When new authors ask me for advice on book marketing, I dread answering because it’s the most difficult part for me. I think most authors struggle with marketing. Who wants to harass strangers, friends, and family 24/7? Because of my aversion to mark...

New authors often post the question: What advice can you give a new author? My answer is usually:I write a blog about exactly this. I've made so many mistakes and I share them all.1.   Mostly, read everything you can. Stalk indie autho...

When you make your first book sale on your website…you scream with excitement and wake up your exhausted husband. True story. Thankfully he’s very forgiving and was happy for me. The virtual author event is coming up quickly and I have a discount run...

I finished my WIP, VioleNt!! I’m so excited to be done, I’ve been working on it for a long time, and I was disrupted by the illness I had in March and April. It’s been a labor of love for me, and it has evolved into something completely different tha...

I’d like to talk about expectations. I’ve been seeing comments about authors trashing other authors lately. I haven’t personally seen a post trashing anyone recently, but if my colleagues are talking about it, I’ve no doubt it’s popping up somewhere....

I’ve had some recent conversations with new or aspiring authors about “tense,” “POV,” and “show don’t tell.” I'd like to talk about each of them to offer some help for anyone who needs it. I prefer to write in present tense and first person POV. I al...

Dear Aspiring ARC Reader-Welcome to an exciting endeavor! As an author, I have some simple suggestions for success. My colleagues and I are being inundated with ARC requests for physical books and even PR Boxes. We would love to provide such items to...

I saw a commercial for maxi pads and their slogan was up to 100% leak free! What? Up to one hundred percent? What does that even mean? It made me wonder, could I use a similar line to market my books? Maybe I could say up to 100% entertainment when y...

When I was a kid, I used to babysit for cash. One of my regular clients was a neighbor named Kandi Korn. That’s how my mother would say her name whenever she called, “Kandi Korn called for you, Kandi Korn is on the phone, Kandi Korn wants you to baby...

I’m so excited this is blog number THIRTY! I’m getting so good at following through on things. Not everything of course, my anti-authority and anti-establishment traits still keep me from finishing some things, or at least that’s the story I’m sticki...

I was thinking about fairytales, and I realized that they all have some similarities beyond beginning with, “Once upon a time...” There’s usually a princess or a prince who's been cursed or can’t live the life of luxury that was meant for them becaus...

To write romance or not to write romance, that is my question. Okay, forget about the Shakespeare, I’m a romance author it’s what I do. It’s very difficult to write a story without any romance in it but I’m also a horror writer and romance doesn’t ne...

I’ve written seven short stories, two novels, and I’m working on a third. I have two more planned. I’m a writer, not just a writer, but a published author. I can truthfully state that my professional title is “AUTHOR”. I’ve actually done it and accom...

Hi there! I have good news and bad news. Everyone likes bad news first, right? I’m still struggling with the infection. I’m on my third round of antibiotics and they are kicking my butt. I’m SO tired and nausea is keeping me from wanting to eat, whic...

I hope you’re having an awesome week! I have exciting news. I’m working with a voice artist who is reading my books on recording and posting them online. He has a fantastic voice and I’m really happy we crossed paths. He’s a nice guy who’s just start...