Writing in Dual Genres: Author Interview with Anne M. Scott

According to your bio you are a 20 year Air Force veteran. So I'd like to start off by thanking you for your service. Writing romance books there's a lot different than being in the Air Force. What inspired you to write contemporary romance? How long did it take you to write your first book that was published?

My last years in the USAF were pretty stressful, so after I retired, I read a LOT of romance, making up for all the years I didn't have the time. I read really fast, and I was constantly searching for new authors. I came across a military romance, but after the first chapter, it was obvious the author hadn't ever spoken to a military member or even knew how to use Google. I thought I could do better, so I started writing. 

News flash, I couldn't do better. But, I really tried. Over the course of two years, I wrote eight romance novels--my very patient sister, Lia Huni, reading the first one over and over--and then got an idea for a science fiction novel. So I wrote that, publishing the first in 2015 as AM Scott. During the pandemic,I returned to the romance because I was again stressed, but now by volunteer work. I've been revising those old novels slowly and published the first last year.
 

As an indie author, did you personally design the full book, or did you have assistance with formatting, cover design, marketing etc.?

Early on, I was lucky to find a writing sprint group with two very talented hybrid authors; Lou Cadle and Eric T. Knight. They gave me a ton of great advice, one of those being good cover designers are worth it! My romance covers are by Mibl, and Deranged Doctor Design does my sci fi. Lou and Eric also helped me with formatting, which I do myself. I like being an indie author! I especially like setting my own deadlines, mostly so I can jump on important volunteer work when needed. I'm a volunteer leader with Team Rubicon Disaster Response.
 
What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?

Shortly after I published my first three novels, a retired South African military member wrote me, saying how much he enjoyed my SF novels and that they reminded him of the early days of SF. Whenever I get discouraged, I think about that amazing email! 
 
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?

BookBub Featured Deals have always paid off if you can get them. Everything else has been iffy; I've never gotten Amazon ads to work for me. I am slowly finding a method that works for Facebook Ads, but it's been a struggle. I recommend Mal Cooper's book, My Facebook Ads Suck, Third Edition.

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

How much administrative stuff there is! There's always new graphics to make, new ad copy to write, blog articles, websites, swag, etc. and all of it takes a ton of time!
 
What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?

Eric and Lou both told me to write and edit three books before I published the first. I'd recommend, especially if you're writing in series, to write an entire series so you can release them regularly without any stress. I wish I'd written my whole series before publishing the first, because I'm a discovery writer, and there are things I would change if I could go back. But I can't, so I write on!
 
Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?

Be careful about advice and great, time-limited offers. Look before you leap! There are plenty of scammers and ignorant people out there, so study what someone is saying carefully and see if it makes sense. Wait at least 24 hours before leaping on a great deal!
 

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

Saved by the Airman comes out September 26th! 

On a solo hiking trip, Master Sergeant Chris Hall finds an unconscious woman and her snarling dog. When weather moves in, Chris’s quick thinking saves their lives and sparks an instant attraction. Then he finds out the woman is Major Amy Stone; a relationship is impossible. 

But after their adventure, their connection grows, despite the risks of a forbidden relationship and the danger to their guarded emotions. When a threat from Amy’s past returns, not only are their hearts and careers in danger, but possibly their lives.

Saved by the Airman is part of the EVERYDAY HEROES shared world where every book comes with a swoon worthy hero, sweet heroine and a happy ever after that will leave you wanting more. Saved by the Everyday Hero, an anthology, is available now for just $0.99!

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

Website:  https://www.amscottwrites.com/romance/

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

Email: romance@amscottwrites.com

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

And here's a special bonus for my readers... When you sign up for her newsletter you'll receive the prequel story for her series Bitterroot Montana Veterans series. Here's the link to do that: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/xe1pwd1ge9

Leveraging Your Writing and Marketing: Author Interview with Julie Landon

What inspired you to write picture books? 

I had been telling my son a story for what became the first book “The Little Voice”. I knew a picture book was the way to go for this children’s story. After publishing the first book with my son as the character, I knew I’d need to write another for my daughter at some point.

How long did it take to write? 

I probably told the story to my son for a few weeks before deciding to write it down. It took much longer to get the illustrations than it did to write the story.

How many revisions did you do? 

I did one major revision when I changed the setting from a castle to a cabin in the woods.

How did you go about finding an illustrator? 

I  asked an artist I had known for years first, but after creative differences, we parted ways. The first time I asked Amanda she wasn’t interested. It wasn’t the right time. Then our paths crossed again and the timing was right.

How much input did you give Amanda as to what you wanted or did she make more of the decisions on her own for your approval? She ran everything by me. I did give her pictures of my children for the characters and pictures of the setting. We staged pictures of my daughter looking under the bed, hugging my parents, for “Mystery on the Farm”. We did the same for “ The Little Voice” as well. Pretty much every illustration was planned by me and she brought it to life. She did suggest the grandfather put the squirrel in his overall pocket at the end of one book. That was a loving memory she had of her own father.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
The hardest part for me is advancing the story to get to the conclusion and not losing the reader along the way. I didn’t start writing either story until I had it in my head and had told it to my kids at story time a few times.

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

Parent feedback is amazing. Once a parent tell me how their child wanted to read the book each night and when the mom tried to skip a page, because it was getting late, her daughter knew she had skipped it because she had read it so much.

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? 

I mainly make sales in person at local marketplaces and book readings. I’d love to get more online sales.

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

 Just write it down! It’s ok if it’s not perfect the first time and it’s ok to make big changes.

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

Keep a journal of ideas to create great stories, great dialogue, setting ideas, etc. Don’t be afraid of change directions if something isn’t working in the story; be flexible.

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

Be sure to get many pairs of eyes on your story for different reasons. I once found I had too many “l”s in my daughters name. Easy mistakes happen when you’ve read it so many times. Read it out loud; ask friends and family to read; get a beta reader as well.

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

I am working on developing a story about my nephew who has Down Syndrome. It’s in the very early stages. The other picture books I have published include Mystery on the Farm and The Little Voice. You can find both of them on my Amazon Author Page at 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Julie-E.-Landon/author/B01M0KIOMW

Besides these books, you can find my journals and notebooks where you can write down your thoughts and ideas. The cover above is one of them You can find them at 

https://funfamilypicks.com/journals

That's all for today's interview. Do check out her website as she also has links to many educational products for kids, a self-publishing guide, and tips for making money online.  And you can get a FREE eBook on making money with affiliated marketing! GO there now.