A question every author will probably ask themselves one day is Why self-publish? Today, Stacy-Deanne, author of romantic suspense, contemporary romance, thrillers and women's fiction, answers this question for you. Note that although self-publishing is only one kind of indie publishing, in this article the term 'indie' refers to self-publishing. Thanks Stacy. I think you put it really well. Why self-publish? As someone who was once published by a (at the time) Big Six Publisher in the US, spent years in trade and have been indie since 2015, I don't think trade pubs have any advantages these days unless you write stuff that only works for trade. If you write things that can sell well being indie, I suggest you do it. Trade publishing's disadvantages FAR outweigh any advantages. The problem with taking the mainstream publishing route. 1) You'll need an agent if you want a big publisher and it can take years to find one IF you are lucky enough to do so. 2) If you are … [Read more...]
Historical Fiction Book Review: The Second Life of Mirielle West
This book review of The Second Life of Mirielle West, by Amanda SkenandoreI will take 6 minutes of your time, and you may find you've discovered another good read. I shot it ages ago and only just got around to posting it. Find out more about the book here: https://geni.us/SdAn https://youtu.be/bykvch68__8 … [Read more...]
What Makes a Good Editor
An editor hard at work! What makes a good editor? Is it their knowlege of grammar, punctuation and spelling? That's an important part of it, for sure, but correcting grammar, punctuation and spelling is only one part of editing. That's what a copy editor does. But the developmental editing and line editing are just as important in the production of quality writing, and different skills are required for the different areas. A good editor in one area is not necessarily a good editor in all areas, and it takes more than a fancy piece of paper from a top university to make a good editor because in all but the copy editing and proofing, good editing relies on artistry and intuitive understanding of the author’s intentions as much as knowledge. So what makes a good editor? What makes a good structural/developmental editor? This is the person that does your manuscript appraisal and tells you how to improve the big story elements - the plot, characterisation, pacing, structure, … [Read more...]
Book Review – Dog Leap Stairs by Barbara Scott Emmett
Barbara Scott Emmett is one of those rare authors whose prose is so superb that I enjoy every sentence, and at the same time as I want to get to the end to find out what happens, I don't want it to end because the pleasure of reading her writing is just so good. In this book, Dog Leap Stairs, set in the fifties, Emmett writes in first person point of view as Monica. From the begining she is portrayed as a woman with two sides, one a normal woman of the times, the other, someone with a dark secret. At the begining it's not clear exactly what that secret is. Murders, we hear in passing conversation with her friend Jan, are taking place in the area of Dog Leap Stairs, a place known to be frequented by prostitutes. But is this Monica's secret? We discover that Monica does visit that area and get's a thrill from doing so, but that doesn't mean she's a prostitute or a murderer. Or does it? The mystery unravels as the story progresses and we find out about Monica's history, but her dark … [Read more...]
How to Use Present Participles Correctly at the Beginning of a Sentence
Grammar is not boring. It's fascinating. Sentences that begin with present participles (-ing ending verbs) are, as some of you know, one of my pet hates in writing. (Head hopping is the other one.) In my book The Elements of Active Prose: Writing Tips to Make Your Prose Shine, I recommend that authors use such a sentence construction no more than once every 10,000 words. One of the reasons why is because authors rarely use it correctly and often overuse it, at least in self-published books (unfortunately). Used badly and too often, it’s a mark of an unskilled writer and a lack of line editing—or a lack of education in the editor. So why am I talking about using it at all? Because when used occasionally and skilfully, it varies the sentence structure. Being too rigid in not using it at all limits your options. Sometimes it’s just right, but only if you don’t use it often. So let’s learn to use it well. Dangling participles The worst example of a sentence … [Read more...]
An Interview With Author Catherine Ryan Hyde
I had a really delightful zoom talk to Catherine Ryan Hyde, one of my favourite authors. It's an interview that is interesting for both readers and writers. You might learn things about the publishing industry that you didn't know before. https://youtu.be/6Ic4gCWXNSE I also talk about one of her books in my review of 'Seven Precious Things'. https://youtu.be/sEUAnhTpyvE You can find her books on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Ryan-Hyde/e/B001ITTR60 … [Read more...]
6 Benefits from Turning Your Book Into An Audiobook
Today I'm sharing a guest post from Alicia Gerrard, the director & founder of Audio Quants. Producing an audiobook is not cheap, but Alicia points out some of the reasons why the investment might be worth it. Of course, Audio Quants is just one of many audio book production companies, and like with everything you're thinking of purchasing, you need to research your options before committing to anything. My advice if you do decide to make an audio book, is to have a good marketing plan in place before taking the plunge. You'll not get back the money you spend on producing an audio book if you don't market it. Now read what Alicia has to say: Audiobooks now rival print as the format of choice for literary consumers. For good reason too. Reasons, in fact! Here are Audio Quants’ six benefits to turning your book into an audiobook. 1. An Ever-growing Market A 2020 survey by the Audio Publishers Association (APA) recorded that the number of Americans who have ever … [Read more...]
Book Review The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis
My daughter, Rose, and I both read The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis and decided to do a review video together. If you'd rather read the book review The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis than watch it, the subtitles are on the video. https://youtu.be/GlDk9szQ4wo BUY BOOK NOW It's free on Kindle Unlimited. … [Read more...]
How to Put Your Book on Goodreads
Do you know how to put your book on Goodreads? Do you know what Goodreads is and why putting your book there might be a good idea? If your answer is no, read on. What is Goodreads? Goodreads is an online place where avid readers hang out so it's a good place to have your book listed. As they say in their About Us section, 'Goodreads is the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations,' and their mission is 'to help people find and share books they love.' The site is for readers, and if authors use it, they need to use it as a reader, not as an author trying to sell their book. Spam is ruthlessly suppressed, and in some groups any mention that you've written a book could be seen as spam. Nevertheless, the site does have a role to play in building an author platform. What readers can do on Goodreads See what books their friends are reading.Track the books they're reading, have read, and want to read.Check out their personalized book recommendations. The … [Read more...]
Review of ‘Seven Perfect Things’ by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Watch my video review of Seven Perfect Things, a contempory fiction novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde to see what I thought of it and what makes it work as a story. The video has subtitles so you can read it if you prefer. About Seven Perfect Things Thirteen-year-old Abby Hubble lives in an unhappy home in the Sierra Nevada foothills where her father makes life miserable for her and her mother, Mary. One day Abby witnesses a man dump a litter of puppies into the nearby river. Diving in to rescue all seven, she knows she won’t be able to bring them home. Afraid for their fate at the pound, she takes them to an abandoned cabin, where all she can offer is a promise that she’ll be back the next day. To grieving widower Elliot Colvin, life has lost meaning. Looking for solace, he retreats to the hunting cabin he last visited years ago, before his wife’s illness. What he discovers is not at all what he expected: seven puppies and one determined girl with an indomitable heart. As Abby … [Read more...]
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