June 9th, 2009
I had every intention of returning to this blog after my hiatus, until my to-do list threatened to drown me. So I had to take stock. As I said last year in A time to reflect, it’s good to take time to ask yourself important questions. I learned that my priorities have changed and I want to focus on writing novels, articles and exploring new opportunities. Instead of maintaining a blog, I will be guest blogging elsewhere. So goodbye. I wish you great health, great times and great stories!
Oh and just for fun!
April 28th, 2009
I’m taking a break the month of May to focus on a writing deadline and to handle a family situation. So until chaos has turned into a calm sea I’ll be absent here. But I will be back in June. In the meantime enjoy life to the fullest!
April 24th, 2009
I just posted a new jigsaw puzzle for my upcoming release Round the Clock (July 2009) on the Black Stockings Society page. Have fun!
April 14th, 2009
If you like book videos, check out Barbara Vey’s Beyond Her Book blog on Sundays where she lists videos for your viewing pleasure. I feel privileged that my BLACK STOCKINGS SOCIETY video made the list for April 12th .
April 7th, 2009
LaShaunda Hoffman the founder of SORMAG, an online magazine for readers and writers of multi-cultural literature, has stopped by on her blog tour to offer this great post and a chance to win prizes. Enjoy!
10 Tips For A Perfect Online Interview
1. Complete the interview.
A lot of authors miss their opportunity for an interview because they don’t complete the interview.
2. Copy and paste the interview
Most blogs/sites copy and paste the interview to their posts. It’s a lot easier for them than for you to copy and paste the interview with the questions and answers in tack. Don’t make extra work for them by just sending them the answers and no questions. You don’t want them trying to figure out which answer goes with which question.
3. Include a picture
Readers like to see what the author looks like. If you don’t have pictures, invest in yourself and get professional pictures taken.
4. Include an email or contact info.
Readers like sending email or letter to their favorite author. They can’t do this if you don’t have a way to contact you.
5. Be on time
Make sure your completed interview reaches the site/blog in time for them to post on the date scheduled.
6. Visit the site/blog featuring your interview.
Take time to visit the site/blog to see what the interview looks like. Check to see everything you sent is featured. The links are correct, no typos. Errors can be made, however if you don’t say anything the site/blog owner will never know.
If it’s a blog, leave a comment for the readers. Blog visitors like to see that the featured author, took time to say hello. If you have time, answer a few questions.
7. Offer an autograph book or prize for a lucky winner.
Contests are always good ways to draw readers. An extra plus you have a new person to add to your mailing list.
8. Send out an announcement to your mailing list, and post on your site.
Let your readers know about your interview. This will introduce them to the site/blog and they learn a little more about you, their favorite author.
9. Include a link on your site.
This is a nice way to say thanks to the person interviewing you. Links are forever and whenever someone reads the post. They can click on the interview.
10. Send a thank you note/email
This will let the site/blog owner know you appreciate the interview and that you also saw the interview. You can also let them know you’re available for future interviews.
Dara, thank you for inviting me to your blog. I appreciate you letting me introduce SORMAG to your readers. If you have a question please feel free to leave a comment and I’ll check back during the day to answer them.
I invite the readers to become a member of our community. I’d also like to offer a special report, FIVE TIPS TO BUILDING AN ONLINE PRESENCE.
Send an email to sormagcontests@gmail.com with special report in the subject and I’ll send you a copy.
LaShaunda C. Hoffman in the real world, I’m a mother of three, wife to my hero and caregiver to my mother. I work for the government and a military vet – Navy. In my fantasy life, I’m the publisher of SORMAG an online magazine for readers and writers of multi-cultural literature – http://sormag.com – http://sormag.blogspot.com. We celebrate seven years online this year in September. I’m an aspiring Christian fiction writer currently working on contemporary romance.
SORMAG – Shades Of Romance Magazine celebrates nine years in September. It was started as a way to help promote African-American romance books and their authors. It started as online magazine . It was a print for two years then moved to the blog. It saves paper and we reach a wider readership. As our authors branched into mainstream, we evolved from only promoting romance books to promoting all multi-cultural literature.
SORMAG BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY
A SORMAG GOODY bag will be sent to one lucky blog winner who leaves a comment on this blog. (10 winners)
If you join SORMAG’s Community this month, you have a chance to win the following:
$25.00 Gift Certificate to Amazon.com (2 winners)
Or
Much Ado About Reading PROMO AD (value 70.00) (2 winners)
If you’re interested in more great posts or a chance to win, then follow the SORMAG blog tour.
10 Tips For Promoting On Twitter
April 8 - Chelle Hicks -
Tip For Writers Who Are Promoting Online
April 9 - Ty Moody
10 Tips For Promoting On A Blog
April 10 - Wanza Leftwich
5 Reasons Why You Should Attend An Online Conference
April 13 - APOOO
Meet LaShaunda Hoffman
April 14 - Vanessa Richardson
10 Tips For Promoting Online
April 15 - Patricia Woodside
10 Tips For Promoting With A Podcast
April 16 - Bettye Griffin
5 Low Cost Ways To Promote With An Online Magazine
April 17- Andrea Jackson
April 6th, 2009
Stop by tomorrow for guest blogger LaShaunda Hoffman’s wonderful post and a chance to win prizes.
April 2nd, 2009
Claudia Brown-Mosley isn’t just a romance and mystery writer, she also hosts a successful radio show on blog talk radio called Big Time Publishing. She took time out of her busy schedule to stop by and discuss her writing habits and her latest release Hiding in the Shadows that is being marketed as “ an intriguing and thrilling suspense of obsessive pursuit, destructive lies and the reality that’s buried in between.”
1. What was your journey to getting published by Peace in the Storm
Publishing?
Before I took the road with Peace in the Storm Publishing, I tried my hand in self publishing by learning the craft that lead me to this one of a kind publishing company.
2. Where did the idea for Hiding in the Shadows come from?
When I write my ideas comes from God and my words and titles come in flowing I can’t explain it but this is a talent that he gave me and I’m using it wisely.
3. What techniques do you use when you hit a rough patch in your writing?
It’s not too often that you hear from authors that they don’t run into a rough patch. But I’m one of them that don’t have that problem at all once the story starts it stays in my head until the end. Believe it or not my characters take a place in my head and want leave until it’s all done.
4. What nonfiction book(s) has helped you most as a writer?
I have read different books on how to write mystery and romance. But to tell you the truth it’s didn’t help because it comes natural for me.
5. What inspired you to start Big Time Publishing on blog talk radio?
As a writer I notice that we as authors don’t get the attention that is due to us. So I started off promoting different authors by doing a magazine and the cost for printing was too expensive. One day I heard about btr and did my research to find out it don’t cost a thing to set an hour of my time to promote, promote and promote authors to the fullness. For me it’s all about promoting and getting the attention we deserve.
6. How do you balance the work of writing and promoting?
I’m a full time mother, wife and work full time for county of Los Angeles. By the grace of God he helps me juggle my time with writing at night and promoting anywhere I might go.
7. What is the question you wish aspiring authors would ask you and how would you reply?
My manuscript is done, what do I do now?
Response: Please have your manuscript edited by a professional before you send it out or do self published.
Thanks Claudia!
You can find out more about Claudia and her recent release, Hiding in the Shadows, on her website.
March 31st, 2009
Stop by on Thursday April 2nd for my interview with author Claudia Brown-Mosley.
Here’s a fun post from author John Scalzi titled 10 Things to Remember about Authors.
March 16th, 2009
I’m back. I took a week off (from blogging at least). I was swamped with work and needed to take a break. I’m happy to report that I sent in the page proofs for my July release Round the Clock, the fourth and last book in my Black Stockings Society, series and I won’t see it again until it’s in book form. I had to take a deep breath and realize that the series that had once only been an idea is over.
Now for a moment of silence.
Okay, I’m over it. I’m working on my next series.
For both aspiring and professional authors I’ve seen a lot of fantastic blogs that I hope you’ll enjoy.
Check out what a Bookseller has to say about books and much more here.
Over at Boxing the Octopus Erin Galloway, the Manager of Marketing for Dorchester Publishing, talks about her role and the current publishing climate. Check it out here.
Literary agent Nathan Bradford gives great advice on dealing with negativity.
And literary agent Chip MacGregor answer some questions about the publishing industry on his blog.
March 5th, 2009
Writers are on a role! Around the blogsphere agents are talking about the upswing in queries they’ve gotten in 2009. However, because so many people seem to be going ahead on fulfilling their publication dreams you have to be extra diligent in your efforts so you can stand out from the crowd.
Agent Janet Reid gives great advice in her blog Things to Skip in a Query Letter.
Agent Jennifer Jackson adds this blog Letters from the Query Wars.
Agent Eleanor Wood writes about what she does on Meet Eleanor Wood on the Ninc blog.
In the meanwhile, here are three things you can do.
Be patient. Because agents are getting inundated with queries they may not get back to you as quickly as you’d hope. So don’t hassle them demanding a response. You’ll eventually get a reply.
Keep writing. Don’t sit around waiting for a response. Work on your next project.
Have a Plan B. In case your first batch of queries don’t work, have another strategy.
And of course, never give up.
