The Joy of Getting Positive Feedback: Author Interview with Jill Burrell

You’ve now published several books, but what inspired you to write that first one? What made you choose contemporary romance?

When I visited my childhood home during Spring Break of 2016, my dad told me and my sister he had a story he wanted one of us to write (Rescued). I listened intently, thinking it would make a great story, but I never intended to write it, because I knew nothing about writing a book. A short time later, I got an idea for another story I wanted to write (Refuge). I decided I couldn’t write my story without first writing my dad’s. So, after being a stay-at-home mom for almost 20 years—the day my youngest of seven children started Kindergarten—I started writing. I didn’t suddenly become a writer overnight, but with a lot of hard work, conferences, and critique groups, I learned to write.

Romance has always been my favorite genre. I’m a sucker for a happy ending. Though she never had anything published, mom wrote all kinds of stories--mostly romance, though. I remember spending hours and hours, especially during long summer days, reading her handwritten stories. And now I write stories just like hers.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?

When my sister-in-law blamed me for the burned rolls at Thanksgiving. She was so caught up in reading my book that she forgot to set a timer. And seeing my husband struggle to hold back the tears in front of his siblings while he read one of my books. And that time my sister sent me a video of my niece screaming, “Why? Why? Why?” as she stomped around the house with my book in her hand. Then a few minutes later, another video of that same niece wiping away tears as she finished the story.

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?

To be honest, I’m still trying to figure this out. I ran Amazon ads for a while but didn’t see great results. Facebook ads gave me some sales and page clicks, but I felt like I was spending an awful lot of money for the little I was bringing in. Lately, my efforts have been focused on newsletter swaps and booking paid newsletter spots any time I run a sale on any of my books. It brings in a slow trickle of sales, but it’s probably not the most effective. When I find the time—and money—to learn how to do Amazon and Facebook more effectively, I’ll jump back into the arena.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?

I wish I’d believed in myself sooner and been willing to cut myself some slack for the things I hadn’t learned yet. I don’t need to get it right the first time or even the fifth time. I can’t fix a blank page, but I can revise and improve a poorly written first draft. I just need to get words on the page! Skills can be developed and honed. I don’t need to understand how to do it all before I start writing. My first book isn’t be my best book (even though it has great reviews), and my tenth book will be better than the fifth book. The point is to write! Write all the books in your heart.   

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?

Don’t become so attached to your babies (stories) that you aren’t willing to let them grow up and leave home. At some point you need to stop stressing over them and share them with the world. Many people will come to love them as much as you do. Be willing to cut out the parts that, even though they may be your favorites, don’t drive the plot of the story forward. And make sure you know EVERYTHING about your characters even though it won’t all show up in the story.

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

Develop a thick skin and join a critique group. Be willing to receive criticism, so you can improve and grow. Attend conferences and learn all you can about writing. (Volunteering is a great way to get into conferences you might not be able to afford.) And don’t give up. Don’t let your self-doubts hold you back.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?

My next book, Changing Lanes, is set to releases on July 7th. Here are the details.

Falling in love with a fake boyfriend shouldn’t be so difficult.

When her father pushes her—for business reasons—into an engagement with a man she detests, Eden DuPont leaves the city and visits her friend in the small town of Providence. She has no plans to stick around, so why does she find everything so charming, including the handsome sheriff’s deputy?

Rudy Wheeler finds the newcomer attractive, but he knows a socialite like Eden will never be content to settle down in this one-horse town. Even though his ten-year plan doesn’t include falling in love, he pretends to be Eden’s boyfriend to get her dad off her case.

Eden and Rudy are repeatedly pulled into one disastrous situation after another. She’s sure it’s a sign a relationship between them is a bad idea. Rudy agrees, but finds himself falling for her, nonetheless. Can Rudy convince Eden to change lanes and take a chance on them? Or will he let his ten-year plan cost him everything?

That's all for today's interview. If you would like to learn more about Jill's books, check out the links below.

Website: https://www.jillburrell.com/

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jill-Burrell/author/B0942NS9Z2

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jill-burrell

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3306762.Jill_Burrell

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjillburrell

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjillburrell/

Travel with Winston While Staying at Home: Author Interview with Cynthia Anne Finefrock

You’re an avid photographer. What made you decide to write a picture book about a dog’s travels rather than a glossy coffee table book?
Great question! I’ve always wanted to write a children’s book ever since I was little. I didn’t take this goal any further until the pandemic happened and, like so many other individuals, I lost my job. With time on my hands, I decided to make my dream a reality. 

My photography website had just gone live and my friend thought it would be a funny idea to Photoshop my dog, Winston, into my travel photos. I took that idea and ran with it and now here we are, two books later! I do hope to have a coffee table book of my photographs someday but for now my attention is focused on Winston and his books.

Have you actually done the traveling shown in the books with your dog? 
All of the photos I use in Winston’s books are my personal photographs from my travels. Winston doesn’t actually come with me on these trips, though. He poses for the photos at home (with cheese as a treat, afterwards) and then I edit him into my travel photos.

What's one of the most unique events you remember most about your travels?
One special event I remember from my travels is seeing the pyramids in Egypt for the first time. There’s nothing quite like seeing something in person that you’ve only seen in textbooks, photographs, or on TV. It took my breath away and it’s a feeling I’ll never forget.

What was the hardest part of putting together this book?
The hardest part of putting together this book is probably taking the photos of Winston. For the most part, he’s an amazing model. He sees the camera and starts smiling and posing. There are definitely some days, though, when he won’t cooperate. I have to put the progress of the book on hold until he’s ready to take the photos. I usually just try again another day and he’s more than happy to do his job! He loves working.

Did you personally design the full book or hire on others for the work?

I hired a book designer to create the cover, do the formatting, and add the graphics you see in the book. She lives in the UK and is great! I found her on Fiverr.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had from readers?
The best encouragement I’ve had from readers is hearing that Winston’s books have sparked conversations between caregivers and their children about the places Winston visits. This was my main goal in publishing these books. I wanted to introduce children to other parts of the world and hopefully spark their interest to learn more about these places and, even better, travel there someday themselves when they're older. With traveling comes learning, not only about others but yourself as well!

Marketing is the biggest key to getting sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produces more sales rather than just clicks?
Visiting schools as an author has been my best source for marketing in the US. Winston’s Instagram has been great for reaching an audience outside of the US. He’s sold books in Germany, Poland, Amsterdam, Australia, and New Zealand thanks to his amazing Instagram followers! His instagram is @WinstonTravels_

What do you know now about publishing you wished you had known sooner?
There’s a TON of learning involved with self-publishing a book. Something I wish I had known about sooner was Kickstarter Campaigns. Publishing a book is expensive and this would have helped a lot. I plan on running a Kickstarter for Winston’s third book.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
The best advice I can give is don't compare yourself to others. We are all on our own journey and sometimes success can take longer than somebody else’s.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me some details?
Winston’s third book will hopefully be released in the summer of 2023. I won’t say which countries he’s going to so there’s an element of surprise left, but I will say he’s going to South America! We are also working on a Christmas book, as well.

Winston's books are available through Target, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble. You can find them on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Cynthia-Anne-Finefrock/author/B094YV7PV2

You can also purchase them on Cynthia Anne's website.https://cynthiaanne.com/publications Winston signs (pawtographs) those books and 10% of the sales go to various animal rescue efforts.

And here's a bonus for my readers. If you leave a comment on this post before  8:00 p.m. on 2/20/23, you'll be entered to win  your choice of one of Winston's eBooks.  So do that now!

Consider your Manuscript Like an Architect's Blueprints: Author Interview with Kaya McLaren

What inspired you to write that first novel? Did it get published?
In 1998, I was teaching in a small, isolated wheat-farming town. Since I was paying off student loans, I didn't have two dimes to rub together. When my television broke and I couldn't afford to replace it or fix it, I started writing to entertain myself...mostly imagining what my life would look like if I wasn't lonely and if I had supernatural powers to fix the things in life that I wanted to fix. 

I began during a cold snap when I had to stay right next to my woodstove, but I had so much fun in my imaginary world that I wrote for about an hour each night while I took a bath! Isn't that funny? Yes, I wrote my first novel by hand on notebook paper in a three-ring binder. Initially it was published by DayBue Publishing, Ink and I couldn't tell you how many revisions we did except that I was grateful in the end for each one. Several years later, Penguin picked it up and we did a few more revisions. I blocked most of it out of my memory.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
The hardest part of writing for me is coming up with a plot because I don't like problems. This always makes me laugh to say aloud. Other people are fascinated by problems. I'm exhausted from real problems, so I'd really rather not create imaginary ones to solve in addition, you know? But since problems are central to a plot, I really have to force myself. My grandmother taught me that what I give my attention to grows, so I'm always afraid that by giving my attention to these imaginary problems, I'm going to create them in my real life. It's okay to laugh at all of that.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
I always loved writing letters. There was a time in my life when I could no longer write individual letters to all of the people I had met along the way-- friends from summer camp, friends from archaeology projects, friends from college, extended family, etc... and the Internet wasn't a thing yet, so I wrote these Xerox letters (sometimes illustrated) and mailed them out. I heard that two different recipients read them at dinner parties at their homes and that people who didn't know me looked forward to the next one. That was the moment that I realized that I might be able to make a little money at this-- at least enough to cover Xeroxing costs and postage stamps.

Marketing is the biggest key to getting sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produces more sales rather than just clicks?
Oh, girl, that is the million dollar question right now. It feels like such a moving target. I've watched this business change so much in the last twenty years and truly, I do not know what the rules are. I've decided not to worry about it and just do what I like doing. I like making friends with bookstore owners. Bookstore owners and managers are always really interesting, intelligent, compassionate, insightful people. 

I like road trips, and I like stopping in and introducing myself. There are some stores where I've enjoyed having events, though I haven't in a long time. I think events need to be more than book signings, though. Book club meetings are more interesting to me. I like discussions more than speeches. I appreciate that feedback from readers. I especially love it when they share a passage that was meaningful to them. Social media isn't a comfortable way for me to promote, though I do some. It's just that I'm an elementary teacher, and I don't want parents making judgments about the content of my stories and bringing any controversy around that into my teacher-life.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
When I wrote CHURCH OF THE DOG, I really didn't understand the fundamentals of plot. At some point after it was out, I met an award-winning screenwriter in the Methow Valley who read it and told me that my main character wasn't who I thought it was because she didn't change; my main character was the one who changed. I read books about screenwriting that I checked out from the library there and that really helped me grow in ways I wanted to grow.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Write about what you know. Classic.

I tell people to go out and live an interesting life instead of holing up and writing in solitude all the time. HOW I CAME TO SPARKLE AGAIN was my biggest commercial success and I wrote it after spending a few winters skiing with a very animated group of friends from different walks of life. Go live. Live big. Let life feed you book material.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
I'd like to thank the librarian in Heppner, Oregon, who in 1998 saw me looking to see who published my favorite books and asked how she might help me. I told her about my manuscript and how I didn't know what to do with it, and she put a copy of THE WRITERS' MARKET and a copy of HOW TO GET HAPPILY PUBLISHED in my hand. In doing so, she forever changed my life. Libraries are the great equalizer. When I didn't have enough money for food and sure couldn't afford a fat book like THE WRITERS' MARKET, the library gave me access to it. Libraries are a beautiful thing.

I also want to say that being an archaeologist helped prepare me for the publishing process. In archaeology, there weren't a lot of opportunities. Back in the '90's, I'd send my resume to fifty or a hundred archaeology or environmental consulting firms and hear back from one or two. I understood that there just weren't many availabilities and that it wasn't personal. In the publishing world, publishing houses only publish a certain number of each kind of genre a year. Maybe they're looking for what you've got, or maybe that spot has been filled. Keep trying. Don't get discouraged. Most of all, be willing to rewrite. 

The first draft is for you. Enjoy the process of writing it. If you don't want to change it, self-publish. But if you want commercial success, be humble and open-minded. Allow your manuscript to become something entirely different if that is what's going to happen. I see it like being an architect. Ultimately, I'm creating a product for a customer and I want that customer to be satisfied and come back for more. I see my editor/publisher as that customer, and as a representative of their customers. But that first draft, oh, enjoy writing it like you would enjoy falling in love during a vacation romance. Then, get back to work.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
I don't know when my next book is coming out. I sent a manuscript to my agents last month. 
I would like to plug my last book though, because I think it's the best one I've written so far. It's not the cheeriest. It's heavy, and it's not for everyone. I wrote WHAT'S WORTH KEEPING after my own experience with breast cancer, which left me reeling from trauma and feeling extremely disoriented in my own body and in my own life. I had to find a way to make peace with the uncertainty and absolute certainty of life and I really struggled to do so. 

So, I changed the the manuscript I had been working on and put Amy, one of the main characters, in the place that I was--the place where everything seemed like bullshit except nature and all I wanted to do was be with the big trees in the kindest forest I knew. Amy sets off from Oklahoma City on her way to Mt. Rainier National Park, visiting a few national parks and monuments along the way. Unlike me, Amy had a husband. Paul, a cop in Oklahoma City, had his own trauma from being a first responder to the Oklahoma City Bombing years ago, and had grown increasingly more distant ever since. 

Their daughter, Carly, had always been the model of perfection until after Amy's cancer, when she learned of the genetic aspect to her mom's disease. After that, she saw little point in delaying gratification and went off the rails. Through no agreement of her own, she finds herself at Great Aunt Rae's in Chama, New Mexico, where she works with Clydesdales in her aunt's outfitting business. Amy, Paul, and Carly, all find their way out of trauma through different means-- nature, music, a project, the comfort of horses, and miraculously find their way back to one another. 

While intense at times, it's ultimately hopeful. It turns out that medical trauma is a thing, and it's hard to talk about when we know many people weren't lucky enough to get the gift of more time. We know we should be grateful and we are-- but we also grieve the way our lives and our bodies were before everything changed. I think this book will help many people know they're not alone in those moments, and really help those who are close to someone going through it understand what is happening and why.

That's all for today's interview. Lot to absorb here. If you'd like to learn more about Kaya's books, here's the link to her website: www.kayamclaren.com

BOOK RELEASE: Exploring the Bible - Prayers, Poems, Praises, Bible Verses, and Fun Pages

What inspired you to write your kids’ book for MG readers?
I taught middle grade Sunday school students for 15 years in addition to writing and directing Christmas and Easter plays for my church. My previous writing has been published in numerous devotional magazines and inspirational story anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Soul. I love writing for children, so this was a natural for me to write a devotional and activity book for them.

What’s the hardest part for you in publishing and marketing your own books?
Formatting was the most tedious part. Luckily, there are a lot of good videos online explaining how to do the process. However, I learned it only made sense to review those that were created in 2022 since Amazon and other publishing sources are constantly changing their formatting guidelines.

Designing the cover was fun but I gave up trying to figure out how to get the pixels and DPI correct on my own. For that part I hired somebody else.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
Choosing each of the Bible verses and life applications to go with each Bible reading was the easy part. Writing a poem for each of the lessons was a joy to do. Finding just the right additional materials for the puzzles and coloring images to go with the lessons was a little more difficult because they had to fit within the book size.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
Like many of my writing friends, I have a bit of insecurity about my own writing. That's known as Impostor Syndrome. You think your books just aren't good enough, so you keep editing them over and over. So when a reader tells me that they liked my book, and they kept thinking about it after it was finished, that makes me smile and gives me a purpose to keep on writing.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wished you had known sooner?
There is a whole lot more to formatting and publishing than I realized. Even though I've been going to conferences and watching webinars for several years about marketing books, when it was time to actually start the process, it felt like I was trying to learn a foreign language.  

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Writing a book is like riding a rollercoaster. Some days you're creeping up a steep climb. Other days you're speeding fast with the words flowing fast and easy. Then there are times it seems like you're going around in circles. The key is holding on tight and keeping focused until the book is done. Then there's the roller coaster ride for marketing and publishing!

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
This book it's a large print edition so it's accessible to as many children as possible. I have additional materials to do two more volumes. When they are released will be determined by how well this book does in sales. The “look inside” feature on Amazon will show you the first lesson so you can get a feel for what the whole book is like.

If you are considering purchasing a Christmas devotional, I hope you’ll take the time to look at my family devotional and study guide called The First Noel–Digging Deeper into Christ’s Birth. 

For this and all my other books, go to my Amazon author page https://www.amazon.com/Christine-L-Henderson/e/B09L2Y7XNP

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

Patience and Writing: Author Interview with Linda Wood Rondeau

You've now written multiple books, but what got you started to complete the first one? 
My very first book started out as Proverbs for Moms. The title changed over the years to Abundant Living for Moms, Daisy's Lessons for Moms, and a number of other titles. It was finally published as I Prayed For Patience God Gave Me Children at first with Helping Hands Press (went off the market) and then with Elk Lake Publishing House.

How did you go about finding a publisher? Did you have an agent? 
I had an agent for several years before I finally published my first book, The Other Side of Darkness. I met the agent at a writer's conference. We corresponded for a year and then I was offered a contract. Getting a contract for that first book took 11 years to the date I decided to become a writer.

Your publisher’s guidelines for submissions include requests for the numbers of social media followers and e-mail lists, as well as the many ways the author plans on promoting their book. Those requests are not unusual, and I've seen them with numerous publishers. To me that sounds like they only want established writers who probably could indie publish on their own. Did you already have a strong following when you got a contract with them?
I did work hard to establish a website and social media platforms. From the work I did, I evidenced a willingness to "get out there" and do the best I could to help market my book. I think many publishers are willing to work with a promising author who is willing to work hard and who has a great book. 

Ultimately, the craft is most important to publishers. Yes, they may take an established author before taking on many pre-published authors. If you have an outstanding product, publishers will take an interest. The hard part is pitching that product in a way to show how outstanding it is!

Marketing is a big part of increasing book sales. What marketing venue have you found most successful in not only getting clicks but sales as well?
My newsletter seems to generate the most "clicks," and I see a definite rise in sales. Word of mouth is still the best advertising. I belong to Christian Authors Network, a marketing group, and found their services to be helpful. I don't see much result from Social Media other than name recognition. 

Blog tours have been beneficial and I intend to do one soon for my newest release due in October, a devotional book, Lessons Along the Way, based on my newspaper column spanning over ten years. I have found I need to invest money in paid groups such as Bookbub. However, as a retired person, I do have a very limited marketing budget so I must choose wisely. Trying to do all my marketing for "free" doesn't work well.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
I find balancing marketing, editing, and other "related" writing responsibilities such as managing my blog, appearances, etc with my personal life to be the utmost challenge. Finding the best time to write before my brain goes to sleep at night is also a challenge. The actual craft is not as difficult for me. I love to write. As for starting ... I just start someplace. Your first few drafts are "rehearsals." I find getting the framework down first is important. Too many writers think they have to get it perfect the first time. This can produce a sort of writing anxiety. Just let go and let the words flow. Plenty of time to tweak your work afterward.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
When a reader lets me know a book helped them with a problem in their lives. As a former social worker, I write to encourage others that life does give us U-turns. My writing slogan is, "Our worst past, given to God, can become our best future."

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
Marketing tricks! The business of writing and how to balance writing with your personal life.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Revise, revise, revise! When you think it's perfect, go over it again. Learn the craft. Go to writers' conferences and take online courses.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
Don't be in a hurry. Like a good stew, let your work simmer for a while to let the flavors of your composition permeate!

Tell me about your latest book? What inspired you to create this story? Could you give my readers a short blurb about it?

I'd like to talk about Ghosts of Trumball Mansion, released in May 2022. (I also have a new devotional book set for release in October). I was inspired to write a book about a troubled marriage and how Satan will use whatever tool he can devise to ruin a marriage. Henry and Sylvia have been separated for fifteen years, staying married in name only for business reasons.

Why do the ghosts in his wife’s ballroom attack only him? Or is publishing tycoon Henry Fitzgibbons insane?

Sylvia Fitzgibbons, his informally estranged wife, is his star author who writes under the name, Lana Longstreet. Now that the children are grown, maybe the time has come to officially end any obligation to his wife’s Connecticut estate and be free of their torment.

Sylvia would ask Henry for a divorce if the children weren’t planning a lavish anniversary party in August, and she didn't have a deadline for her Johnny Gallant suspense series in the same month. She insists Henry spend the summer tending to estate matters, and Henry reluctantly agrees. Hoping for an early escape, he hires a gangly landscape artist who eerily resembles a washed-out country singer. But when Sylvia’s housekeeper must retire due to an auto accident, she begs for his help. Unable to resist her femme fatale pleas, Henry is trapped for the duration.

Forced closeness draw them closer. As a reconciliation proves possible, Sylvia/Lana is charged with plagiarism threatening their publishing empire and the malignant forces within the estate become increasingly aggressive.

Something evil seems to conspire against them that only Faith can conquer.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Linda's books, here are some links to get you started. 
Website: https://lindarondeau.com/
Social Media Sites
Instagram
Facebook Author page, Facebook Writing Coach
Youtube
Twitter
Tik-tok (new)
Tumblr (new)

Writing What You Love to Read: Author Interview with Amanda Trumpower

Today's interview is with a librarian turned middle-grade series author. That's not a stretch in a career change since she's around books all day. Read on to find out more about how her writing journey.

What drew you to writing middle grade mysteries? 

Middle grade fiction has always been special to me. In my professional life as a children's librarian, I loved working with all age ranges. But there was just something special about the 8-12 category. I guess you could say that although I love taking vacations in other age categories, middle grade fiction feels like home!

I grew up in a family that loves mysteries in any form: Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes, Diagnosis Murder, Murder She Wrote, Simon & Simon, Ellery Queen, locked room mysteries, Golden Age mysteries, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, The Three Investigators, CSI, Rizzoli & Isles, Castle, The Mentalist, Numbers, Psych, Monk...I could go on. Can it truly be a great story if there's not at least one dead body that pops up somewhere??

What made you decide to have the lead characters as cats and dogs rather than people? 

I don't remember consciously deciding to do an anthropomorphic universe for my first book series. It's just how the idea came to me. It started as a warm nod to Superman lore--including the hardheaded, bossy, know-it-all reporter who was also quite brave, brilliant, and dedicated to discovering the truth. But I also wanted the books to be fun and full of ridiculous shenanigans, a la Bloodhounds Inc. After all, the crimes can't be too intense in a series for young children. 

Alex Digger, my dog main character, was inspired by my brother's Havanese, who was a fluffy white cloud of hyperactivity and teeth. Meanwhile, I've always owned a cat, so I'm very familiar with their personality tendencies. It seemed like the perfect species to carry off a Lois Lane personality. So, Alex Digger and Mittens Meow were born. 

Middle grade chapter books can go anywhere from a few thousand words to 20,000 words. How do you decide what's the best length for your story?
I try to keep the books between 12-15k, although staying under that cap is the most difficult part of the entire process. My hope for Collar Cases is that it's a good independent read for children in the 7-10 range who are above average reading level, but don't want huge books yet nor do their parents want mature content on the page. My second goal is that they be excellent family read-aloud books for on-target readers, so I try to make them as funny and engaging as possible. 

Prior to writing these books, what experience did you have with marketing and publishing? 
I've been on the path to being a children's author for as long as I can remember. It was clear from an early age that God had given me some skills in this area. I was a voracious reader. I started "writing" stories before I even knew the alphabet. Once I was actually old enough to write, I spent most of my free time doing it. Like many writers, I have thousands of pages of stories, scenes, and one-shots that provided my practice space as I worked on my skills.

In addition to my regular education, my parents enrolled me in Jerry B. Jenkins' professional development course, The Christian Writers Guild. I was a student from junior high until halfway through college. Through them, I received my formal education on craft topics such as dialogue, plot, exposition, etc. I also did a lot of self-study using books on craft from places like Writer's Digest.

How much of the non-writing (formatting, cover design, website design, etc.) did you personally do? 

My marketing and business education has mostly come from Author Media's excellent resources: The Novel Marketing Podcast, The Book Launch Blueprint, and Obscure No More. I also regularly listen to Bryan Cohen's Sell More Books Show and have taken some of his Amazon ad training.

I hire out everything that is not writing. My audiobooks are done by Trista Shaye, a professional narrator with more than 100 audiobooks to her name. My covers and interior illustrations are designed by graphic artist Sarah Johnson. My editing is done by freelancers. I'm pretty techie, so I did my website and book formatting myself, with help from the appropriate tools (Wordpress.org/Divi and Vellum, respectively).

What’s the hardest part of publishing and marketing your own books?

The hardest part is resisting the temptation to rush. If you can commit in your mind that this is a long-term endeavor, you will find it much easier to get the proper training required, learn the tools, and build your platform slowly to properly support your growth.

Marketing is a big part of increasing book sales. What marketing venue have you found most successful in not only getting clicks but sales as well?
This was my first year diving into Amazon ads. I would say that's a must for any author with books on Amazon, and I recommend you start there before doing other ad platforms like Facebook or Bookbub.

For me personally, I have a strong background in doing events for children. (I also happen to love it!) So I plan to lean into that with in-person programming, virtual events, classroom visits, homeschool conventions, public library programs, and the like. I love building relationships with kids and find that if I can give them a good experience, parents are thrilled to buy the book that goes along with it.
 
I'm currently in the process of launching books in two different genres and I  agonize over what the covers should look like? What was your process like in finding the right illustrator for your books?
I cheated...my cover designer is my cousin! I will warn readers, though, that if you're going to use family, you must be professional about it. I pay Sarah for everything she does: covers, art, program appearances. She may not be charging me the absolute top dollar possible, but I never ask her to use her professional skills on my behalf for free.

I would also say that market research is vitally important. I made many trips to the library and bookstore to study chapter books. It's a bit tricky, because they're not quite middle grade (at least not always), so you have to make sure you get the marketing right. I'm also a big fan of Alex Newton's K-Lytics service. Of course, the standard advice about split testing two covers, researching the top 100 covers in your genre on Amazon, etc. are all good suggestions too.
 
What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
I. Hate. Drafting.

First drafts are a nightmare for me! My imposter syndrome flares up off the charts, I obsess about going over word count (I always do), I'm terribly insecure about the integrity of the mystery puzzle...Words cannot describe how much I hate rough drafting. Revisions are so much more fun because that's when the real writing happens!

I hate rough drafting so much that it can cripple my productivity if I let it. I've recently started dictating my rough drafts to get over this issue, and I have to say, the early results are amazing.
 
What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?

 Hearing from a kid who has read the book and genuinely enjoys it. There is no substitute for that kind of joy! It makes the whole process worthwhile and reminds me why all the effort, headaches, and discipline is worth it. 

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
That trad pub isn't the only way to get books into reader hands. I spent nearly twenty years prepping for a career in trad pub, only to discover within the last three years that there is a whole other world of indie pubbing--and I vastly prefer it! Both choices are valid. There are people in both camps who do it poorly, and people in both camps who do it extremely well. The decision which is right for you is an intensely personal one. Learn your options, figure out what your goals are, and make the choice that is right for YOU. 

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?

If you really want this, all you have to do is stick with it. 

That advice was given to me in a college classroom by bestselling mystery author Amanda Flower. She said that this business is tough and full of people who think they want to be authors. If you truly want this--I mean the "deep down in your bones, keeps you awake at night" type wanting--then all you have to do is persevere, because the rigors of the publishing process will kill off anyone who is not committed. :)

 
Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
Don't waste time trying to figure out who or what is beneath you. For many years, I was a trad pub snob. I assumed that the only people who published their own books were people who couldn't make the cut in trad pub, and I was going to be one of the ones who did, thank you very much. Now, I realize how wrong I was. I spent so much time trying to figure out where I ranked in the imaginary global ranking of all authors everywhere that I carried in my head. I did this because deep down, I feared I wasn't good enough.

Stop that. 

If you're a Christian, you know that your design wasn't an accident. God made you the way He did on purpose, including your talents. So take what He's given you and be faithful with it. Learn how to grow your skills, learn how to be a better writer, figure out what you're supposed to be writing...and then go do it. 

Don't worry about the people behind you. Don't worry about the people in front of you. Just show up to your work and do it to the best of your ability. Maybe you'll be a six-figure author. Maybe you won't be. But you will have lived your life using your talents in a way that honors the One who gave them to you, and because of that you will find peace. There are a lot of wealthy and famous people who will never be able to say the same.

Your website shows you’re doing an interactive mystery in October. That sounds like a lot of work. What made you decide to put this together? And what all does it entail?
It certainly is a lot of work! :D

This program heavily draws on my decades-plus experience running programs for kids. I've been a mystery nut ever since I was a kid. If you had invited me to a (free!) party where I got to show up and help solve a mystery by interviewing the suspects and collaborating with the detectives, you would have made all of my Nancy Drew dreams come true. I'm trying to provide that kind of experience for these kids. I'm also a huge mystery dinner theater fan (go figure), so this program was inspired by that format.

As far as what it entails, it basically comes down to collaboration and scheduling. I've collaborated with friends and theater-loving types to be the victim, Mittens/Alex, and suspects. I've constructed a basic mystery, created a blurb of critical info for the suspects to reference when speaking with the kids, and had to estimate how long it will take the kids to rotate through the various stations. There are about a million boring logistical details I also had to tackle: where we would hold the program; how to get the word out; how many times we should repeat the program in the day and what start times would work with families, etc.

Yes, that is a lot of work! I pray that it will run smoothly and be a fun time for all. Now, tell me about the next book coming out.

Collar Cases #3: Case of the Angry Avians sees Mittens Meow and Alex Digger chase Ruffled Feathers, the bird criminal mastermind from the first two books, to a remote mountain in Canada. A blizzard sets in and traps them all in a ski lodge. Mittens thinks it will be an easy collar (pardon the pun)...until they discover all the guests at the lodge are birds! Things get dangerous when someone starts knocking off guests, one at a time. Can Mittens and Alex expose Ruffled Feathers before the storm clears? And is he the one behind the attacks--or is there a second criminal element at work?  

The text and audio work are all finished. We're just waiting on covers and interior illustrations. The goal is to have it out Fall 2022.

That's all for today's interview. Hope you'll check out her books. When you buy them you'll get extra features beside the story. I'm going to let you discover what that is on your own. If you'd like to learn more about the series, you can find everything you need to know at https://amandatrumpower.com/collar-cases/! If you want to get started on the first book, you can find it here.

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 an opportunity to snag the interest of an agent or publisher. No charge to sign up for the pitch and get yours ready for the contact that's the best fit for you.  https://savvyauthors.com/community/classes/2022-autumn-pitchfest.1844/

What I love about videos like this is that you can start, stop, and go back as you learn. This one is for setting up an account with Ingram Spark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34HESLtPS4E

Wow! This is good. It's not just a few of the ones you already do, but lots of others that make a lot of sense. It also includes how to reach them.  https://blog.bookbaby.com/how-to-self-publish/self-publishing/expand-your-market-to-sell-childrens-books

I am not a graphics designer and I like how this post explains cover design so I can understand it. https://blog.bookbaby.com/how-to-self-publish/book-design/book-cover-designer

This post explains a bit about how to make your complicated story into one the reader can easily follow and keep them turning the pages. https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/is-your-story-too-complicated/

Don't Be Afraid of Writing Rejection - Keep Writing: Author Interview with Dennis Bailey

You retired from being a police detective and turned to writing. What made you decide to write biblical fiction? 

For most of my adult life, I've been an ardent student of the Bible. Back in the mid-90s, I also became a big fan of Jerry B. Jenkins' and Tim LaHaye's Left Behind series. After reading those stories, all I can say is that I felt the call of God on my own heart to take what I'd learned in the Scriptures and use it to write something similar using the Biblical account of Noah. 

What type of research did you do for that first book, Army of God, to create a story that grabs at the reader’s heart? 

All of the historical research for Army of God is based on that account and the writings of Flavius Josephus in his Antiquities of the Jews. At it's core, Army of God is a revenge story, with the hook being how the animals are employed as more than just cargo, but as defenders of the ark itself.

Your books are independently published. Prior to writing these books, what experience did you have with marketing and publishing? 

I had no prior experience in marketing or publishing prior to my first book. Army of God was originally published by a small, newly-formed, boutique publisher. However, following a less than successful launch, I regained control of the rights to the novel and published it independently. 

How much of the non-writing (formatting, cover design, website design, etc.) did you do?  

Surprisingly, I do quite a bit of the non-writing tasks. While I contract others to handle the eBook formatting, cover design (based on my own concept), and website development. 

Starting with my second novel, I took over formatting of the print version (using Adobe InDesign) as well as the production and publishing of my own book trailers (Wondershare Filmora). For me, the hardest part of the publishing and marketing of my own books is the time it takes away from the creative process of writing.

Marketing is a big part of increasing book sales. You’ve managed to get 500 + reviews, which is not easy for a new author. What marketing venue have you found most successful in not only getting clicks but sales as well? 

I've benefited from a lot of good advice. I hired both a personal book marketing consultant and a separate commercial marketing team. The personal consultant provided a tailored marketing roadmap for promoting my books using the major book promo sites (e.g., Robin Reads, Freebooksy, EReader News Today, etc.) in conjunction with running price promotion campaigns on Amazon. 

The marketing team handles all of the direct advertising that appears on the Amazon sales pages. As for the most successful marketing venue, I'd say the three I mentioned above are equally good. Everybody talks about how great BookBub is (and they are), but what good are they if you can't get them to accept your book for promotion.

Both of your books have wonderful cover designs. How did you find the right designer? 

That's an interesting story. A few years ago, I ran a design contest on the graphic design website 99Designs, but wasn't able to find an acceptable candidate. After that I went looking through their list of artists on my own and found someone whose portfolio contained some truly magnificent character designs. His name is Darko Tomic and he's from Serbia. He did both of my covers and, with luck, will do all my future ones.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?  

I'd have to say overcoming inertia. When I get stuck and the words aren't coming, I get depressed. So, I take a break. But then I find myself not wanting to come back. I'll come back to the screen two, three, four times during the day and just end up staring at it, all the while becoming more frustrated and discouraged. 

I've heard of writers who can write 18,000 words in a weekend, or a complete novel in 90 days. I could never do that. Writing for me is an inherently slow, deliberate process. I've spent half a day writing a single paragraph. The price of being a perfectionist, I guess.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing? 

Her name is DiAnn Mills. She's an established Christian author, writer of more than 55 books. I met her at a Christian Writer's Conference in Dallas 11 years ago where she inexplicably invited me to join an advanced writer's class she was teaching. Since then, she has become my friend, editor, mentor, writing coach, and varsity cheerleader. Her best advice to me. "Keep writing."

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner? 

Only that I'd taken it up sooner. I've always loved writing, the crafting of words into a coherent thought that might touch, move, persuade, or even change a person's life in some way. Even as a police detective, I'm humbled to say I had a reputation for writing a fairly good investigative report. But I'd never thought to use that gift to tell stories. Jerry Jenkins once said, "Whatever else the writing life offers, nothing compares with the dream of actually changing lives with words." He was, of course, correct.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give? 

Don't be afraid to follow your dream. If your dream is to write, write! Next, develop a thick skin and prepare yourself for rejection. It happens to us all. I was dropped by my agent a year after being signed. Army of God was overlooked by all but one small publishing house and has been rejected for promotion by BookBub 26 straight times. And yet it continues to garner 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon and was a Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Award winner in 2020. Above all, don't give up!

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

Writing is a sedentary occupation, one that can lead to a variety of ailments related to being inactive. To combat this, you're going to want to develop a regular exercise regimen and stick to it. It doesn't necessarily have to be strenuous, but should involve something other than sitting. 

It may be tough when the creative juices are flowing, but I wouldn't suggest sitting more than two hours at a time without getting up to take a walk around the house or the yard. I have an adjustable standing desk that allows me to alternate between sitting and standing to prevent strain in either position while writing.

Your newest book, The Boy Who Cried Christmas, is a boy who cried wolf story. Tell me about how you crafted your plot. 

I wish I could take credit, but must confess I rely heavily on the Spirit of God for all of my story ideas.  Even in my youth, I was never quite that creative or imaginative and probably the reason I chose the pragmatic, analytical career of a police officer. Of course, after Army of God, I did want to tell a Christmas story, one that focused more on the birth of Jesus than the commercialized Santa Claus. I thought the boy who cried wolf fable was the perfect vehicle to use. 

Rather than a farfetched tale of a pending wolf attack, I used the farfetched tale of a boy witnessing the birth of Christ. Strategically, the story is broken into two main overarching themes. The first involves the boy traveling back in time to witness the event and all the dangers he faces there. The second deals with the scrutiny and dangers he faces upon his return to the present. I'm particularly proud of the ending, which turned out to be quite a surprise to many readers.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Dennis's books, here are some links to get you started.
Website: https://dennisbaileyauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dennisbaileyauthor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Dennis-Bailey/e/B078T3BF7J
Army of God book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBrTF3Hroj0&t=1s
The Boy Who Cried Christmas book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT3Ga7ziKTQ