Writing Niches in Time: Author Interview with Anne Perreault

You’ve now published several books, but what inspired you to write that first one? How long did it take you to write your first book that was published? You write both historical and contemporary romance? Which is easier or more enjoyable to write?
My first book was a story that had been part of my life for about 30 years, give or take. I had used it to escape reality when things were tough. Since I'm a Christian, I thoroughly believe in the power of God and hearing His voice in our heart. I was sitting in the library, finishing a book I had written for my daughter. That had taken 12 years to write and it won't be published. It was practice. I recall thinking how much fun it was to write this story and I asked, kind of in a prayer, Now what, God? 

I certainly didn't expect to hear back. And when the response came, it was to my heart. The response was, Write the story. Since I knew exactly which story was implicated I pretended I hadn't heard or that it was a mistake. But I couldn't get over it. So, over the next few months, I really made sure that I had heard correctly and that it wasn't something I was making up on my own. 

It became pretty clear that I was to write this story that had been with me for most of my life and so I finally relented. It only took me a month to write book 1. The rest of this 5 book series took another two month. Rewriting and editing and waiting for it to be published took about three years. My first book, Skating for Grace, was published in 2015.

I write anything that comes to my attention. I enjoy writing historical fiction. I love history. I find it is super hard to write. You really need to do a ton of research and things might not fit well with how you had envisioned the story going. My favorite historical fiction book to write was Defending My Father's House, a WWII fiction based on my family history.

How do you choose a time period? 
I don't chose a time period per se. The story finds me and I fit it into a setting that is appropriate for the characters and the challenges they face. I do enjoy doing the research for the historical fiction books. I am a very visual learner and have found YouTube to be a treasure trove of information.

What’s one of the most unique facts you’ve discovered in doing your research?
The most interesting story I came across while researching for Defending My Father's House was the story of Operation Cowboy. I didn't end up using it for this book because it didn't quite fit in the way the story unfolded. Operation Cowboy was basically the operation that rescued the famous Lipizzaner horses from being eradicated by the Russian army at the end of WWII, during the last days of fighting. 

Patton's army managed to help get the invaluable mares, foals, and stallions that had been sent to the country for protection during the war, out of the grasps of the Red Army as they came into the town of Hochstau where the herd had been hidden during the war. It was a daring and dangerous adventure. It was a collaboration between the defeated German forces in the area and the Americans. As a horse lover, I was completely taken in by it. I'm kind of sad it never made it into the book or didn't become part of the story.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
I've been so blessed to have a group of amazing authors and readers surround me. I couldn't do this without them keeping me from dipping down into despair that comes with the territory. Being an author is probably the most difficult endeavor I have undertaken. So, I would say that the most valuable advice anyone has ever given me is to find my support group with other authors. It's incredibly important for my own mental health.

Marketing is the biggest key to making sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produced more sales rather than just clicks?
I struggle with marketing. I haven't found that sweet spot yet. I find that even when I think I might have found something, it isn't a sure thing. I've run paid promos that have worked beautifully. And then suddenly, out of the blue, they stop working. It's super frustrating and I have no idea what to do about it.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
It's not about going it alone, doing all the work myself. Yes, I have to do most of the work myself because I can't afford to pay for services. But... gather I've gathered a team around me and it works like clockwork. It's beautiful and powerful and humbling. I'm not the end-all of that team. It's all of us, working toward the goal.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
I think the best advice I've received is to be encouraging to others. It's not about me. It's always about the reader and about the story. Yes, I write how I want the story to go, but in the end, the reader has to be willing to read it. And if I keep in mind that I'm going to bless that readers with the words I write, that I'll build them up by writing certain things, it's another humbling process.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
Dare to Dream, book 2 in Arabian Nights, just came out May 31.

Tradition will destroy her future.
The past threatens their dreams.
Until they are willing to surrender all.

Fatima Sayeed’s troubled, dark past is now firmly behind her, and new challenges are on the horizon. Soon, she and her best friend Amira will graduate from university and pursue their careers. And Zahir, the good and kind man she has come to love with all her heart, seems to be on the verge of proposing marriage. But all of these new changes are overshadowed by old doubts and fears. Is she enough to be Zahir’s wife? She’s failed once already. What if moving forward ruins everything they’ve built?

Smart, successful, and determined, Amira is one of only a handful of women to ever graduate with a degree in her field. That alone ought to be enough for her, but somehow, it isn’t. She admires the tender affection between her friend Fatima and her brother Zahir, but that sort of thing isn’t something an independent woman like her needs. Or . . . is it?

Zahir is set on proposing to Fatima and eager to start their married life together. He dreams of having children and growing old with her, but a nagging dark feeling has him on edge. When he finds himself between a rock and a hard place, he is forced to make a choice with devastating consequences.

In this time of change and upheaval, relationships will be tested, and hearts will be put on the line, hard questions will demand answers. Will bitterness keep Amira from seeing the truth about herself? Is Fatima strong enough to face her fears? Can Zahir accept that not all his dreams will come true?

Sounds intriguing! If you'd like to learn more about Anne's many books, here's a link that will give you all her details from current and upcoming books, facebook updates, newsletters, and much more. https://linktr.ee/anneperreault

And here's a bonus for my readers, leave a comment on this post and we'll pick one reader who'll receive a copy of one of  Anne's eBook, Defending My Father's House.  So do that now. It can be as simple as I want to be in the giveaway. We'll chose a winner a week from today!

From a Dream to a Book: Author Interview with Steve Physioc

You were a baseball sportscaster for decades starting with high school teams then moving up the ladder to the pro teams. However, you wrote two books about Italy during WWII before you wrote your baseball books. What inspired you to write that first book?
While vacationing in Italy in 2006, my wife and I were staying at a bed and breakfast on a farmstead in Southern Tuscany. One night I had a vivid dream of a great walled city and two families struggling to produce a great wine. Instead of going back to sleep, I got up and wrote down the outline of my dream. I told my wife about the dream the next day and then we continued our Italian tour to Florence and Venice, Viareggio, etc. One week after the dream we were to meet three other couples in the town of Lucca. 

As we were driving towards Lucca, I saw the walls and exclaimed, "These are the walls from my dream! If you turn left you'll go by a portal where we can enter and there'll be a market and church from my dream!" Sure enough, they were all there and I was fascinated by both the dream and inspiration. 

I bought a book about the history of Lucca and developed my story...Two families trying to produce a great wine during Italy's dark days of WW1, the rise of fascism and Mussolini. It took me 12 years to write The Walls of Lucca and the sequel, Above the Walls, but was blessed to have both books win the Readers' Favorite award for Best Historical Fiction in 2018 and 2019.

How did I go about plotting the WW2 mystery? 

As a long-time sports broadcaster I'm used to doing exhaustive research for my games, so staying true to not only my story but accurate in every detail was critical. What led to Italy entering WW1? Why did they choose fascism over democracy? Why did the King and Pope cave to Mussolini? How did those decisions affect the citizens and agricultural workers of Italy? Why did Mussolini join forces with Hitler? And, can love be found in the ruins of war? Ya gotta have a gripping story of protagonists and antagonists, don't ya? The Walls of Lucca and Above the Walls are both love stories and historical fiction. 

In my research, I found an anti-war speech given by Mussolini in August of 1914, then discovered a pro-war speech by Mussolini from December of 1914. What changed in the four months between speeches? Why did he go from anti-war to pro-war? After much research I discovered that Benito found out that Italian politicians were having discussions with France and England about Italy leaving the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria and joining forces. Mussolini was a chameleon...whatever way the winds of power were blowing, he went that way...and eventually his con-artistry led to his ruling Italy. 

Why didn't you write a baseball story first?

I actually had the idea for Walks with the Wind and Catching the Wind much earlier than my Italian stories. But, I didn't put pen to paper until I was finished with The Walls of Lucca series. Walks with the Wind is the story of a young man's vision quest. Yes, a quest to make it to the Major Leagues, but also to become the man he was meant to be. Walks has no definitive genre. It's a baseball/action-adventure/political/spiritual/family saga of a Native American boy's faith journey. I'm a person who believes we're spiritual beings having a human experience and all my stories have a spiritual edge to them. I was blessed to have Walks with the Wind win the Writer's Digest Grand Prize in 2021 for self-published e-books.

What's worked best for you in marketing your books? 

I have no idea. I built a web page, Steve Physioc.com.  I've tried social media advertising, I've hired marketing people to help me, but since I just recently retired from sports broadcasting, I now can finally investigate getting an agent and learning more about the crazy book marketing world.

What is the best advice you could give about writing?

Show, don't tell. Read, read, read. Write, write, write. Show, don't tell. And, don't give up. Keep writing...even if you think it sucks...keep writing.

Are there any other points about writing  you would like to add?

Read good authors. Diana Gabaldon of Outlander fame is one of my favorites. I think she's brilliant. I also enjoy Kristin Hannah, Sue Monk Kidd, Jodi Picoult, Vince Flynn, Anthony Doerr, Elena Ferrante, Nicholas Sparks, Kenneth Roberts, Marianne Williamson, etc. Reading good authors leads to good writing.

When is the next book coming out? 

2025. I'm going back to WW2 Italy. Another lovestory/historicalfiction. It's inspired by a true story that happened at the Farneta Monastery in September of 1944, and dedicated to the women of the Italian Resistance. I just finished my first draft, now go through my personal editing process before handing it off to my brilliant developmental editor, Nicole Ayers, for her to tear apart and tell me what I need to strengthen my storyline or make my characters more powerful. She's awesome!

That's all for today's interview. If you would like to learn more about Steve's writing, here are some links to get you started. 

Website: https://www.stevephysioc.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Steve-Physioc/author/B07GNV2SPY

And here's a bonus for my readers... If you like reading historical fiction about WWII, here are 2 free eBooks currently available for free on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Auschwitz-Protocol-Sikora-Files-Book-ebook/dp/B09FKRT751

https://www.amazon.com/American-Wife-Heart-wrenching-unputdownable-Diplomats-ebook/dp/B0BSH828Y9

It's Beginning to Read like Regency Christmas 2023: Author Interview with Camille Elliot

How did you come up with the idea for your Christmas book? Could you give a short synopsis on the book for my readers?

I was reading Old Christmas by Washington Irving (published in 1875), which describes Christmas at Bracebridge Hall sometime between 1813 and 1819. You can view a beautifully illustrated version for free on Archive.org : https://archive.org/details/cu31924022259596/)

I thought it would be so neat to write a Christmas Regency romantic suspense in a country house like Bracebridge Hall in the book, so I came up with the story for The Spinster’s Christmas. Here’s the short description of the book:

In this Christian Regency romance, spinster Miranda Belmoore and naval Captain Gerard Foremont, old childhood friends, meet again for a large Christmas party at Wintrell Hall. Miranda is making plans to escape a life of drudgery as a poor relation in her cousin’s household, while Gerard battles bitterness at the fact that his career was cut short by the injury to his knee. However, an enemy has infiltrated the family party, bent on revenge and determined that Twelfth Night will end in someone’s death …

The main characters are Miranda and Gerard, but I also introduce some side characters who are the main characters of my Lady Wynwood’s Spies series.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?

When I was growing up, a week or two before Christmas, my mom would roll out sugar cookie dough and we’d decorate them however we liked. Honestly, our cookies were horrendously ugly, but they tasted really good.

What’s next for you in writing? 

I’m in the middle of writing my Lady Wynwood’s Spies series, a Christian historical romantic suspense in a serial novel format—each book has a story arc that concludes, but the overarching plot continues through each volume of the series. It’s projected to be 11 or 12 volumes, and volume 7, Spinster, will release hopefully before the end of the year.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
Read a lot. Definitely in your genre, but also outside your genre, and try to read books with really good writing that you admire. I think that the beauty of good writing seeps into our brains and helps make our own writing better.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
I wish I’d started trying to improve my productivity earlier. I didn’t have very good discipline when I was younger and I think I could have written a lot more if I’d been more disciplined and had a more streamlined, efficient writing system.

Any last words or tips?
I’ve eventually realized that when my spiritual health is good, everything else in my life follows. So take care of yourself mentally and spiritually.

Are there any other books that you’d like to tell my readers about?
You can get a free Christian Regency adventure novella, The Gentleman Thief, when you sign up for my newsletter. You can find more information at my website.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Camille's books, go to her website at https://camilleelliot.com/

If you've never read a Regency romantic suspense, here's the opportunity to read one of Camille's books for free! Go to  https://dl.bookfunnel.com/n0dnatyhqw  and you'll receive an eBook of  The Gentleman Thief 

Going from Traditional Publishing to Indie Publishing: Author Interview with Tricia Gardella

You have a degree in Ancient History and Classical Archaeology which is far from writing contemporary stories for kids. What made you decide to start writing kids books?  

I didn’t start out to write picture books but one day one of my critique group pointed out that everything I wrote seemed to be targeted at seven-year-olds. And she was right. I often wonder if it’s because I have never quite grown up or because I’m fascinated by how and what young people choose  to absorb  when learning.

How long does it take you to complete a book? 

Depends. Some only take minutes. Some have taken years. One I have been working on in my head for more than thirty years and wonder if I will ever write it. And it’s probably the one I’ve always wanted to write the most. One of these days I’m just going to have to admit it doesn’t fit my genre. Then, maybe, it will get written.

I always do a rough draft. My favorite part of writing is revising, which I seem to do until the minute the book is published. But I’ve had a couple books that worked just right from the beginning and maybe took a half hour to write. There are not very many words in a good picture book but they need to be the right words.
 

You publish as an indie author. Did you personally design the full book, or did you have assistance from others? 
I'm not the usual indie picture book author. I’ve been writing for more than 35 years. I began with traditional publishers in the 90s then, beginning in 2000, I took a 20-year sabbatical. By the time I had enough of my ice cream parlor/gift shop, I thought I was too old for publishing as it had taken five years between books in the 90s and I wondered how many five years I had left? Then I discovered and fell in love with indie. I love the control. I don’t love that all the marketing falls on my shoulders. But I do love a challenge and feel determined to figure it out. Imagine how good that will feel. Anyway, that’s what I keep telling myself.

How have you found your illustrators?

I might be in ‘control.’ but I knew from the get-go that I would need help. I love choosing my illustrators. It’s hard to explain, but I get a feeling from the start if I’m going to be able to work with them. So far, so good -- except for two cases early on. So far, I’ve worked with ten illustrators, several more than once, and have been thrilled that our visions for the book match—only better. Micro-managing is the worst thing you can do. But if there is something that you question, or doesn’t work for you, say something!! You are the publisher.

My illustrators usually do my cover designs and I like to have them done early on so they can be up on KDP while we are working on the book. Not all covers have stayed exactly the same but so far I like how this is working.

I also have a book designer. They edit, ‘map’ some of my books, and publish them. I have no idea if I am doing things right but publishing my paperback and hardback with IngramSpark and my ebook with KDP exclusive works the best. It took me a while to figure out why anyone would do a picture book as an ebook but it sure comes in handy for reviews etc.

How did you find those people to help you? 
I found ‘my people’ on the internet. When COVID first put us in lockdown, I couldn’t travel so I wrote a memoir. The Quest came out August of 22. My first indie book. And I made a very smart move. I hired an editor from Reedsy who impressed me with her background.What I loved most was that she lived in Bend, Oregon. Sort of rural, I thought. And I live on a ranch so I felt I had found a soulmate. And along the way, she mentioned that she was married to a book designer. Once again I had fallen into something just right.
 

What was the hardest part of putting together your books?
Putting together my books is the easy part. The difficult part is learning how to market. Unknown indie publishers may as well be throwing a cup of water into the ocean. Who is going to notice unless there is something special about (or in) that cup of water? There are so many books on Amazon. Unless you have the correct spelling of the author's name or book title you are seeking, it may be difficult to find it with all the other competing books. Eventually you might get there. But how many people are going to spend the time searching when they come across so many others on the same subject?
 
What do you know now about publishing you wished you had known sooner?
I wish I knew better early on where to look for help. There are a zillion authors out there who may have had a bit of success giving gullible first-timers the impression they are experts and you should buy their books or services. But be choosy about what you follow and be careful who you hire. There are organizations like ALLI that are very helpful though they have been slow to get into children’s writing. But they vet everything and are worth their tuition.
That’s another thing to keep in mind. Historically, writers for children have been at the bottom of the pile and I don’t get it. If children don’t appreciate good books when they are young, how much are they going to read when they get older? This is something that has bugged me for years.
 

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Try to find a writers critique group in your genre or put one together. I live on a ranch in a rural area and have few of the benefits urban writers have. But one of the best things that every happened to me was discovering SCBWI. Each year I attended their annual conference in Los Angeles. I knew no one when I walked in the door, yet I knew this is where I belonged. It was through SCBWI that I met my "Write Sisters," all beginners. I remember sitting in the audience with them and listening to impressive speakers. 

We giggled like school kids thinking that one day we would be one of the speakers.  For more than ten years we gathered at Ann Paul’s home for pre-conference critiquing. My "Write Sisters" include Ann Paul, Kirby Larson, Mary Nethery, Dian Curtis Regan, Vivian Sathre and Helen Ketteman. Many are award-winners and sought after speakers to this day. They are all traditionally published. But they have always accepted me as the odd-(wo)man-out. Bless their hearts.

 
Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
I thank you for the chance to talk about something that has bugged even before I began indie-publishing. So many people think it’s enough to have an idea. Picture books are a product. A work of art.  Every single thing you publish needs to be the best it can be and I read book after book that might be cute, or whatever, if only it had been done right. 

I know all writers have heard “show, don’t tell.” Showing whenever possible is especially important in picture books. It's about action, conflict, resolution. And I can’t believe all the author explanations I’m seeing before the book is even read. Nothing turns a child, or a parent, or a teacher off faster than being  told what the book is about before they even read it. Your words, your illustrations, if done well, should be able to do that job. Author notes at the end of a book often work fine. People do like to know why and how.

Don't forget to edit. When lots of errors show up, it makes the book seem unprofessional. But even if you edit, you can still miss something. I know how easy it is to miss somethingtthat from my own experience. One day my daughter came in and said, “I was reading Frogs Go Diving for the hundredth time to the grandkids. Did you know there’s an extra "t" in the frogs go diving eight by eight.”  

I’d missed it. My editor missed it. My daughter missed it in her many readings. Here’s the wonderful thing about POD. I contacted my illustrator who also published that book and by the next morning the problem was resolved. I had no idea that could be done. Couldn’t happen with traditional. If anyone complains, I can replace their book.

 

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me some details? 
My newest release is Where’s Gramma?  This book was originally written when I only had four grandsons. Now I have six grandsons and one granddaughter who are currently in their late twenties. How could that have happened?

Where’s Gramma? Is part of my Gran Collection. I’m publishing a book specific to each of my grand children and great grandchildren.  And I have four more books due out before Christmas. We’ll see if I succeed.  

I've just started an online store.  advise everyone to get their website up early in their journey. It’s your gathering place. It’s your ‘bragging place.’  I wish I had put mine up earlier.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Tricia's books, here are some links to get you started.

Website: www.triciagardella.com. 

Online store: shop.triciagardella.com 
Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tricia-Gardella/author/B0B75M3PSG

And here's a special tip for my readers... Subscribe to her newsletter on her website and you'll get free activity sheets for kids and you'll get updates on when she's posting a "free" day for one of her books, if you're not part of kindle unlimited.

Cooking up a Mystery: Author Interview with Katherine Brown

What drew you to writing cozy mysteries? 
My dream to write began as a kid. I literally wrote newsletters about my "life" and sold them to my parents for fifty cents. I had no idea of genre when I set my heart on that career but as I grew as a reader, I simply gobbled up mysteries. Nancy Drew, Mandie and the Secret Tunnel, Hardy Boys - all of them. 

So, when I finally came back around to wanting to write (after years of burnout in an office job "adulting") I felt like mysteries would be a good start. Cozy mysteries specifically because while I read and eclectic amount of things, I wanted to write clean books that my family, parents, children, could all read and enjoy without worrying about inappropriate content.

Did you read a book that made you think, I could do that?
As far as thinking I could...well, I didn't know if I COULD write a whole book but I knew I had always been complimented on my writing skills and storytelling ability so I jumped on board a NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) one November and challenged myself to knock out 50,000 words and prove I could do it. Thus, Rest, Relax, Run for Your Life came about.

Several of your mysteries are based around food and baking are you an avid cook or just like to write about baking?
I thoroughly enjoy baking and rarely follow the recipe directions all the way LOL. I enjoy cooking meals as well but cookies, brownies, etc, those are my comfort foods. Mixing, stirring, "tasting" the batter...they all relax me and when the baking is complete: voila, a snack for writing!

Are you active in any critique groups? If so, how has that helped you with your writing?
I have had one to two critique partners but found that our schedules didn't jive well. However, my sister (brilliant plus an equally avid reader) is a wonderful sounding board for ideas and first drafts. My teenage daughter has also been reading my work since she was eleven or twelve and sharing thoughts and favorite characters  with me. So, I would say my family has helped me to believe in myself and also strengthened my writing at times.

How do you write your books? Do you start with the killer or the victim? 
I start with a main character and the things I love about them. Then I decide on a crime or victim. I rarely know the killer or culprit. Sometimes, I think I know almost at the end only to find out I'm wrong.

In case that didn't sum it up, I am not a strict plotter. I brainstorm. I jot. I outline possibilities. I WANT to plot to make my writing faster - but my best ideas never seem to come that way. So, I begin with creating a few characters and setting that I love, add in humor, throw in the murder or kidnapping etc, amp up the confusion, and then see what happens. Usually with brownies and plot-related stress somewhere in the middle.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
Raising the stakes, I think might be the most difficult. I get too into where I'm taking the character and while I may create tension, I have to remind myself to make it harder or riskier for them.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
Readers who gush about characters or praise the storytelling and how they were drawn into the writing - even if they have a few critiques - encourages me that I am good at this writing thing. It encourages me even when I feel like a complete fraud, or when it isn't paying the bills and makes me feel like I'm not pulling my weight financially in our family. That help me to push on and remember what I, and other authors, create when we write a book isn't a one-time thing. I'm creating the possibility of jumping into this story for anyone for all of the foreseeable future. And really - how incredible is that?

What has surprised you the most in writing/publishing? 
I've been most surprised, and so happily, that other authors LOVE to support other authors. Seriously. In my life, I've never met a stronger community of individuals who could see themselves as competitors but don't.

What frustrated you the most?
As far as frustrations, one of the things I find most frustrating is how difficult it is to reach readers as a self-published author without having a large advertising budget. It is wonderful to swap and share and promote with other authors, truly, but I have found it difficult to reach and grow a large following of readers. However, I'm still in the first few years of this fun business so with time, hopefully I will learn and grow and can change that.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
Keep writing - save money - hire an editor who loves your genre.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
See again the keep writing part. Honestly, I wish all of those years I worked at a "regular" job that I hadn't put aside my writing. I wish I had written so many of these stories and saved them up so that when I took the jump of faith into publishing, I had work ready to go and wasn't rushing myself to write the next book before readers grew tired of waiting for it.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
A short Christmas novella that was previously in an anthology will be coming out in February on its own, followed soon after by the sequel. Here are their details:

Murder Takes the Train - The quaint, mountain town of Riverbend Junction has only one train in and one train out for transportation. The town hasn't been home for Zadie Belle and Darla Belle, two of the three Belle sisters, since they moved away several years ago, but when they return this year for Christmas a theft and a murder derails the train and all of their plans for getting back to their regular lives. Especially when Darla Belle disappears and is accused of the crimes. Stuck in the small town in more ways than one, the sisters must put their heads together to figure out the murderer or else find themselves railroaded into a murder charge themselves.

Murder Takes a Swim - no full blurb yet but I can tell you that the sisters are still stuck in Riverbend Junction and are at the center of another murder scene, this time a body is discovered in the icy mountain river.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about this author's books, here are some links to get you started.

https://www.instagram.com/katherinebrownkatie/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18681694.Katherine_Brown
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-h-brown
https://www.facebook.com/katherinebrownkatieauthor/
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Katherine-Brown/author/B078J72H8M
Newsletter subscribe: https://www.subscribepage.com/t5x8y2
And here's a special bonus for my readers. Here's a chance for 3 readers to get a copy of her steampunk prequel novella. It's part of her steampunk mystery series with serious Mary Poppins vibe titled,  Let's Go Fly a Kite  Currently this book is not available for sale. Here's the link to enter the giveaway: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/795063774

It's Beginning to Read a Lot Like Christmas: Featuring Katherine Karrol

How did you come up with the idea for your Christmas book? Could you give a short synopsis on the book for my readers?
The idea for this story came in a flash. My mom told me about an interesting story she read, and I was so fascinated by one little tidbit in it that within 20 minutes, I had the story of Ava Barton’s visit to the small town of Hideaway in northern Michigan ready in my head. (If I tell what the story or tidbit were, I’ll ruin part of the book!)

When Ava and her son get into a minor car accident while they’re visiting the small town of Hideaway, it puts a wrench into her plans to get in and out of town quickly. Only she and her best friend know the reason for the visit, and she intends to keep it that way. The accident and her subsequent transportation-less state puts them in the company of the cop who is determined to find out what is at the heart of their visit, so he finds ways to spend plenty of time with them. Neither Ava nor Max are looking for love, but God delivers it anyway ~ it is a romance, after all! Stay for Love is the first book in the new Hearts of Summit Series, and it takes place between the week before Thanksgiving and Christmas.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
I love everything about the Christmas season ~ which for me starts somewhere around September with Christmas books and movies. Decorating the tree with ornaments that have special memories, putting little Christmas touches all around the house, lots of baking and hot chocolate, the candlelight service at church . . . I could go on forever about my favorite things. There’s just such a feeling of warmth and coziness at this time of year!

What’s next in writing for you? 
The follow-up book to Stay for Love, which starts just after Christmas with a character from the first book in the series, is my almost-constant companion these days. The story is really fun, and I’m trying hard to get it ready for release in time for Christmas this year!

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
Focus on getting the books written above all else. I followed the advice to have at least a few books published before doing any marketing, and I’m so glad I did! I know that a lot of people disagree with that advice and focus on marketing right away, but if I would have done that early on, I never would have finished a book. By the time I started doing all of the non-writing tasks that we have to do, I was so in love with the writing itself (and my imaginary friends in the books) that nothing could have stopped me.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
I wish I would have planned out my first series better. I’ve been able to make some tweaks to the books to help with my lack of planning, but it’s not the same as knowing going in what book will be next.

Any last words or tips?
Keep your eyes on the “why” of writing. I started doing it completely on a lark, but I wanted to write the kind of books that I like to read ~ Christian romances that have some humor and snark, that aren’t preachy or heavy, and that give hope. We all desperately need escape right now, and I aim to provide it.

Are there any other books that you’d like to tell my readers about?
My first series, the Summit County Series, is set in the same world as Stay for Love and the Hearts of Summit Series. There are crossovers with some characters, so no matter which series is read first, there will be familiar faces in the next one.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Katherine's books, check out her Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Katherine-Karrol/e/B07H6WVTDT or you can sign up for her Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/s3y2v2

Writing Picture Books with a Message: Author Interview with Alicia Ortego

I ran across this author when I was researching comparative books to one I was pitching to an agent. She's an indie picture book author who has a  #1 best selling author in two categories that accurately depict her books. That's not easy to do. Read on to learn about her writing journey and what she does to get those rankings and book sales.

The publication date for your books shows the beginning of 2020, but when did you actually start writing? 
That’s a really good question! It all started so long ago, I can’t even remember when. Looking back, I realize that I have enjoyed writing since high school. But I never thought of it as something that I could do for a living. But at some point I decided to give it a shot and actually shared my writing with friends and family. They loved it.

Have there been books which were started and stopped along the way?

There were quite a few, but I might finish some of them. You know, sometimes you just feel that this is not the right time yet.

You are indie-published and you've done well. Prior to writing your books did you have a marketing we're publishing background?
Haha, no marketing background at all. Trust me, it took time to properly manage my Gmail inbox. I am still very new to all marketing-related activities. I do lots of self-education. Plus, I no longer do everything myself. I have a wonderful team who helps me with marketing and legal questions.

I'm impressed with the marketing you've done on your books with Amazon. Who is your marketing consultant that does your banner ads?
I work with Slickcolors.com publishing solutions to help me expand my brand awareness on Amazon.

You've written eight books that have been translated into multiple languages. Your first book Kindness Is My Superpower seems to be dominating your book sales. Why do you think that book is so popular?
This so far is my most favorite book as well. I guess it resonates with what people lack these days. Look around, kindness is being promoted by so many brands. You buy a hair conditioner and you see a slogan about kindness. You check anti-bullying campaigns and they encourage people to be more kind. In other words, it’s a trend.

What’s the hardest part for you in publishing and marketing your own books?
I am trying my best to become a part of a blogger community by collaborating with other bloggers. I have to say, this is not easy. No one wants to collaborate for free. Everyone wants money, like really big money. So far, this has been the most challenging part for me.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
I always know what I want my characters to be. But sometimes it’s really hard to put all my thoughts and ideas together to make a decent piece of writing. I always question my books: do they actually reflect what I am trying to say? Will kids learn from them?

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
The feedback I get from my readers. Trust me, those are not all bright stories. Some are really sad and people write me emails to share their life stories and how my books helped their kids. Sometimes I can’t stop crying for days. My readers share very personal stories with me. I am doing something meaningful. That’s very important to know.

We have all experienced rejection. How have you learned to write past it.
We all have good and bad days. Let’s say, I just know that good days always come after bad days. I try to consider this as a valuable experience. That’s it. No need to overthink it.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
You can be the most talented writer but there’s not much you can do without a good team by your side. You can’t and you shouldn’t do it all by yourself. Everyone has to do what they are good at.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Don’t stress over something that’s not worth it. Let’s say, you are upset because something. Ask yourself: Will that matter in a week? In 1 month? In 5 years? There you go;)

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
Writing is a full-time job that requires hard work and dedication. Keep practicing.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
Love. I just want to say that it’s devoted to a boy that’s no longer with us. One day, I received an email from his mom sharing the story about her son. A very sad and touching story.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Alicia's books, and I hope you do, here are some links to get you started.
https://aliciaortego.com/blog/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyVqg5TSD-VYdGAYTZyt9bA
https://www.amazon.com/Alicia-Ortego/e/B08DRF83WX%3Fref

Around the Web: Best Posts on Writing I've Discovered This Week

 I subscribe to and follow several authors, blogs, and writing sources throughout the week.

Each Friday, I include links to FIVE sources to improve your writing that I found useful.

Here are my offerings for this week. Hope they inspire you to start writing and continue writing!

Here's a quick post on putting together a style guide that will get your creative juices flowing. https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/20668/top-5-reasons-to-make-a-style-guide-for-your-novel/

Here's an excellent resource for indie-authors. It's a list of the best and worst self-publishing services that offer assistance, tools, and technology across the full spectrum of publishing. You'll want to bookmark this one. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/best-self-publishing-services/

Think outside of the box when planning an author event and this post gives you some good ideas to try. https://www.laurenranalli.com/new-blog/2021/5/15/scheduling-unique-author-events

Read this review of 5 picture books to see how they're put together and have done it successfully. https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/deconstructing-spooky-childrens-picture-books-spoiler-alert

Here's a good breakdown for doing book trailers. https://killzoneblog.com/2022/06/another-take-on-book-trailers.html

The Importance of Offering Writing Encouragement: Author Interview with Sherry Kyle

Today's interview is with an award-winning author who writes both contemporary women’s novels and young adult/middle grade nonfiction books.  We also share something in common. We both were included in a wonderful anthology of inspirational short fiction called, 21 Days of Love. Read on to learn about her writing journey.

What inspired you to write that first novel?
An agent inspired me to write my first novel because the children’s market, where I already had books in print, was doing poorly at the time.

Did that one ever get published?
Yes, that novel was published by Abingdon Press and is titled Delivered with Love.

You write both women’s fiction and stories for tween girls. How do you make the transition from one genre to another? Which is easier to write?
I like variety, so it’s fun for me to write in multiple genres. My natural writing voice is a twelve-year-old girl, so writing books for tweens is a bit easier for me. After writing a “sweet and mild” novel, I’m ready to change it up and write books for kids.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?
The hardest part of writing for me is definitely making sure there is enough conflict in a scene. As a middle child, I like peace and harmony, but that doesn’t make for an interesting story, so I always have to make sure there is enough tension to keep readers turning pages.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
Writing is a tough business, and it takes perseverance and dedication to keep going. The best encouragement I’ve received is from multi-published authors who tell me I’ve got what it takes, as well as editors who keep offering me contracts. However, the readers make the biggest impact on me. I love getting encouraging emails!

We have all experienced writing rejection. How have you learned to write past it?
Rejection is a part of writing. Fact is, not everyone is going to enjoy what we write. We have to remember that we are not writing for everyone but for a select group of people. Once we figure out who that is, we can focus on writing specifically for them.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
I wish I would’ve known how important the writing community is and how each connection builds on the next. I went to my first writing conference after several years of taking online writing classes. Some of the writing friends I made at that first conference are still some of my best friends to this day. Writing, for the most part, is a very solitary job. And if you are an extrovert like me, you will become lonely if you don’t make the effort to connect with others.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
The best writing advice I can give is to pray before you write. There’s nothing worse than staring at a blank screen and feeling the pressure to fill it. But if you pray before you write and ask God to help you, you will be surprised at how you can accomplish your word count goal—that’s if you put aside the “editor” part of your brain and just write!

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
My next book is in the very early stages, and I’m not quite ready to share a synopsis. I can, however, tell you about my latest release!

 

Here is the back cover copy for Sweet Cranberries:
A heartwarming story about accepting others, celebrating community, and the rush of falling in love in autumn.

Amanda Richards moves to the island of Nantucket to take over the Blue Crab Café that her aunt and uncle have successfully run for forty years. Hoping to prove her worth to a somewhat skeptical community, she volunteers to organize the annual Cranberry Festival at the Milestone Cranberry Bog. When a handsome electrician and other residents of the island step up to help with the festival, she must discern whether they really have her best interests at heart.

Tyler Adams, owner of Adams Electric, is having a hard time accepting the news that the Blue Crab Café has been sold and the former owner is moving away—a man who’s been a father figure to Tyler since his dad’s death two years ago. When Amanda, the new owner, steps up to head up the Cranberry Festival planning committee, he volunteers to help her and quickly falls for the newest member of the community. The only thing he hadn’t planned on was his ex-fiancée returning to town with her sights set on winning him back.

Sounds like a story with some good torque. If you’d like to learn more about Sherry’s books, here are some links to get you started.

Website: www.sherrykyle.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherry.kyle.7
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherrykyle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherryannkyle/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sherrykylebooks/

Celebrating Christmas Books with Jean Oram

How did you come up with the idea for your newest Christmas book?
Moms need love too!
Sweet Joymaker is my newest Christmas story, and I wrote it for a multi-author story world set in the beach town of Indigo Bay, South Carolina. Several of us have been writing in this world for several years, and this is my fifth book set in that world.

When I was working on Sweet Joymaker, I was also working on a five book series set in Sweetheart Creek, Texas. This is a cowboy brothers series. I knew I wanted Sweet Joymaker to tie in with the cowboys series as they’d be releasing together.

While I was writing the brothers, I realized that their mother, who had been divorced in one of the earlier Indigo Bay books (Sweet Troublemaker), could use some love in her life, too. Of course, she didn't believe that, but that's where the local mechanic Clint came waltzing in! He follows her to Indigo Bay just before Christmas and convinces her that she could use a boyfriend.

The tricky part was that the storyline for Sweet Joymaker ties into the same timeline as the third book (The Cowboy’s Second Chance) in the Cowboys of Sweetheart Creek, Texas series. That was a fun challenge as I had to make sure the conversations and timelines lined up with each other. But it was worth giving Maria a heartwarming second chance at love.

Could you give a short synopsis on the book for my readers?

Maria Wylder’s not used to catching the eye of the local mechanic Clint Walker whose gaze lights up every time he sees her. When they both end up visiting the beach town of Indigo Bay to help with a Christmas fundraiser, will it become a chance for them to step outside their tired old roles and discover something new together while proving there's no age limit on falling in love?

I agree. There is no age limit to love. I recently met a couple who had both lost their spouses several years  and found love again in their early 70s! What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
One of my favorite traditions is to go downhill skiing on Christmas day. I did this a lot as a child and there's been a few times that I've done this with my own family as well. Although, I have to say the year we gave the kids Nerf guns and bought two for ourselves was pretty fun. We had a Nerf gun war throughout the house on Christmas morning. There's nothing like starting the day off with lots of laughs.

What’s next? 
A spinoff series for the Cowboys of Sweetheart Creek, Texas is coming! Some of the secondary characters such as Daisy-Mae Rae from the series won over my heart and they need love too!

Daisy-Mae Rae is a former beauty pageant queen with a major crash on a cowboy who happens to be an NHL star. I’m writing her story right now, and it's a lot of fun putting these two together. I don't have a title for the book yet nor a release date, but if you follow me online you'll hear about these two when their book is ready.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
I think the biggest thing is realizing that we are all very different. From what we want to write, to how our workday is organized, to even the little things like how much we write in a day. 

We all have our own methods that develop overtime, and while we are bombarded with “shoulds” (We should do this, we should do that), I think the system that we develop naturally is always the best one to follow. Of course, there are ways to tweak and improve those systems, but I think we writers could trust ourselves a little more instead of secretly fearing we’re doing it wrong.

How true! What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
Sometimes I think that if I’d started out knowing all the things I know now I’d be a millionaire writer! It definitely would've been a fast forward for me. But I also think it would've taken the fun out of this writing gig, maybe made it too serious and full of pressure and maybe even burned me out. I kind of believe that we are where we are supposed to be right here, right now. Even when it’s tough!

Any last words or tips?
I’ve been thinking about joy a lot lately. I personally think that if something isn't bringing you joy, it's a good time to take a look at it and figure out how to bring the joy back or decide whether it’s time to move on. Life's too short to drink crappy drinks, and it’s too short to have an absence of joy.

Are there any other books that you’d like to tell my readers about?
I have over 30 books to choose from which is really exciting as both an author and a reader who likes sweet, small town romances. If you like one of my books it’s like dicing into a treasure chest because there’s more bounty waiting for you!

I love being an author who makes readers laugh and feel good. That brings me joy.

If you want to check out my books, I have five series—and almost every single book can be read as a standalone. I have I have the five brothers family saga—The Cowboys of Sweetheart Creek, Texas. I have a five-sister family saga set in Canada which is The Summer Sisters series. I also have seven lighthearted romantic comedies set in the Blueberry Springs series, and a spinoff series set in that world that centers around marriages of convenience called the Veils and Vows series. I also have my Indigo Bay books as I mentioned earlier.

There are lots of places for readers to dive in! Find one that speaks to your heart and go for it!

That's all for today's interview. I hope you enjoyed learning about Jean's writing journey. If you'd like to learn more about her books, here are some links to get you started.
Website:  https://www.jeanoram.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJeanOram/
Instagram: at https://www.instagram.com/author_jeanoram/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeanoram