Getting Validation as a Writer: Author Interview with Mary Ellen Bramwell - women's fiction

What inspired you to write about the trials of life?  
I read books from just about any genre, but I chose to write about life's ups and downs because those are the stories that stick with me. A mystery or crime is solved and then over with, but life is ongoing. So, the things we learn from living life, or the things we learn from reading about someone else's life, are the things that we ponder long after the trial (or story) is finished.

How long did it take to write the first book?
My first book took six months to write and six months to rewrite. Many edits were done along the way, but I went through one major rewrite (unlike one of my other books that went through four).

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
Probably being comfortable with the story early on. I've started writing several books that sounded great in my head but on paper just felt flat. It's hard to keep pushing on a story when it's just not working. I abandon those ideas before I waste too much time on them. When a story starts to write itself, I know I've found the right one.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
Several years before I wrote my first book, I published a couple magazine articles. The editor I worked with on the second of those said, "You're a good writer. You should keep writing for us." I never forgot that. When I began seriously writing, that always stayed in the back of my mind, telling me I could do it. Then shortly after starting writing books, I won an award in the Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition. It validated the earlier comment. It is so easy to doubt yourself as a writer. Having people who did not personally know me tell me I could write made a huge difference.

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? 
Marketing was what I was least prepared to handle, yet we all need to do it. I was fortunate enough to land a BookBub deal early on. That featured eBook had over 50,000 free downloads. That spurred pages read and follow-on sales. Several years later, I'm still getting new reviews and ratings every week. 

Do you sell more eBooks or print books?

I definitely sell more eBooks than print.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
Just a better handle on mechanics. I've learned so much about how to be a better writer (from conferences, books, etc.) since I first started that I'm hesitant to read my earlier books. When I do read them, I'm relieved I still like them - even if I would have tightened up some of the language if I were to write them now.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Hire an editor. You need to have someone else put eyes on it. And the caveat is be willing to accept the editing advice.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
A lot of people tell me, "I've always wanted to write a book." I encourage them to do it. Just sit down and put pen to paper and begin. In a way, the comment is a slight on writers. ("I could do what you do.") So, I'm always happy to support and cheer other writers who are willing to put in the hard work and produce a book. It is always an accomplishment to be celebrated. I've found fellow writers to be so supportive, so I try to be the same.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
I'm usually knee deep in another book, but I'm not right now. I have a series of children's books in the works (with names like It Was a Dark and Squeak Night), and I'm working on getting the approvals from involved parties to write a nonfiction book. Both of these projects are departures from what I've written in the past, but ones I'm excited to explore. At the moment, I'm spending most of my time editing for others.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Mary-Ellen's books, here are some links to get you started.
Amazon author page:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mary-Ellen-Bramwell/author/B00NA86N0U
Goodreads author page: 
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8514729.Mary_Ellen_Bramwell
Website:https://maryellenbramwell.com/ 

And here's a bonus for my readers... lf you leave a comment on this post, you'll be entered in a drawing to win of one of her eBooks. The ones she is offering is either The Apple of My Eye or When I Was Seven. The winner gets to choose which book they want. The deadline to enter is 8:00 PM 3/23/23. So don't wait, leave a comment with your name now!

Writing That's Inspired: Author Interview with Tiffiney Rogers-McDaniel

Your work history is in finance and coding, which is a far cry from writing. What made you decide to start writing picture books?
During the pandemic God told me to write. I felt and saw a need for a change in the world and this was my way to contribute. Teaching valuable lessons at an early age is a necessity, it helps our children to become better adults spiritually, mentally, physically, and financially.
 
Your books revolve around a daycare center. Have you been a teacher there?
No, I am not a teacher. My grandmother owned a daycare facility, and she is my inspiration for the books. She was dedicated to teaching young children the importance of loving God, others, and themselves.
 
How long did it take for you to complete your first book? How many rewrites did you do?
I began writing in March of 2020, which consisted of 10 books and published the first book December 2020. There was only one rewrite and off to editing it went.
 
How did you go about finding an illustrator?
I joined various Facebook groups, gathered information, and researched until I found the perfect fit for my needs. 

What was the hardest part of putting together your books?
EVERYTHING! This is an assignment that I was given instantaneously.  I had no idea what to do or where to start, so it took a lot of time and research to piece everything together.
 
Did you personally design the full book, or did you have assistance?
I found someone that could take my book from start to finish. I provided the edited manuscript, my ideas for the illustrations and they produced the finished product. I researched all the recommendations given by various Facebook groups and chose the company that I felt could deliver my message through storytelling in an easy, fun-filled way.
 
What’s the best encouragement you’ve had from readers?
I am really encouraged when I hear readers say that these books are needed during these times, not only for the children but as a gentle reminder for adults as well. It only confirms that I’m doing what I was created and instructed to do back in 2020. Teaching our children to love God, others and themselves starts in our homes. The world has the potential to become a better place if we learn how to love more, respect each other, be kind to one another and have compassion towards others.
 

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 started writing during the isolation period of pandemic, therefore, I have used social media more than ever and I have reached more people than I possible ever could have without it.

What do you know now about publishing you wished you had known sooner?
It is not for the faint of heart! I can not begin to tell you the number of sleepless nights or tears that I have shed, due to missed deadlines or unkept promises.
 
What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Pray and Write! Daily, I pray for God ideas and when He gives me a story it is so easy to write.  I am so surprised some times where my inspiration for a story comes from, it could be  tv or radio commercial, billboards, sermon, social media posts or current events. I’ve learned to keep my phone or notepad near to take quick notes.
 
Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
Writing has become a form of therapy for me. I’ve realized that not only am writing for others, but my writing is beneficial to me as well.
 

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me some details? 

I just published Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.in January. In the story,  MacKenzie takes great pride in her appearance. When she notices a white spot on her face one morning, she is concerned and loses her self-confidence. However, through the encouragement of a friend and then learning Mrs. Christian’s newest verse about how God made us all special, MacKenzie soon realizes that she was Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.

If you'd like to learn more about Tiffiney's teachable moments stories, here are some links to get you started. 

Book website:https://teachingparables.com/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/teachingparables
Amazon Page: bit.ly/3EIZikP

And here's a bonus for my readers... Tiffiney will be giving away one of her eBooks  to one reader who adds a comment below. It can be as simple as,  I'd like to win a book. Then on 3/6/23 at 8:00 pm. I'll put all the names of the posters in a box and pull out our winner. So leave a comment below now!

Taking the First Steps to Publishing: Author Interview with Doug Beisley

When did you decide to start writing your first picture book? 
I often write poetry just for fun. I enjoy writing for my elementary music classes. When I wrote this poem, that was my intent. The thought of making it into a book had really never entered my mind. After, I debuted it with my students and their reaction was so good, I posted it on a music teacher’s Facebook page. By the next morning, I had many people encouraging me to publish it as a book. That was the launch of this book.

How long did it take for you to complete it? How many rewrites did you do? 

From start to finish, the process took me about seven months. As far as rewrites, I did refine the original writing by changing some awkward words. 

Are you active in any writing critique groups?

I am not active in any writing critique groups but would love to join one now that I am walking this new journey.

Since you are a teacher, did you run your stories by your students as sounding boards? 
Yes, and they loved it! We actually used classroom instruments to make the sounds of the jungle. It was loud and super fun! I put a copy of the book in the school library and there is a long waiting list for it! They love that I have made this story into a book.

How did you go about finding an illustrator?
I used a young man that was recommended by a family member. I knew him as a high school student but did not know he did this kind of work. When I pitched the idea, he enthusiastically took on the project. I am thrilled with his work!

What was the hardest part of putting together this book?
It was the lack of knowledge! I didn’t know anything about publishing and I was so excited to do this that I jumped a little too fast. I chose to use a publisher that charged me a lot of money. In the end, I love the result but I could have achieved this result much cheaper had I known what I was doing. Now, I have learned so much from the Facebook groups that I belong to and would so things much differently.

How much input did you have in the design and layout of the book?
My illustrator did a lot of it but then there was a design team at the publisher that handled the design and final layout of the book.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had from readers?
People keep telling me how much fun it is and how their kids love it. One two-year-old has the book memorized. It is his favorite book and he wants it to be read to him over and over.

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?
Honestly, this is the hard part! So far, my personal Facebook friends have been amazing at getting the word out. Many people bought the book as a Christmas gift.

What do you know now about publishing you wished you had known sooner?
Just about everything! The main thing was that I didn’t have to pay thousands of dollars to get my book published.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Dare to dream! Your story is your world to create. Let your imagination run wild!

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
Having a child love your book is the greatest gift to receive. I love every picture and video of kids reading and loving my book.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me some details?
I've written another children’s picture book called The First Day of School. In it, the student finds himself in a long line waiting to see who his teacher will be. The person in front of him begins to tell stories of being in Miss Ivin’s class last year. As he stands in line, hearing the stories, his imagination runs away with him. He imagines many adventures in Miss Ivins class. Of course, he finds his name on her list and she gives him a wink through the window of the school. It is super fun!

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Doug's books, you can check them out on his Amazon page at: https://dougbeisley.com/

Listening to the Right Advice: Author Interview with Jeanne Bender

I had to do an interview with Jeanne when I discovered she went from being a Realtor to writer as I've done. I hope you'll enjoy her writing journey and learn from her marketing points.

Prior to writing your first children's book, you were a successful Realtor. What made you decide to make the jump from a high pressure, but rewarding job in real estate to the highly competitive business of writing children's books?
I have always enjoyed writing. In grade school, high school, throughout my real estate years, and later on, I wrote stories about my travels.

When I retired from a rewarding career in real estate, I decided to fulfill a long-term dream of traveling all over the world. I traveled to many places with my dog, Lindie Lou.

One day I decided to write my travel stories over the shoulders and through the eyes of Lindie Lou, and the Lindie Lou Adventure Series was conceived. I love literacy and I wanted to write a series with educators so the Lindie Lou Adventure Series books could use with their students.

How did you go about finding a publisher?
I didn't want to self-publish my books because having the support of a publisher was important to me. I found Pina Publishing in Seattle, where I was living at the time. We had an immediate connection and I felt it was a good fit. Pina Publishing began publishing my book series in 2016. Their mission is to “create published works of the highest quality with an emphasis on education”. Today they represent many writers. The Pina Publishing team continues to be a great support and helpful advisor.

What does “Team Lindie Lou” consist of?
"Team Lindie Lou" is my educational team and book collaborators who work for Pina Publishing. It consists of: myself the Author, a Creative Editor, (Pina Publishing), Educational Consultants, a Technical Editor (Pina Publishing), a Marketing Director, (Pina Publishing), an Illustrator, a graphic designer, and a Social Media Specialist (Pina Publishing).

How many rewrites did it take to get your first Lindie Lou book ready for publishing? 
The first book, Flying High: Flying on an Airplane for the Very First Time, which came out in April of 2016, took 50 edits and three years to write. When we sold out of the first printing and were ready to reprint, we republished a 2nd edition with 3 more chapters and 18 revised and/or new illustrations.

Each book thereafter has taken about a year to write. Book 5, On Ice: Exploring the Arctic with a Polar Bear Cub, was published in April of 2021. There were about 30 edits and took 1 year to write, plus a visit to the arctic to learn more about my subject. My books have reliable realistic stories about places in the world.

I've been working on the storyline and outline for book 6, New Year's Eve Surprise, with my creative editor for about 4 months but the idea for the story has been in my mind for a long time. Now we are working out the characters, their traits, the details of the setting, the timing, the flow from chapter to chapter, and the social/emotional life lessons which are an integral part of the series, and the plot. All before writing a single word!

Why did you choose to write a chapter book for young children upwards of 200+ pages as opposed to a standard picture book of 32 +/- pages?
The original idea was to write a non-fiction travelogue with my dog as the main character. I was advised by my Creative Editor and Educational Consultant that a realistic fiction series with illustrations which was longer than the typical beginning chapter books (Magic Tree House) would fill a much needed niche. Research showed in 2015 that many 5 to 9 year-olds were interested in longer chapter books like the Harry Potter series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, and Minecraft books, even though they weren't able to read them. 

Educators told us they wanted a fiction series with an Interest Level of ages 5-9, a Reading Level of Grade 2/Lexile 400-600 which could be used as a read-aloud as well as a literacy tool. We decided that in order to encourage beginning readers to transition from picture books into their first chapter books the Lindie Lou Adventure Series books should be 150-250 pages, with short chapters, creative fonts, and color illustrations.

As a writer, you imagine what your characters will look like as you write their stories. When your illustrator was brought on, how close did she come to your initial imaginings?
The first illustrator we worked with was unable to achieve the concept we were looking for. After several attempts, we knew we needed to look elsewhere. When our current illustrator, who writes under the pen name Kate Willows, was recommended to us, we knew right away there was a good chance her style would work for us. It only took a few tweaks for her to create our protagonist Lindie Lou exactly how we imagined she should look. Team Lindie Lou has been amazed by our illustrator’s talent ever since.

Your book is a chapter book, which has numerous illustrations to go along with it. What is the determining factor in deciding how many illustrations are needed? One or two per chapter? Less? More?
We typically include two illustrations per chapter. The illustrations often show some sort of movement, an image of one of the new characters, or something we feel a child can't imagine because they haven’t yet experienced the subject matter I am describing. We often also show maps so our readers know where our books take place.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
I wish I had known more about the process of writing a book. There are so many parts.

The concept, title, the cover design, the outline, the editing, the illustrations, the research, the outline, the layout, the plot, the characters, the printing, the marketing, social media, and I’m sure I’ve missed many more.

Writing is more than being an author and having a book published. It is a lifestyle. It includes being a public figure and loving to meet those who are interested in my books.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
The best advice I’ve received was the day my creative editor said “your book is good but it can be great if you are willing to take the advice of a few educators who are looking for a book like this.”

The best advice I can give is “writing is a way of giving to others the insights and experiences about a subject, readers may be interested in. If you have a compelling story, write it down, develop it, share it, and enjoy the outcome.”

What's been your most productive marketing tool for getting the word out about your books?
Word of mouth. If you write a GOOD BOOK, the masses will read it. :).

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
One more point I like to live by…”If you do what you love and the rest will be a pleasure.”

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
There will be 12 books in the Lindie Lou Adventure Series.

Book 6 will be published in September 2022.

Here are the details...Follow Lindie Lou to a remote group of islands known as New Zealand. Learn about the people, their culture, the fauna, and the flora of this amazing place. Lindie Lou thinks she is playing with her family and friends, but she is actually changing their lives!

That's all for today's interview. I hope you'll take the time to review the links below and learn more about her books. 

Lindie Lou website: https://lindielou.com/index.html

Lindie Lou Educational Materials https://lindielou.com/educational-activities.html
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lindielouadventureseries
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindielou_books/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjg0HWu6Yh8KSvXh8yEq4tQ

From Editing to Writing and Publishing: An Interview with M.K. Gilroy

I am impressed by the way you’ve moved from publishing to writing and back again. Let’s start with publishing. You worked with Thomas Nelson, the biggest Christian publisher. What do you think is the common misconception writers have about the submission and editing process? 

There is no simple answer to that question. The amount of attention a submission gets can be very capricious. A lack of attention and response may come down to nothing more than an editor’s workload. At the larger publishers, most submissions must come through an agent, even if that rule isn’t written in stone. If you have your own reality show or ten million Twitter followers, don’t worry, the publishers will knock at your door. Based on the sheer volume of manuscripts being written, the agent’s role has grown. He or she is being trusted by publishers to cull submissions for the best of the best. For any writer wanting to pursue the traditional publishing route, it begins with preparing a proposal that sells an agent.

You were involved in the publishing process for God’s Little Devotional Book and Jesus Calling which both became phenomenal best sellers. What did the editors see that made them think these books should be published? 

God’s Little Devotional Book was an almost immediate success. It was ordered by Sams and other big box retailers and the sell through outpaced countless books by big name authors. Jesus Calling was a slower build, even though it did very well from day one. For one thing, the first printings were four color, which meant they were done in China, so we kept running out of books and it would take months to restock. So we converted to two-color so we could print domestically and keep in stock. People were so moved by Jesus Calling that they would order in case lot quantities to give to friends or a child’s athletic team or class at school. 

In both series, the phrase we used to explain sales was “it’s a God thing.” I’d like to say I was smart or spiritual enough to predict such levels of success, but that was beyond anything I brought to the table. On more than a few occasions I’ve looked at success stories like these and tried to reverse engineer the dynamics. Hits like that just don’t work that way.

Your bio shows you’ve ghostwritten numerous books. How did you get involved in that process?

How does that work? 

I’ve ghosted about seven books now, so that’s obviously not been my focus. The first book I wrote was with Don Soderquist who was Sam Walton’s right hand man during Walmart’s explosive growth. I didn’t know him before we worked on the project, but we were introduced by a mutual friend. In his case, he had put most of the meat of the book on paper and my job was to shape it into a commercial project. I’ve ghost written other books where it was based on very little author writing but extended interviews. I’ve had one instance where someone had an idea and not much else, but they wanted a book to promote their business. I think there is tremendous opportunity for writers in this area.

You are now writing your own books. With all your publishing contacts, why didn’t you go the traditional route? 

The most disrupted category in publishing is adult fiction. Obviously not for the A+ authors, but for the solid B authors and especially new authors, publisher acquisitions have contracted significantly. Further, the marketing dollars are going to go to the bigger projects. So I believe there’s more opportunity keeping control of the publishing process. 

Are you looking for submissions for your publishing company, Sydney Lane Press?

At Sydney Lane we are acquiring at a modest pace. We are looking for authors who have ownership of a backlist with some modicum of success and new materials ready to go. When spending money to promote a book, we want it to have spillover onto an entire series.

What inspired you to create your Kristen Conner mysteries? How do you come up with the ideas for the murders in your book? 

I’ve read so much character-driven series fiction through the years that I’m surprised I didn’t jump into fiction earlier! I definitely saw Kristen Conner as a series. With six children — three boys and three girls — I determined that most of the drama in my parenting life came from my daughters, so that settled it for me. Write a female protagonist. 

My first three books have had some sensational murders. Every Breath You Take was the murder of a billionaire’s son. I was writing while there were huge protests against Wall Street and the 1% so I think that probably inspired the story line. I am finishing up the fourth mystery, Under Pressure, and this one is built around multiple murders, including a school shooting. Since the stories are based in Chicago, it is easy to follow the crime timeline.

What new book(s) do you have in the works?

I’ve launched a new series with Rise of the Beast, book one in the Patmos Conspiracy. This is going to take a lot of people by surprise. It sounds biblical—and it’s definitely Apocryphal—but it’s an international thriller with the incredible twist of a billionaire megalomaniac who decides he will volunteer to be the Beast of Revelation in order to purge the world of a couple billion people.

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

Read a lot more than you write. When you do write, write what you like!

Thank you for your insight on writing and publishing. If you'd like to learn more about Mark's current series or upcoming ones, here's a link to get you started: http://www.markgilroy.com/ and if you attend the Killer Nashville conference next month, you might just meet him there!