Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Website Wednesday

I thought that a good way to round out the trio would be to dedicate a post every week to those websites that help us be writers. I know that there are bunches are out there. If you come across one please feel free to share it.

Today's website focus is the Endependent Publishers' Coalition. Their help with authors is twofold. First, if you have a book listed for $2.99 or less you submit information to them along with interview questions and people with blogs post your answers and where to find you. So, its a blog tour of sorts. What they ask in return is that if you have a blog you sign up to receive their newsletter and that you select authors' you are interested in and post their interview questions.

I submitted my stuff to them and signed up for their newsletter, but hadn't heard anything. So, I emailed them. The response I got was that they did not have enough entries to send out a newsletter, but they would as soon as they have enough. I think this is a great way for authors to help each other get recognition for their works.

To have the honor and pleasure of creating the written word. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jaz1181

Monday, August 29, 2011

Author Monday

I love that I keep finding exciting ways that independent authors are being promoted and supported. Over Labor day weekend in Atlanta, GA the Decatur Book Festival will be taking place. This festival is only for independent authors.

What a great way for us to support one another in our craft. I would really like to see more of this start to happen. We authors need one another.

If you happen to be in the area, here is the link to the festival www.decaturbookfestival.com/2011/index.php. Let us know what you thought.

To have the honor and pleasure of creating the written word. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jaz1181

Friday, August 26, 2011

Prompt Friday

As part of the new schedule, I thought it would be neat to post a writing prompt. Every week I will post my response and you can too if you wish.

This weeks' prompt comes from Writer's Digest. You come across a pack of matches that sets off a series of uncanny events. Start your story with “My mother always told me not to play with fire.” End it with “And that’s how I ended up in the middle of nowhere—naked.”

Have fun writing.

To have the honor and pleasure of creating the written word. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jaz1181

Monday, August 22, 2011

Author Monday

I've realized that I have been slacking in my posting. In order to change that, I've decided to put myself on a schedule. Author Monday's will feature, interviews, news stories, and just information about up and coming authors.

Today, I have a couple different items. The first is a news story that came out of England. It cites concerns that with the age of the e-book authors will make less money than with traditional print. The story does mention the success of Amanda Hocking and John Locke as counterpoints. I'm going to disagree with the point of this story. For many of us, independent publishing into e-book is giving us the opportunity to fulfill a dream. As independent authors we are also creating a say in our own success or failure in that career (with whatever your goals are in writing). We can afford to charge less for our books because we have less overhead to clear than a traditional publisher.

The other item is that up and coming author Graeme Rylee, is speculating that big chain bookstores will not last this independent stream that is going. He states that independent bookstores will gain the most from it. I don't know whether I agree or disagree. Rylee gained a spot at Vroman's bookstore in Pasadena, CA.

Whatever happens, I know most of us are here to stay in the writing and publishing world doing what we love to do best. Create.


To have the honor and pleasure of creating the written word. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jaz1181

Monday, August 15, 2011

July 2011 Bestseller List

1. "This Summer"                       Julia Averbeck      1485 downloads
2. "In My Dream"                      Julia Averbeck       96 downloads
3. "I Love You I Hate You"        Jennifer Zeliff         11 downloads

To have the honor and pleasure of creating the written word. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jaz1181

Monday, August 8, 2011

Good intentions

Have you ever started a project with the intent that you would work on it every day, and see it all the way through. This blog started that way. When I created it I had notions of posting a couple times a week, having something fantastic to say every time.

Well, life happened. With all my good intentions it didn't stop family needs, housework, or having to go to work. However, I recently joined Messies Anonymous to help me get my house more organized. Their mantra is that great goals can be achieved baby steps at a time. It works. My house is already a little cleaner. I got my post done. Plus, I decided to list one of my books permanently for free on Smashwords. Those are my baby steps for today.

To have the honor and pleasure of creating the written word. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jaz1181