 I had the privilege of visiting England the last week of February -- one of my favorite destinations. Since I am a historical fiction author, are you surprised? My purpose was threefold. First, to do a bit of research and sightseeing in Bath, where my latest WIP takes place, although many centuries ago. Second, to do an author's talk at the Bristol homeschool coop near my host's town.
4 Comments
 Our family had the opportunity last Saturday to watch A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood starring Tom Hanks, who, by the way, did a fabulous job portraying Mr. Rogers. It would not surprise me if he won an Oscar. It helped me understand the heart behind the man so dearly loved by his young viewers.
 It's not as easy as it seems. . .
People think an author sits and drinks lattes as words stream from her pen. Then off to submit to agents and editors. In a few weeks, voilá - a contract. Soon, royalties come streaming in, and the celebrated author is on the way to her villa in Santorini. Or maybe Tuscany.  And now for something completely different. Do you love to share newsworthy articles? Love to inspire your readers? Or, are you a history buff, but sadly, with very little time to read? Do I have news for you! Apps you'll love. Since I am a Mac girl, these three are found at the app store. If you are an android user, good news - it's available for you as well.
 Whew! This week, I was involved in four events as an author -- each unique in its own way. Being a former teacher and school librarian, my very first school visit was a favorite! You can see me above, sharing my PowerPoint presentation.
 It was Labor Day, and surprisingly, we had no plans as a family. Whoo Hoo! Time for a road trip. My goal was to visit a town less than two hours away, so we could come and go in one day. And so we did - to Rockford, Illinois.
 I've just returned from the SoCal Christian Writer's Conference. What a boost! It was a pleasure and a blessing to be among like-minded writers. Although we wrote in different genres -- fantasy, non-fiction, devotional, Biblical fiction, Middle-grade, children's picture books, etc., we had our faith in common. It's a comfort to be on the 'same page' from the start.
 I'm taking a long-awaited rest from my book-related tasks, although I continue to connect my debut book with what is happening around me. That has always been my goal. This week, I'm retreated to a place that has a minuscule history - that is, compared to San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago and Boston. What I'm discovering this week is the many-varied natural treasures of the arid landscape, primarily in Phoenix, which resides in the Sonoran Desert.
 As a writer, I can get caught up in FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out. Each time a new blogpost or newsletter alerts me of a webinar I must attend, a book I should be reading, or a social media task I need to engage in, I get panicky.
Which is the most important? What if I make the wrong choice? There is too much to do in a limited timeframe. We authors have families, other jobs, people and pets we must care for, and places we'd like to go, just like anyone else. How do we fit it all in?? Can I make a suggestion? We don't need to! As far as I'm concerned, there are only seven things we authors MUST do . . .  I'm learning quite a bit as a debut author. And blog touring is one of these aspects. My MG historical fiction, The Heart Changer is going on tour May 20th to 24th — even if I can’t. I was hoping for some R&R, but that comes at the beginning of June. Here is the link: Just Read Blog & Review Tour if you are interested in those who expertly share your book with their readership. It’s not possible for debut authors to be at all places all the time so this essentially doubles their reach. I consider it a jump-start to our career. . .
Sometimes, there is a fee, usually it includes a giveaway — you supply the books, they give them away. Occasionally, you can choose to offer an e-book in place of a physical one. Many times, you are responsible to ship the autographed book to the winner. So which companies offer this opportunity? |
Good News!My MG Biblical fiction "The Heart Changer" debuted in 2019 with Ambassador International. Archives
March 2020
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed