Out of Latvia Available Now
AIA Publishing, my selective author-funded publishing company, has just released a new book. It’s a memoir with a classical story about a son and a father that helps understand the issues faced by immigrant families in countries like Australia. The story of two men, a generation apart, one growing up in the shadow of the other. Peter Jirgens tells the story of his youth as the son of Arnold Jirgens, a Latvian immigrant, who struggled against discrimination to establish his family in Nowra, Australia. He shares the stories his father told him of the hardship of life under Soviet rule, his escape from Europe after World War Two and the early days of his new life as an immigrant in a land far from home. Fiercely Latvian, Arnold Jirgens longs to see his homeland once more and find out if his remaining family has survived, but as a Latvian citizen…
Coming Soon – Out of Latvia: The Son of a Latvian Immigrant Searches for his Roots
I’m pleased to announce that AIA Publishing will be publishing Out of Latvia: The Son of a Latvian Immigrant Searches for his Roots. It’s the memoir of Peter Jirgens, written by David Kerr. Publication date is March 10th. Cover by Velvet Wings Media. CLICK HERE to be notified when it’s available. http://www.aiapublishing.com/product/latvia-story-peter-jirgens-written-david-kerr/
A new look for my first books
The first of my Diamond Peak series, Lethal Inheritance, came out in 2012 and since then they’ve had a couple of different covers. I recently decided that the old covers were looking a little dated, so they’ve had a refresher. I hope you like them as much as I do. Covers by Velvet Wings Media. Click here to find out about the series.
The Path to Self Compassion – an online course.
Remember the Interview I did with Maureen Cooper from Awareness in Action? She’s running an online course to help you have compassion for yourself, and I highly recommend it. Please share the information with your friends as this course will be of enormous benefit to those who duffer from self-doubt, self-hatred, a powerful inner critic and so on. An 8 lesson online course that you can follow at your own pace, any time, anywhere We human beings are built for survival. We are quick to recognise anything that threatens our wellbeing and stability. At the same time, we are focused on achieving and consolidating everything that keeps us comfortable and safe. Unfortunately, in the modern world this can result in a nagging voice in our heads that is always telling us we are not good enough and a search for a perfectionism, which we equate with success. We need a…
Are cliff-hangers okay?
I hate cliff hangers. But I can qualify that. I hate them at the end of full length books after you’ve spent days reading a story, getting really involved, then coming to the end only to find that the story either doesn’t end, or it ends, but then starts again but you’re left hanging, wondering whether the hero or heroine will live or die. I see this kind of thing as a cheap way for authors to get readers to buy the next book. I have been known to throw such books across the room in disgust and refuse to buy the next one – or any other from the same author. However. I do believe that cliffhangers: can be done well so that they don’t cause the reader such frustration; are appropriate in certain situations. How not to frustrate the reader: Make the next book is available – or not…
A Comparison of Audio Book Distributors– ACX, Author’s Republic and Scribl
Are you planning an audiobook? If you have a good reading voice and some decent recording equipment, you can do it yourself. That’s what I’m doing with Worlds Within Worlds. The issue though, once you’ve done it, is how to distribute it to the places where people go to get audiobooks. You can’t put your book up on itunes yourself; you need to go through a distributor, so here is a comparison of audio book distributors to help you decide how to go about it. For more up to date audio book information see this post https://selfpublishingadvice.org/the-ultimate-guide-to-audiobooks-for-authors/ ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) “What Amazon and Kindle are to book publishing, Amazon’s ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) and Audible subsidiaries are to audiobooks.” (quote from http://audiobookrevolution.com/2016/01/07/new-audiobook-option-for-authors/ ) but there are big issues with using their service. ACX will organise production of your audiobook for you, The content you make through them is exclusive to them. There’s a 7-year exclusivity…
YAY! Another award for The Locksmith’s Secret
I love writing, but I often wish I could give up. Why? Because I spend a lot of time writing a book, and, like most authors, don’t get anywhere near the sort of money that you’d get in a normal job for the time spent. Authors – like most artists – don’t usually write for the money, of course, – I certainly don’t – which is why it’s so lovely when we get other forms of appreciation like lovely reviews, emails from readers and, of course, awards. So I’m really happy to announce that The Locksmith’s Secret has won another award. See the oval on the cover, that’s a B.R.A.G. Medallion for Outstanding Independent Fiction. Click on the frame below to read about the award. The Locksmith’s Secret
Author Readings; what do you think of them?
Recently the administrator of the Books go Social Readers Facebook group invited me to submit a video of me reading part or parts of my book Lethal Inheritance. My first thought was, ‘What? Who wants to watch a video of me reading from my book?’ But I followed the link I was given to a video another author had done and listened to her presentation. As I expected, I found it pretty dull. The problem, I realised, wasn’t the author reading, it was the fact that video is a visual medium and without something happening, there’s not a lot to hold you. Had the video been audio only, it would have been a lot easier to focus on the words. That’s why podcasts and audiobooks are a fine medium on which authors can read their books. But I hadn’t been invited on a podcast. I’d been invited to submit a video, so I…
Yay! I just got a Seal of Excellence for The Locksmith’s Secret
Yes! The Locksmith’s Secret can now wear this pretty shiny Seal of Excellence. See the post giving me the award here: http://www.awesomeindies.net/ai-seal-of-excellence-awarded-to-the-locksmiths-secret-by-tahlia-newland/
Around the blogs: Great articles for authors
Here’s some great articles for authors I found on the web this week. Strengthening Stakes: It’s Not about Going Big Pace and story structure: a blueprint for keeping the reader gripped http://selfpublishingadvice.org/friedlander-stephenson-email-list/