaks of jumping the hurdles in life without looking back, no matter how high those hurdles may be.


 


Resized BTS Cover


 


To get your copy of Breaking the Silence Click the book cover above. If you’d like to be a featured author click this link


Remember to Follow us for More Urban Fiction News, Reviews and Resources and share this post using the social media links below!

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Published on August 29, 2015 15:58

May 2, 2015

Author Sweet Pea: Falling for a Bad Boy

 


Devastated by the brutal shooting of her fiancé D-Mario, Kendra found herself drowning in a deep depression. She couldn’t sleep, she wouldn’t eat; she was all messed up in the head. She felt like she was wasting away and didn’t have the will to live anymore. That is until her friend Annevia finally convinced her to get out of the house and go out with her to have a good time “You’ll never know if you don’t try,” Annevia always said.


 Then Kendra meets Blue, an upcoming bad boy with the infamous reputation of going from 0 to 100 real quick on anyone who steps on his toes.He finds himself slithering into her heart, in spite of his girlfriend, Zakia who was waiting at home for him.


See what happens when the tables turn and the pieces of D’Mario’s murder start to unravel placing both Blue and Zakia at the scene of the crime.


Will Kendra ride for her man or die for the other man?


1-Click Your Copy Today by clicking the book cover below.


 


PART_1430173175490_FallinForABadBoyFrtFinal

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Published on May 02, 2015 21:50

April 11, 2015

How to Make a Press Kit

After spending a few months searching for a good and affordable or reasonably priced media/press kit service I’ve learned that there are not too many people offering it as a service. Having a press kit will set you apart from the rest of the indie author pool but also position you to receive a bit of media attention as well. Like I’ve stated in a previous post having a press kit makes you appear more professional. YOU NEED IT! Below we’re going to discuss a few strategies that will show you how to create your own and what should go in it.


What Goes into a Press or Media Kit?


A media kit is the equivalent of an artist resume. It’s a collection of achievements you’ve accomplished, books you’ve written and your availability for events and interviews. It let’s the media know why you should be considered newsworthy. Here is what goes into a media kit.



An Author Bio
An Author image
A list of achievements
Previous media attention
Your current or most notable work
Contact information

If you are like many new authors who don’t have much in the way of media attention you may want to consider using reviews of your book from notable sources. Your bio shouldn’t list anything unrelated to your writing. However, you can make it personable without being too personal if you go that route. An example of a bad bio is: “My name is John/Jane Doe born in A little Town in Anywhere ville. I was raised by Pat and Jack Doe who were immigrants of the country Some Place. At the age of 10 I was deemed an outcast and decided to leave home to explore. My adventures led me to become a mechanic or technician but I am now the writer of this awesome urban sci-fi book I’m sure you’ll enjoy. 


If you don’t know why that is bad I’ll tell you. Unless your book is about being an outcast or going from dirt poor to super rich it’s too much information about YOU and not enough about your writing career. Stay on topic. You don’t want to be boring however, unless it’s being told as an angle to get you more exposure it can do more bad than good.


You have to make sure you are giving the media outlet something interesting and eye-catching and unless your personal experience plays into your writing or even your marketing strategy I would steer clear of providing too much unrelated personal information. It is also important to note that if you are going to add your contact information you state what type of press you are available for. This gives the media a clue on how they’d like to reach out to you.


How to Make a Press Kit: Step by Step (In Microsoft Word)



Open a new Microsoft word document. (It’s okay if your press kit is a few pages. It should be!)
The first step is to go to page layout, select orientation and choose landscape. (This will give your media kit a square shape versus the look of a sheet of paper. However, that can also be used.)
Once you’ve selected landscape go to the design tab. (On the design tab you can get creative by adding a watermark, selecting a page color or even adding page borders. I personally like using the colors of my logo, which is black, silver and red. So I generally make my backgrounds black. You can choose to use or not to use a color background. The beautiful thing about media kits is that they allow you to show a bit of personality. Don’t be afraid to show who you are, have fun with it.

I personally recommend having a cover page or an introductory page. It lets potential media know what to expect in the next few pages. Once you’ve finished picking a color, adding a border or watermark and creating your cover page start your bio page next.



The bio page should have a nice picture of you somewhere at the top. (Go to the insert page and select picture. This will allow you to browse the images on your computer, select your best or professional image. Depending on how big the image is, you may need to crop it down to size.
After cropping, go to the insert tab again and select the Text box. (You will have to choose draw a text box. Once you do, it will allow you to draw a box of any size you need. Customize the size of your box and then type in your bio or copy and paste from a different document.

You can make it look pretty with other images also Mine looks like this


KC BLAZE PRESS KIT NEW



 Your Next page should introduce your work so using the text box create a heading for the title of your book. Place a few images of your book cover beneath and a summary below it. Again get creative. It needs to capture the media’s attention. This is why your book cover should be eye-catching.
The next page in your press kit should be anything you’ve accomplished or appearances you’ve made on behalf of your book. If you don’t have anything you should definitely include book reviews. Remember you can mention blogs you were interviewed on. Popular websites that cater to your genre that mentioned on your book. ex: (“Jane Doe’s work has appeared in Urban Fiction News magazine and was reviewed by K.C Baylor a notable figure in the urban fiction genre.”) Dig deep and make it look good.
Your contact page should include any method of communication you are comfortable being reached on. Ex: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, Email, Address and telephone numbers. I would make a note above your contact info stating that you are available for television and radio interviews, book club appearances or even discussion panels. It’s okay to add the social network logos to make it appear fancy.
Once you are all done creating, save it as a pdf file so others can’t alter it and start sending to the media. My next article will list a few media sources to submit your info or media content distributors.

If you have questions feel free to message using our contact us page. I hope this information was useful.


Remember to subscribe for more Urban Fiction News, Reviews and Resources (It’s FREE to Subscribe) You can also share using the social media buttons below!


 


 

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Published on April 11, 2015 22:29

March 30, 2015

Urban Fiction News Radio

There are lots of new updates for Urban Fiction News starting with the relaunch of Urban Fiction News Radio. Now featuring a longer show from 6pm to 8pm EST. This new format gives listeners a chance to gain more information and resources in a fun and enlightening manner. Urban Fiction News Radio has also added a sexy, intellectual addition with co-host Santiago. A talented and creative writer of both novels and screenplays.


He provides the show with some insightful new information with a great radio voice to boot! To catch the last show you can click here to watch on YouTube or to take a look at all of our previous shows visit this link


Here at Urban Fiction News we want to remain your number one resource for all things urban publishing. To be featured on the show visit  We are always looking to interview fascinating new writers. If you are an indie/independent musician or artist and want your music played on the show contact us at urbanfictionnews1@yahoo.com and send one sample mp3 file to be considered.


If you’d like to promote your book or business on Urban Fiction News Radio use the contact form below. Those listeners who’d like to ask a question or want more information on a specific topic call into the show Every Friday from 6pm to 8pm EST @ 347-989-0235 


 


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Published on March 30, 2015 21:28

March 11, 2015

Author Spotlight with Thomas Barr

Thomas Barr is the creator of the Miami Urban Chronicles starting with the first installment Notorious P-Man Sam. His writing style is gritty with a bit of flair. It’s in your face approach is just right for the urban fiction lover. But before we get into the details of his work let’s learn more about the man.


A little About Thomas Bar


Hailing from Miami Florida; Author Thomas Barr was born in Lake City, South Carolina home of the 2nd African American astronaut, killed on the Challenger space mission, Dr. Ronald E. McNair.  He is the grandson of a share cropper whom taught him the value of hard work and education.  At age 17 he began college at Bethune-Cookman University and graduated Cum Laude with honors.  While in college he was inspired to write when he read the novel, Black Boy by Richard Wright.  He began writing short stories for campus publications and won a $500 dollar publication contest in a local campus circular.  He entered the Air Force after college and spent two tours of duty in the gulf during the Persian Gulf War.  Upon leaving the Military he went back to school and completed graduate school at the University of Akron in Ohio earning a master of public administration.  He began a career in government as an Intern with the Ohio legislature and later became employed with the Florida Senate as a legislative assistant.  His current works were inspired by his work with the City of Miami as a civil servant in administration.


Thomas Barr’s writings reflect the everyday struggle of the average individual trying to make something of life.  Every person has a story to tell and the job of an inspirational writer is to bring those stories to life for the good of all.  As an author Thomas Barr desires to be the chronicler of inspirational stories designed to assist dreamers in achieving.


Q&A with K.C Baylor


UFN: What made you decide you wanted to be an author?
TB:  I’ve always enjoyed writing in grammar school and as a youth I got compliments from my English teachers for my essays.  I continued to write in college and my short stories got published  by the campus newsletter magazines.  When i read the novel Black Boy by Richard Wright i was inspired to become an author.  I was captivated by his writing style and aspired to write about urban experiences as he had.

UFN: What provoked you to write your story?
TB: Miami has a rich history of progressive blacks and I’ve sought to bring that history to light in my Miami’s Urban Chronicles series.  My current novel is based on the magazine mogul who broke the story profiling Hip Hop rapper Rick Ross as a former correctional officer.

UFN: What do you hope your readers will take away from your story?
TB: I hope readers will be inspired to be entrepreneurs and business minded in their own right.  The novel captures the hustle of ordinary business pioneers and how they traversed the pitfalls of their community to become successful professionals.

UFN: How can fans and readers reach out to you?
TB: Readers can leave responses on my site www.thomasbarrjr.com and fans can also reach me on twitter @thomasbarrjr.  Friend me on Facebook and Pinterest.  I also have a blog on marsocial at urban chronicles in the groups section.


Book Summary For Notorious P-Man Sam

This book is about the struggle of African-American men as they traverse the perils of 20th and twenty-first century life in the professional realms of the work place atmosphere. The differences in opportunities are often overlooked in comparison to other classes and among the races.

The American dream is the realization of success in the face of struggle and hard work. Is it relevant that one’s struggle is harder than the other in accomplishment of this goal? P-Man Sam is a hard look at the road to self-empowerment and what it takes to make it in the American society. The entrepreneurial spirit is one of the main roads traveled in realization of the American dream.


It takes knowledge and fearlessness to take a chance in the ruthless world of business in this society. It’s also important to be able to effectively communicate with the modern diverse society of today through effective people skills.


The P-Man Sam story brings an awareness of how to navigate negative experiences and transform them into motivational learning blocks. Learning from experiences and moving forward is essential in life. One’s eyes must be open and naïve thought processes must be conquered in attaining the ultimate prize. The following are useful for application:


• Mentorship

• Net working

• Coalition building

• Broad-mindedness


This book is a good source for inspiration and having hope is a major force in your journey through life. Situations and circumstances should not be viewed as a hindrance, but instead a hurdle in step to the finish line. There are many instances in this story that relay the struggle against forces that present obstacles. Willpower and dedication are true factors that assist the main character in winning out against such forces.

In conclusion, the power of love and support are sustaining factors in the realization of goals in life. The act of goal-setting itself is an important factor in accomplishing anything in pursuant of ambitious dreams. This novel is sprinkled with kernels of knowledge and inspirational wording designed to give the reader insight into the motivations of the main character that can be transcending to experience.


It is beneficial and intended to identify and acquire these gems of knowledge to retain as progressive career tools.



To Get Your Copy click the book cover below
PManSamBook Cover
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Published on March 11, 2015 14:15

March 5, 2015

Bona Fide Street Thug 2 by: Donald Ray Johnson

Donald Ray Johnson does it again with an action packed part 2 picking up where he left off in part one. With new developments and the introduction of new characters, life takes a turn for the worse. Characters you’ve grown to love find themselves in crazy life altering situations that will change the dynamics of the group forever. Visit Javoo and Cornelius in Part Two of Bona Fide Street Thug where life and death awaits.


Bona Fide Street Thug Summary


Javoo’s plan was to quit the streets, But when a Jamaican clan, led by New York’s most brutal drug lord, Victor Strange, follows the leader of a rival group to Houston, tragedy strikes, leaving one of the members of Javoo’s immediate circle hospitalized and another dead due to a case of mistaken identity.


Bona Fide Street Thug II takes you from Houston all the way into the streets of New York where Javoo’s skills are tested. There, he is forced to do some of his best “Street Work”, using his contacts and genuine street sense to locate and deal with Victor Strange and his clan of Jamaicans.


To Get your copy of Bona Fide Street Thug by Donald Ray Johnson click here

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Published on March 05, 2015 07:15

March 1, 2015

Author Spotlight: Kenneth West

Kenneth West is an up and coming author signed with Southern Classic Publishing. His writing style is super fresh with a voice so intriguing in the urban fiction genre that it will leave the author screaming for more. With his new book Tagger broaching the inner workings of graffiti and the dangers faced by the best of him. Let’s take a moment to get to know Mr. Kenneth West


Meet Kenneth West



Scared beyond the ability of words to describe, I entered the behemoth of modern-day social control known as the Texas Prison system, A*K*A the belly of the beast, at the tender age of 19 – facing a lengthy prison sentence for a crime I didn’t commit, but that’s another story for a future post.



Upon completing classification the equivalent of a human filing system, I was assigned to a 1960’s era 4,500 man red brick dungeon of a prison in East Texas. I faced an immediate set of do or die choices related to my involuntary stay in State Hotel. Since the state had so graciously agreed to provide me with three 4 Star meals a day, a cozy dove feathered antique bed, and warm shower (you can laugh now), the choices that confronted me weren’t of the necessity of life kind. Although most of us are loathed to find out the truth is, human beings actually require very little to survive, or at least simply to physically survive — living is a different matter altogether. But my decisions had to do with what has been labeled the higher aspects of life, namely intellectual and spiritual pursuits.


Being a new convert to Christianity at the time, I was still in the process of learning the value of spirituality and of paying proper attention to the inner man, and not just the cuter reflection seen in the mirror.


In the process I found myself extremely lacking in one crucial area, the life of the mind. After years of being a poor performer in a poor performing school, I dropped out altogether in the 8th grade, a bad decision that seems like a good one at the time. Go figure. Now however I was in the process of rediscovering the joy of intellectual pursuits.


With a renewed appetite for knowledge I earned my GED along with an Associate’s degree. In the process I became a voracious reader. Reading books on history, culture, religion, and business often four or five different titles a month.


Filled with optimism by the new world knowledge was opening up to me and thinking that I might be the next Bob Johnson (Former owner of BET and the Charlotte Bobcats),I subscribed to the Wall Street Journal.


In addition to convincing me I could manage a mutual fund better than Franklin Templeton based on my daily paper trades if someone would so kindly entrust me with the billions to do it. The Journal ushered in my foray into the writer’s life.


During the later part of 2002, I came across an article about the newly emerging popularity of the self-publishing market. Which really wasn’t all that new as countless authors throughout history have utilized self-publishing to get their books to the masses, including Nikki Giovanni, Zane, Omar Tyree, to name a few of the more modern ones. But the old tends to get rediscovered at least once in every generation.


Tagger Overview


Tagger is an urban novel centered around the graffiti culture of East LA. When a beef between two local rival graffiti artists, Ricco and Adul, turns ugly and Ricco is murdered, the streets finger Adul as the killer. But going to jail for a murder he didn’t commit is the least of his worries. The dead man, Ricco Guzman, wasn’t just another tagger and street hustler; he was the baby brother of one of the biggest drug dealers in Los Angeles who was now hell-beat on avenging his brother’s murder.


Q&A with K.C Baylor


UFN: What made you decide you wanted to be an author?


KW: I have been blessed with a creative imagination. I often have a thousand different ideas bouncing around at any one time. I needed an outlet to get some of those ideas out. Writing provided me with that outlet. I also love the avenue urban fiction has opened up for non-traditional authors such as myself. Together those factors made me want to become an author.


UFN: What motivated you to write the story Tagger?


KW: Like the main character in my book, I am an artist. With this book I wanted to tell a story based around the unique culture of graffiti. I’m inspired by how many activities that were  once considered deviant and criminal have now been embraced by the mainstream. Look at hip-hop and tattoos and how they have been co-opted by everyone, from Hollywood to soccer moms. The same thing happened with graffiti, creating an interesting merger of the inner-city with the boardroom.


UFN:  What do you hope your reader takes away from this story?


KW: After reading Tagger I hope my readers will know more about graffiti, its origins and the culture around it. I also hope they develop a deeper appreciation of the untapped and underdeveloped talent in the inner-city. The next Picasso or Basquait could be the lanky kid with the saggy pants, painting illegal murals on the side of the mini mart.


For your copy of Tagger click the book cover below


Tagger Version 2

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Published on March 01, 2015 17:58

January 18, 2015

Building your Literary Brand

Many writers don’t think of their writing in terms of being a business. I had to learn this over the last year and I realize that like most business ventures writing is its own business. Writing the story is only the beginning of the literary business. By creating a product (your book) you have to now get it to the public. It requires market research, you have to learn about your target audience. You have to learn what book covers work, what price point is beneficial for your book. You also have to learn where your readers are and how to get to them. If you think of your book as a part of your literary brand you will do better than most. Below are a few steps in building your literary brand.


Book Title


Having a great book title can be extremely helpful. If you are one of the lucky authors who have mastered the art of a great book title congrats. This is a major step in creating a buzz around your book. In my research, shorter book titles appeal to readers more. This is especially true in the urban fiction genre. Stay away from titles that are long winded or ever explanatory. It’s a major turn off, I know because I am an avid reader as well as  a writer and I get turned off easily by titles that are too long or try to be clever by using a title that tries to explain the story.


Cover Design


A big part of building your literary brand involves what the reader sees before they stop to read. Your book cover is a marketing tool. Ask yourself these important questions.



Is my cover competitive? (Can it compete?)
Is it colorful? (does it catch your attention?)
Does it express the jest of your book?

If you look at your book cover as a marketing tool you will not make common mistakes self-publishers make. Having a great cover doesn’t guarantee success but it can increase your odds of selling. Because you only have a short amount of time between being seen and sales conversion you have to use it wisely. Make sure you use a professional cover designer. I personally think ebooks are doing much better in sales than paperback for certain genres,  it is much cheaper to get an ebook cover designed than a paperback cover. I would typically suggest you keep the same designer if possible. A few of my personal favorites in urban fiction book cover designers is Hot Book Covers and Odd Ball Design They are some of the best and create award winning affordable ebook cover designs.


Book Description


I can’t emphasis the importance of a compelling book description. It works with your title and book cover. Don’t go through all of the trouble of creating a great book title, having a professional book cover designed and then fail in creating a compelling book description. If you are a writer of fiction your book description should be written in third person. It should also be short and sweet and to the point with a call to action near the end. Do not try to tell the entire story or even major plot points in the description. Don’t give it all away. It should have



Main character
Trial they are facing
Question asking if they will overcome it?
Call to action Ex: (find out now by Clicking for your copy now

Marketing


Your book is a brand, it is the beginning of your brand. All of your marketing should reflect you, whether it is your pen name or your book titles. Using the same font for your name, acting as if you are already a hot commodity and asking readers to join in all the fuss helps with branding. Use social media as a means to market your work, create discussion groups around your book/books. Create a fan page. Act as if you’re already on top and keep at it until it is true.


I would love to hear how you made your book a brand. Share in the comments below


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Published on January 18, 2015 11:15