Leslie DuBois Guest Interview

Book title: The Queen Bee of Bridgeton

Author:Leslie DuBois

Short Blurb:When fifteen-year-old Sonya Garrison is accepted into the prestigious Bridgeton Academy, she soon discovers that rich girls are just as dangerous as the thugs in her home of Venton Heights. Maybe more so. After catching the eye of the star, white basketball player and unwittingly becoming the most popular girl in school, she earns the hatred of the three most ruthless and vindictive girls at Bridgeton. Can she defeat the reigning high school royalty? Or will they succeed in ruining her lifelong dream of becoming a world class dancer?

Book link:http://ow.ly/bWlKC

When did you know you wanted to be an author? I was in elementary school when I won my first award for my writing. That just about sealed the deal for me.

Why do you Indie publish? My book The Queen Bee of Bridgeton was being held hostage by a major publisher for three years. They just wouldn't make a decision about whether they wanted to publish it or not. Finally, I decided to pull it and publish it myself. Best decision I ever made. I probably would still be waiting for them.

What inspired you to write your book? When I was little, I wanted to take ballet but we were too poor for lessons. My mother cleaned the dance studio in exchange for lessons for my brother, sister and me. In the Queen Bee of Bridgeton, Sonya is so determined to be a ballerina that she cleans the studio when she can't afford lessons.

What are three things you want people to know about you or your book?

1. The Queen Bee of Bridgeton is like Mean Girls meets Center Stage

2. The third book in the series will be out in August

3. There is a plot twist you will never guess

What advice do you have for parents to encourage their kids to read more? I personally like the movie game. If there is a movie coming out that is based on the book, require the kids to read the book before they are allowed to see the movie.

MJ Ware Guest Post

Book title: Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb

Author: MJ Ware

Short Blurb: When life gives you lemons, kill zombies -- turns out lemon juice neutralizes the undead.

Book link: http://amzn.to/GTCR5d

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

Who said I wanted to be an author? I just write because it's the best way to let loose the 12 y.o. boy trapped inside me. Seriously, I was a reluctant reader and try to write books that all kids will be able to enjoy, not just the avid readers.

Why do you Indie publish?

After Super Zombie Juice received 101 rejections from 100 agents (yes, one took the time to reject my book twice), I realized the agents just couldn't grasp the idea of kids running around, taking out zombies with Super Soakers.

Fortunately, kids have bigger imaginations than most agents.

What inspired you to write your book?

I love old zombie movies and wanted to write a book that had the same feeling as those old movies, with honest to goodness brain-eating zombies--but something that was kid safe--not as violent as the adult Zombie novels.

What are three things you want people to know about you or your book?

First, parents should know that there's no cursing, foul language, or excessive violence. And kids should know that's it's still full of zombie-whacking fun!

Strictly speaking I think that's four things--well I was never any good at math.

What advice do you have for parents to encourage their kids to read more?

Take the time to find the type of books kids will really enjoy. The Box Car Children and Hardy Boys just aren't going to cut it for today's kids (though, I love The Box Car Children).

Guest Post by David Grace

So, You Want To Write A Novel?

Some Thoughts By David Grace

If you have question about something you can post it on Quora.Com and interested people can post their answers. Recently, someone posted a question along the following lines: "I have an idea for a novel that I've decided to write. How do I get it published?"

You want to write a novel and your only question is how to get it published? 

How about this: "I've decided to build my own home. Where is the best place to buy the picket fence to put on the front lawn?" Or, "I've decided to climb Mt. Everest. What is the best camera to use to take my picture when I'm standing on the top?" Or, "I've figured out how to create peace in the Middle East. How much money will they give me when I win the Noble Prize?"

Do you see my point?

Let me take you through the process, or, at least, a process for writing a novel, assuming that you have the craft and talent to write a good book. I will use the imaginary book, The Slime From Mars, as my example.

First, you've got this idea for a book: A ship from earth visits Mars and encounters some pathogen, virus, plague or whatever that I will call The Slime From Mars. But an idea is not a story. You need a story.

Second, you figure out the story. For example, the Slime infects the ship's captain who brings it back to earth where it begins to infect others with grievous results. The Hero realizes what is happening and after many challenges, defeats the Slime. There, that's the story, isn't it? No, it is not.

Who is the hero? Who is the villain? What, exactly, does the Slime do to people? How do they stop it? Who stops it?

So, you get back to work and actually come up with a real story. The captain is a woman. The first officer/co-pilot is a man. They used to date. The woman is driven and scheming and power-hungry and the first officer is true, blue, and an all-around great guy. Now the captain and the first officer are secret enemies. She views him as a boy scout and a rival. He views her as a mean, deceitful, narcissistic bitch. They are stuck on this ship together and she is the boss. He doesn't like that. The rest of the crew like her, except for one women who has crush on the co-pilot but he doesn't see her as anything but a friend. The Captain gets infected with the Slime. The Hero is the only one who suspects. The Slime gives her additional intelligence but is slowly taking over her mind with the goal to get her to infect others and turn them into Slime-Meat-Puppets. She infects them by having lots of sex with them.

The Hero (first officer) tries to alert people to the menace but fails because all the men want to sleep with her. She is hot! Blah, blah, blah. In this fashion you write out in prose who does what in the book. Who does what -- that's what the story is. Let me repeat that: The story is a factual summary of Who Does What. It should be at least five to ten single-spaced pages long.

OK, now that you have written down five to ten single-spaced pages of prose describing Who Does What, you're ready to begin writing Chapter One, right? Wrong.

Third, you need to create biographies for each of the major characters. Why? For two reasons (1) so that you know their backgrounds (a person's background affects his/her actions) and (2) because doing that will help you discover if you are missing some important characters or if you have two characters performing the same role in the story.

You bio needs to include a time line for each character. When were they born? Why do I need to know that? You obviously need to know your character's approximate age at the time of the story. Suppose your character is 35. If the story takes place in 2012 then he was born in 1977. Suppose he decides to break into an office to steal some vital information. Will he turn to his sidekick and say, "Let's Watergate it"? No, because he wasn't even born when Watergate happened. Is he going to mention Nixon? No. If he hits a figurative home run will he hit it like Ted Williams? No. Like Mickey Mantle? No. Like Barry Bonds? Maybe.

So, you need to know when he was born, where he was born, what his parents did for a living, what kind of a childhood he had, where he went to school, etc. All of these things help you create a 3-D character and avoid making a fool of yourself. If you say that your character fought in Vietnam and then say that the year before the book takes place he was asked to try out for the U.S. Olympic team most people are going to start counting on their fingers and say, "Uhh, wait a minute." 

All right, now you've come up with the idea, written down the detailed summary of the story and you've created both bios and time lines for each major character. Can you now begin writing Chapter One? No. You still need a time line for the book itself. These folks are flying to Mars on a rocket ship. When is this? 2015? 2018? If it's 2018 you need to adjust all your other character time lines including dates of birth backwards from a "now" of 2012 to 2018. When was ship launched? How long did it take to get to Mars? How long did they stay there? How long will it take them to come back?

Fine, you say. I've done all that. Can I start writing now? No. You still need to outline the book. Your story summary is most likely written in chronological order but the book won't necessarily be in chronological order. There may be flashbacks. An outline is often one or two sentences telling what is going to happen in each chapter and it is in the order in which the chapters appear in the book.

It might start with: (1) Captain and Hero argue on the day before launch. Hint of trouble and their history. (2) Jump to ship landing on Mars. (3) Strange events that alert the reader to the possible threat to the crew. (4) The Captain ignores advice because of her bitchy personality and gets infected with Slime. Etc. Etc. Etc. Continue in this way for 50 to 80 chapters. 50? 80? Which one?

My average chapter is 1,750 words. Shorter chapters make books easier to read. If  your average chapter length is 2,000 words and since you want your book to be at least 100,000 words that means 50 chapters minimum and maybe 75 maximum. If your outline runs out after only 34 items then you have not thought your story all the way through. It is too simple. You need add some twists and turns, maybe another subplot or two. You always need at least one or two subplots in addition to the main plot.

Eventually you get the outline up to say 62 chapters. Good, now you can start writing Chapter One.

Is writing the book the only thing you need to do? No. You need to keep a concordat as you write. What's that? It's an inventory of your characters, places and things. Here is just a small section of the concordat on my latest book. Single spaced, the entire concordat is about five pages long:

Alphonse Gagliardi -- County D.A.

Amy Ellison -- Pearl Girl

Anders, Angela -- kidnapping victim

Anderson, Edward James -- murderer whose conviction is on appeal

Angela Anders -- kidnapping victim

Art Wayman -- lead detective on Angela Anders case

Ben Cerutti -- contractor who needed supplies

Every time I name anyone they go into the list twice, once as "John Smith" and once as "Smith, John" because I never know which name I will remember and which I will forget. "I know the neighbor is named Bob something" or "I know the neighbor is named something Smithers". Also, you want to avoid too many uses of the same name. Look down the list. Do you have a John Baker, Jon Carlisle, Johnny Danvers, and a Jack Taylor? Throw in a few Pauls, Ralphs, Stewarts and Blakes.

Keep a list of other things like guns. If the hero uses a Glock is the villain going to use a Glock too? Maybe the villain uses a Beretta. And what kind? A Glock 17? A Beretta 92?

And when you finish the manuscript you are not done. You still need a title, a back cover blurb and a cover.

Now you are getting an inkling of why I was concerned that the only question the would-be author had was how to get his book published.

Links and personal information

David Grace Website: http://www.DavidGraceAuthor.Com

Amazon Author Page: http://www.Amazon.Com/Author/DavidGrace

Smashwords Author Page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/DavidGrace54

David Grace Email: DavidGraceAuthor@Gmail.com

My Work: Twelve novels. Eleven available at Amazon and Wildside Press (http://www.wildsidebooks.com/GRACE-David_c_1514.html) as trade paperbacks for $7.99 and $8.99 depending on the length. All twelve available as ebooks on Amazon, iBooks, B&N, Smashwords and others for $4.95.

My top five favorite books: Shooting Crows At Dawn, Doll's Eyes, Easy Target, A Death In Beverly Hills. My least favorite book: The Forbidden List

Author Janet McNulty, Guest Post

Please welcome my awesome guest Janet...please read her post also at http://incredibleindieebooks.blogspot.com

My Nightstand Books

By: Janet McNulty (author of Sugar And Spice And Not So Nice)

As an author many people want to know what it is I read.  To be honest, I read just about everything.  I love young adult books as well as general fiction.  I also like to read nonfiction, mostly histories or biographies.  My bookshelves are filled with books on American and World history.  But they also are filled with books in fiction ranging from Fantasy, to  sci-fi, to mystery thrillers.  There are even a few of the classics mixed in.

Naturally I have read the Harry Potter series.  I have actually read them about three times.  I’ve been through The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, which I plan to reread.  I have even read the Inheritance series, though I believe those books could have been better.

I have been known to read five or six books at the same time.  Basically I’ll read a few chapters of one, and then move to another book and read a few chapters of it and so on.  It seems to be a family habit.  My grandmother and mother do that and so I picked it up.  I probably also picked that habit up from my school days when I was required to read about 10-15 different books in a short period of time.  

My current reading list consists of Dante’s Divine Comedy and a big collection of Shakespeare.  I even have a copy of Fablehaven sitting on there.  On top of that is a copy of The Forgotten History of America.  That is one I usually read a few pages of before putting it down and moving on to something else.  I have a copy of Dune that I have not opened yet, but plan to soon.  I even have a few copies of the original Nancy Drew series, which I have read many times.

Of course, my nightstand isn’t the only place swarming with books.  The floor of my room is as well.  This is due to the fact that my bookshelves never provide enough space.  I bought a bunch of new shelves and filled them within weeks.  So as a result, the books now spill out onto the floor.  Like a lot of avid readers I seem to have too many books and not enough time.

But despite all of the time I spend reading, I also spend time working on my own writing.  I am an author after all.  But I use some of the things that I read as inspiration.  When I get stuck on a particular portion of my book, I usually turn to my pile of books and start reading where I left off.  This helps me to not only get through another book on my list, but it serves as a way to get the creative juices flowing.  Many of my books will contain notes of ideas I have for my own writing.

To cut down on the clutter in my home, I bought an eReader.  But what really happened is I filled it up quickly with a bunch of books that I want to read.  One such book is a collection of Sherlock Holmes.  I have gotten through half of volume one.  At least with an eReader, I do not have a ten pound book on my lap.  It currently sits on the stack on my nightstand. 

Reading is one of my passions.  But it can also be one of my banes.  When I finish one book, I usually find ten more I wish to read.  Eventually I will get through them all.  All the while I will be writing my own books that will be added to the shelves of others like me.

Schedule:

March 1 - Meet & Greet at VBT Cafe' Blog 
March 5 - Guest Blogging at AZ Publishing Services phultstrand
March 7 - Interviewed at Immortality and Beyond me IAB
March 12 - Guest Blogging at Mass Musings me Guest Topic - How Has Social Media Helped You with Marketing?
March 16 - Review & Interviewed at From The TBR Pile itsiest
March 20 - Reviewed & Guest Blogging at Waiting on Sunday to Drown rasberryswrlgirl
March 22 - Guest Blogging with Cindy Vine cinfam
March 24 - Interviewed at Writing Innovations E-zine me
March 26 - Reviewed at Words I Write Crazy lpcoolgirl
March 28 - Guest Blogging at Immortyl Revolution deniseverrico
March 30 - Guest Blogging at Wise Words wiselouise
March 30 - Interviewed by Louise James louisejames157April 3 - Interviewed at MK McClintock's Blog mk at mcclintockmt
April 5 - Reviewed at Natalie Nicole Bates Blog natalienicolebates
April 11 - Interviewed at Unnecessary Musings bms.beard
April 13 - Guest Blogging at Ami Blackwelder's Blog touch-of-grace

 

How to support your fav indie authors

Posted by Rebecca at this link: http://www.beccahamiltonbooks.com/2012/02/13/how-to-support-your-favorite-indie-authors/

This is a repost, because it was so awesome!

How to Support Your Favorite Indie Authors

February 13, 2012 ·All Posts, Author Updates ·By Becca

(Or any author you love, really!)
SKIP TO THE BOLDED AREAS IF YOU DON’T WANT TO READ MY INTRO

Yes, the title is geared more toward indie authors. The reason being that indie authors simply don’t have the same support that those published by the “Big Six” have. We don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on advertising. We don’t have professional publicists who have “ins” with all the pish-posh, fancy-dancy Book Reviewers. We don’t have email mailing lists consisting of thousands (if not millions) of book fans.
All we have, dear reader, is YOU. (And, if we’re lucky, sometimes each other, too.)
Make no mistake, though: I’m not complaining. If us indies only get one support venue out of marketing, there’s no one we’d rather have than OUR READERS. Readers, after all, is what it’s all about. Everything we do, we do for our readers. The readers in ourselves, the readers we know, the readers we hope to one day connect with.
And sometimes, we get really, REALLY, really lucky. We get readers who want to help us out. They post reviews on their blogs, on Amazon, on Barnes and Noble, on Goodreads. The tweet about our books to their followers on twitter, post about our books to their friends on facebook, and make their mom/cousin/aunt/sister/cashier-at-the-grocery-store buy a copy of our book. ROCK ON. If you are a reader doing those things for an indie author you love, let me just say that if they haven’t had a chance to thank you (because they are unaware of what great thing you’re doing) they ARE sending out mental thank-you’s to their mystery supporter.
Some might wonder WHY a reader would want to put the time into helping an author. Well, when it comes to those who truly love our work–the kind that would be considered fans by some, though I personally really struggle with the idea that *I* could have fans. I see my “fans” more as new friends and amazing supporters of whom’s praise I am not worthy! Well, when it comes to them, they just want us to not have to spend so much time marketing our books so we can work on writing tons of new material! So there’s your motivation
Now, onto what more you can do, in the event you want to kick it up a notch.

REVIEWING 
If you like a book enough to give it five stars, perhaps you’d like it enough to also post your review in the following place (which requires little more than copy-paste!)
* Amazon
*Barnes and Noble
*Goodreads
*Shelfari
*Your Personal Blog

TWEETING/FACEBOOKING
Reviews can also be posted to Facebook, and you can always tweet a short little hook to your twitter followers. Maybe a line from your review with a purchase link. Don’t be afraid to contact the author of your choice and request a link they prefer. For example, I like this link  because it contains so much in so man places. And you can bet your author-of-choice will be so appreciative, they might just “pull a Becca” and give you all kinds of free swag

AMAZON LIKING
Right at the top of a book’s Amazon page is a little LIKE button. Click it. It turns ORANGE and Orange is awesome so go ahead and click! My Amazon page for The Forever Girl is right HERE. Cuz, you know, I get to be a little shameless (or pathetic, if you will) and beg for likes on my own blog. But seriously, don’t forget those other indies you love!

AMAZON TAGGING
If you go to a book’s amazon page and hit TT on your keyboard (or scroll down past the reviews and past the “What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?” section, you will see the option to add tags. You can make up your own, ask an author which tags they prefer, or tag the ones that are already most popular.
If you go my Amazon page for The Forever Girl and want to add some tags there, the following list is my preferred:
urban fantasy, paranormal fantasy, vampire, paranormal, forever girl, fantasy, wicca, witch, salem witch trials, paranormal mystery, ghost, shapeshifter, paranormal romance, rebecca hamilton, new adult
You can add up to 15 tags per book.

OTHER
Feel free to get creative. Buy a copy of the book for an uncertain friend as a gift. Use a copy of the book for a giveaway on your blog. Print up little mini-flyers with the books cover and some purchase links and review excerpts and leave them anywhere you think would be appropriate (assuming you have permission to leave them there).

I know I haven’t covered every possibility here, but I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that the majority of indie authors WANT to hear from you. Shoot them an email. Ask them how you can help (if you want to help) or just send them some words of support (we like those, too!). Not only do I bet they will be happy to hear from you, but I’m pretty darned sure they’ll be happy to somehow, someway return your generosity.

Thanks again for all the readers out there. If you’ve made it this far, boy are we lucky to have you.

authors at the virtual park

Please join my sister blog http://authorsatthevirtualpark.blogspot.com/
to learn more about NEW authors, Indie authors and find great stories, bios, web links, trailers and prizes!

I give away six books each month on that site just for following! So check it out and follow and you could win! Authors send books directly to the winners and so many of the books are autographed!!

How to get your books into bookstores...

How do you as an Indie writer or Self Published writer get into Barnes n Noble? 

If your lucky to have a Big House Publisher, they might accomplish that task for you... but what about the many talented and original authors who've gone the route of publishing all on their own. An up hill climb, of that I myself can attest.

But let me ease your burdens. I will be sharing tips about all I have learned since January 2010 when I began distributing my fiction. As some of you know in 2009 I uploaded my first novel onto scribd and found an epublisher ireadiwrite publishing who still has my first novel and sequels.

But in 2010, I decided to go the route of Indie self publishing....and this is my story...my hard lessons learned.

Bookstores:


Persistance pays! 
Professionalism is a must!

When you approach the big chain bookstores makes sure all your business is in order. Get your reviews printed from reputable sites or amazon. Purchase a nice display case for your books www.bookdisplays.com can help with that. Have professional posters ready www.posterburner.com and www.overnightprints.com will help with that.

If you walk in as a professional then your chances increase!

Have your book already on the nook www.pubit.com and on the kindle www.dtpamazon.com

They will check!! They will look at your ranking and your reviews there!

Let them know you would like to host a book signing event. Present yourself confidently, but not egotistically. You are not a star. You have to realize writing and getting into bookstores is a long, hard battle and if you don't absolutely LOVE writing...then don't do it. There are easier ways to make money!

Usually, book stores are up for a single book event...and some Barnes n Nobles have a once a year local author open door policy. The BnN in Florida begins in Jan/Feb. But check and ask by phone if your Barnes n noble ever hosts local authors.

This make take following up and stopping by to speak with the manager. Following up again. But once arranged, your foot is in the door. Make the event fun. Giveaway contests with books, .pdfs, posters, bookmarks and sell as many as you can.

Be courteous to the Barnes n Noble staff having you! I am amazed at how many authors are rude! Being nice will give you an edge over the rude authors, and encourage the BnN representatives to perhaps keep some of your bookmarks to pass out after you've left.

When the event is over, thank everyone involved and make sure you ask if possible to stock a few of your copies on the shelf, and that you are willing to do consignment. If consignment is not possible, then let them know you take returns. BnN takes 40 percent of the sells, so price accordingly.

If one stores turns you down, go to then next.

TIP: Start with Barnes n Nobles at universities. They are easier to get into ....Yes, many universities stock books via BnN and if you can be successful with them stocking your books, you can then branch out to BnN in malls and in main locations around your city.

Next Tip is scheduled later next week......

In the mean time, come support me at Barnes n Noble USF, in Tampa! April 20th!