Thinking of Indie (Independent) Publishing? A New Resource for Authors

By Heather Day Gilbert

When I decided to indie (independently) publish my first historical novel, God's Daughter, in 2013, I knew there was a steep learning curve ahead of me. I can't tell you how much information I crammed into my head in the space of the half-year I spent gearing up for my debut release. I followed blogs like The Creative Penn, worked on platform building, and searched for endorsers for my book.

But the learning wasn't complete when I successfully published—not by a long shot. After publication, I had to reconfigure my blog to highlight my product. I had to find reviewers for my book. Most importantly, I had to market.

2014 was a busy year for me as an indie author. I published three more books (one of those my great aunt’s memoir). I worked with my narrator, Becky Doughty, to produce an audiobook version of God's Daughter (more here in my earlier Suite T guest post).

In the meantime, so many authors approached me with questions on indie publishing: traditionally published authors, new authors, and various levels in-between. I enjoyed sharing with them, but my time was increasingly taxed as I wrote, edited, and produced my own books. I am also very active in a 650+-member Christian indie author group on Facebook.

At the suggestion of several author friends, I decided to publish an easy-to-understand guidebook that would walk authors through the four key elements of indie book production: (1) editing, (2) creating cover art and blurbs, (3) formatting and uploading books, and (4) marketing. This handbook is titled Indie Publishing Handbook: Four Key Elements for the Self-Publisher.

I was thrilled when many author friends agreed to share quotes for a special last chapter that would bring added value to readers—tips from seasoned indie authors. I know I have learned so much from those who have gone before and hope to bring some of those tips to just-starting-out indie publishers.

I'm so pleased with reviews that are coming in, such as these:

"You won’t be disappointed with Indie Publishing Handbook, and will refer to it time and again as you begin your writing and publishing venture.” Review by Author Robin E. Mason

"This little handbook is packed with information and won't go out-of-date. “ Review by author Valerie Comer.

"If you're a writer debating between pursuing traditional publishing or going indie, this little handbook tells you what you need to know about being your own publisher. You won't be overwhelmed, because Heather sticks to the basics and keeps it simple and concise." Review by Barbara Hartzler

I have always wanted to mentor others, just as other authors have mentored me in this writing journey. I sometimes think God allowed me to indie publish "at such a time as this" so I could encourage other authors that independent publishing is a wonderful option authors have now. It is a way to get stories that don't quite fit the mold out to hungry readers.

Today, I'm happy to offer a Kindle gift of the Indie Publishing Handbook: Four Key Elements for the Self-Publisher to one commenter. I will choose a winner next week and post in the comments. Please leave your email address and tell me why you are interested in indie publishing below! Thank you so much.

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HEATHER DAY GILBERT has independently published four books. Her debut novel, God's Daughter, has remained on the Amazon Norse Bestseller list and Amazon Norse Top-Ranked list for over one year. Her contemporary mystery, Miranda Warning, is the successful start to the Murder in the Mountains series. Her Indie Publishing Handbook: Four Key Elements for the Self-Publisher is available on Amazon. You can find Heather at her author website, heatherdaygilbert.com, or on Facebook here. She is also active on twitter here.

The Last Picture Show Effect

Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

What is your favorite coming of age book or movie? Coming of age books and movies are always a big hit with readers and viewers. Each of us have our favorite. Mine is The Last Picture Show. Larry McMurty had written this semi-autobiographical novel during my high school years in the late 60’s. The era of the novel was near my birth year and the setting was in a small town in north Texas which seemed as desolate and boring as all towns seem to teenagers growing up in them.

It was pretty hot reading for 1966 and high school kids picked up on it early. I remember reading it and at that time as a reader of many books went on to others. Never giving it much thought until I found myself in a movie theater in the early 70’s trying to figure out why I knew the story portrayed in the film. I seemed to know what was about to happen as it unfolded. Nothing connected about the title of the movie, same as the book, TheLast Picture Show. It was unsettling that I knew plot, story and had a complete understanding of the characters. Then finally it hit me, I had read the book!

I wasn’t the one to choose the movies we saw but I was always willing to go. My life was busy and honestly I was always in such a hurry I failed to be aware of things that didn’t need my utmost attention. But seated there and realizing the connection, I become more aware of my failure to connect to the many things I had taken in over the years. What I remembered as a great book was now before me in black and white, living color was decided against for this Peter Bogdanovich classic. The characters played by Cybil Shepherd, Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Ben Johnson and Cloris Leachman were more vivid than ever.

The fact that I had lost myself in the book and now in the movie validated to me that I’m not such a bad judge of good reading. For someone to spend a million dollars making a movie from a book I enjoyed was fantastic. Then the movie getting nominated for 8 Academy Awards was all I needed to again validate my judgment.

Today if I find myself lost in a book I tend to think about the effects of The Last Picture Show. I begin to wonder if there will be a movie, which actor will play the part of the various characters and, for my sake, will the title of the movie be the same as the book. I have hit some and missed some. The ones I hit reassure me to continue reading and getting lost.       

Kill Your Darlings

By Gini Koch

Right after the importance of learning how to “show” versus “tell”, there’s no more vital step in the writing process than learning how and when to kill your darlings.

What I mean by “darlings” is a character, a phrase, a scene, a plot point, a running thread, etc., that you, the author, are so very much in love with that it’s blinding you to a gigantic and gigantically important fact – the darling is ruining your story.

I say this as someone who’s killed more darlings than most others will ever write. I’ve killed millions of words – massive plot threads, witty one-liners, and entire books loaded with characters and scenes I adored. And I killed them because they weren’t publishable, didn’t properly serve the story, or were a distraction from what the real story was.

That’s not to say you should hate what you write in order for it to be any good. Far from it. I, frankly, love what I write. If I don’t love it, if I don’t think it’s the best I can do, no one else sees it, period. However, you do have to learn when something you just adore is the reason your story isn’t working.

Beta readers (those good folks who read your story before anyone else does) are one option. Any time you have more than one beta reader saying that a character, plot device, or “just something around this part of the book” is bothering them, you need to take a closer look at what you’re doing in that area and why. Many times the betas have picked up that you’ve fallen in love with something that doesn’t work for this story, even if they can’t articulate what it is, or even enjoy what’s going wrong.

A good critique partner can also be an excellent Darling Spotter. Crit partners tend to focus on your craft, so if your crit partner says you’re indulging yourself, you probably are, and should determine if those special words really matter to the story.

But what if you have no crit partner or beta readers? Then it’s all up to you. Reread what you’ve written. If you’re skimming, figure out why. Evaluate any area you skim during reread or think about with the “Well I can’t get rid of THIS” attitude. Chances are some of those will be darlings that are taking the story so far off course that it can never recover – they can and should be killed.

Sometimes it’s fine to go off course and chart the new world being discovered. But frequently those side trips are detrimental to the story and also a colossal waste of time. Always stop and consider how something you adore fits into the overall goal of this particular story.

By the way, never delete your darlings. Cut them and save them elsewhere. Because while they may not be right for THIS story, on rare occasion you may be able to resurrect them, or a version of them, in another story.

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Gini Koch writes the fast, fresh and funny Alien/Katherine “Kitty” Katt series for DAW Books, the Necropolis Enforcement Files series, and the Martian Alliance Chronicles series for Musa Publishing. Alien in the House, Book 7 in her long-running Alien series, won the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award as the Best Futuristic Romance of 2013. As G.J. Koch she writes the Alexander Outland series and she’s made the most of multiple personality disorder by writing under a variety of other pen names as well, including Anita Ensal, Jemma Chase, A.E. Stanton, and J.C. Koch. Currently, Gini has stories featured in the Unidentified Funny Objects 3, Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens, and Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets anthologies, and, writing as J.C. Koch, in Kaiju Rising: Age ofMonsters, The Madness of Cthulhu, Vol. 1, and A Darke Phantastique anthologies. She will also have a story in the first book in an X-Files anthology series coming out in 2015. Social Media Links: Website: www.ginikoch.com  Blah, Blah, Blah Blog: http://ginikoch.blogspot.com/

Facebook: facebook.com/Gini.Koch Twitter: @GiniKoch

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/GiniKochAuthor 

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ginikoch/  Alien Collective Virtual HQ Fan Site: http://aliencollectivehq.com/

Silence is Golden

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine



One good turn deserves another, they say.  But in fiction, a good plot turn deserves a pause that lets the impact of what just happened sink in before anything else happens.

A particularly good example of the power of the pause is seen in 2011's The Descendants with George Clooney. Frequently, in the midst of a storyline filled with twists and turns, director Alexander Payne follows each big revelation with lingering shots of Hawaiian scenery. This gives the audience time to absorb the latest implications, as well as offering an ironic contrast of beauty in the midst of tragedy. The combination allows for rich moments of deep thought.

In a movie or TV show, that kind of timing is easily dictated in the editing booth.  When writing fiction, how are we to control the timing of our story so the audience feels that same moment of silence? Inserting a pause into a novel can be as simple as closing a scene or a chapter at the moment of impact:

          "I don't think she'll be coming in today."
          "Why not?"
          "She's dead."

          ***

If more dialogue or exposition is necessary before ending the scene, another technique is to stop the dialogue momentarily and allow the characters some reaction time:

          "I don't think she'll be coming in today."
          "Why not?"
          "She's dead."

          The blood drained out of Larry's face, and he thought he might pass out. He fumbled behind him for a chair, and slid into it. 

          "How did she die?"

If dialogue simply barrels along without acknowledging the shock of the moment, the reader is equally unlikely to feel its impact.  By pausing to provide a fitting visual, the character's reaction suggests what we hope will be the reader's own to each revelation.

Heavy-handed though they can be, soap operas know the value of zooming in on the stunned faces of the characters after any big announcement, giving the audience ample time to absorb the implications before cutting away to a commercial.  We can take a cue from  these masters of melodrama to effectively create pregnant pauses of our own.

Your Baby Isn’t Ugly: Advice for the Self-Published Author

By Vivian Winslow

Writing is one of the most creative and passionate endeavors in the human experience. As authors, we write because of that powerful and all-consuming desire to share our story. It can be a painstaking and lengthy process.  In the end, our manuscripts are our babies, the culmination of hard work that came from the depths of our hearts and souls.

The feeling we get when we write is reward in and of itself. Yet, it’s also a natural part of an author’s desire to want others to like and appreciate her work. Indeed, we don’t write books just to save them as files on our computers or to store them away somewhere in a pile of unfinished, unpublished works. At some point they need to be read by others, or we’ve only partly fulfilled our desires.

However, with putting your work out there—whether through self- or traditional publishing—comes the painful discovery that not everyone is going to think your baby is beautiful. In fact, contrary to social norms, a reviewer gets to tell you just how ugly she finds your baby.  The truth is no matter how much you try to prepare yourself, that first negative review hurts terribly, the second one, perhaps even more because it means the first wasn’t an anomaly. Suddenly, you can’t help but question your book or even if you were really meant to write it at all.  Negative reviews can not only imperil the potential commercial success of your book, but also send you into a full-blown existential crisis.

The harsh reality is that not everyone will like what you’ve written. It’s a given. Even bestselling authors receive their fair share of 1-star reviews.  But their careers can take a few hits. For the first-time, self-published author, negative reviews can mean the difference between finding success and having one’s book languish in the ether.  Indeed, evidence has shown that negative reviews hurt sales more than positive ones help sales. 

While receiving negative reviews may seem like the end of the world, there’s an opportunity to turn them to one’s advantage.  The self-published author must strike a balance between taking pride in her work—and knowing that, no matter what, her baby is not ugly—and acknowledging the negative reviews and using them to figure out what went wrong with the story or what can be improved.

Look carefully at your reviews. Is there a common thread among them? Is editing an issue? Were your characters too unlikable or the story too hard for readers to get into? These are common complaints in negative reviews.  You don’t always need to listen, but if there were common criticisms, then it would probably serve you to revisit your writing and consider these issues for your next manuscript.

I’m not advocating pandering to an audience. Rather, if you use the reviews as a form of constructive criticism, they can serve to make you a better writer.

Humility is key in this business. Take pride in your work because your baby isn’t ugly, but accept that not everyone will agree. Find that balance while remaining true to the passion that made you write the story in the first place, and you may find that you’ve discovered a way to make it as a published writer.

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Vivian Winslow was born and raised in Southern California. Before becoming a writer, she made a career out of moving around the world every couple of years thanks to her husband's job. She currently lives in New York City with her husband and two elementary school age children, and is grateful to finally have a place to call home for more than two years. New York is the perfect city to indulge her love of shopping, the arts and especially food. If she's not at home writing or running around the city with her kids, you'll most likely find her indulging in pizza on the Lower East Side or having a cocktail at her favorite bar in Alphabet City. That said, she's still a California girl at heart and would gladly trade in her heels for a pair of flip-flops to catch a sunset on the beach. You can connect with Vivian on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/vivianwinslowauthor?ref=profile

This Could Be Your Moment

By Carrie Wisehart

Every writer needs one.

Mine came in the form of a bubbly, cancer-stricken romantic comedy author who, despite her disease, felt it was her duty to mentor a young writer. She was my inspiration – the tipping point I needed to spring into action. It only took a few words:

“You’ve got what it takes, Carrie.”

And I was off to the races. She began by helping me edit my manuscript, but then it was time to take risks. With Diann as my inspiration, I forged forward with the confidence, knowing she believed in me.

But we cannot live on inspiration alone. I had to take my own initiative by beginning the marketing process many authors dread. I couldn’t wait for the world to come hear my story. I had to tell it.

I put myself out there in every way imaginable. I prepared a strong pitch, developed a one pager, signed up for a writing conference. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Skype, YouTube…I increased my presence. I ordered business cards, networked with authors. And Diann, in spite of (or perhaps because) of her disease, pressed me forward.

At the writer’s conference I pitched my manuscript to several agents and Diann was on the other end of the phone after each meeting to encourage, laugh, and cry with me.

Finally, in January of 2014, I signed with Karen Solem of Spencerhill Associates. Diann was already gone; the cancer had taken its toll. But in her last days, she was my encouragement, living a life of love. She was exactly what I needed.

My inspiration.

So, author friend, I say to you in memory of what was said to me just over a year ago,

“You’ve got what it takes.”

And I hope that phrase will launch you into the world, encouraging you to take risks, put yourself out there. Because you will only achieve your dreams of being a published author if you try. The words have been spoken. Now the ball is in your court.

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A vibrant high school English and drama teacher, Carrie Wisehart loves the rollercoaster of working up close and personal with teenagers. As a pastor’s wife to some of the largest churches in her denomination, she has led worship, Bible studies, and written curriculum for adults, teenagers, and children in multiple ministry venues.  After teaching and ministering 15 years, God birthed

in her heart a passion for writing books that inspire young adults to live a life of reckless abandon, running after God. Carrie has written original curriculum and drama for the classroom, has been a freelance writer for Olivet Nazarene University, and was featured on the OPRAH SHOW for her innovative teaching style and passion for students. She holds her undergraduate degrees in Vocal Performance and English Education from Olivet Nazarene University, as well as a Master’s in Theatre from The Ohio State University. She loves adventures, laughter,bicycling, and spending time with her husband and 9-year-old daughter. Social media links;  Twitter: @carriewisehart  www.facebook.com/carrie.wisehart   Instagram: carrielane Skype: carriewisehart and  http://www.carriewisehart.com/

Writer Toolbox-Keeping a Book Journal

By Annette. Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

A present received this Christmas has become a welcomed tool in my writer's toolbox. It's called The Book Lover's Journal. At first glance, I thought, I'm a writer, and in the time I am filling this out, I could be writing. Right? Nope, I was so wrong.

We all know writers need to read...read...and then read some more to hone their craft. What no one tells you is you need a place to record your thoughts on books you read. It clearly will help you grow as a writer. Helping you determine what you would do differently as an author.

What makes it valuable? It is designed specifically to keep a detailed, record of books you read. As time passes, this journal will help you instantly recall forgotten details of your personal reading experience. It may even provide solutions to various writing roadblocks in your own work.

A favorite feature unique to this journal is a “rate on a scale” feature. You rank books on a scale of 1-10 on various qualities (see photos for detail). There is a separate section to list the books you want to read in the future. The value of your immediate assessment on a book after you have read, "The End" is invaluable because it will be the most honest impression you have. 

My absolute favorite feature is "notes and opinions" because I'm using this section to make notes on what I like and what I would have done differently. Most importantly, I'm noting things I want to revise on my own "works in process." I also like actually writing in a journal instead of writing via electronic methods. 

This unexpected Christmas gift journal will be used and is definitely helpful to me as a writer. You might want to consider keeping a journal for your writer's toolbox.

Don’t Write a Word

By Marla Cantrell

Writers like to talk a lot about not being able to write. We attach all kinds of angst to it, and we blame our busy lives, our lack of inspiration, and our obsession with social media. So what happens when we’re specifically told not to write?  If we’re lucky, something spectacular.

I learned this trick a few years ago, in an online class. The instructor asked us to come up with a plot or a main character, if we weren’t plot-driven writers. (I am not.) “Jot it down,” she said, “just the basics.” And so we turned in our one paragraph. Mine was iffy at best; you couldn’t have picked out my main character from a police lineup with what I’d written. “Thirty-something,” I said, “with an attitude,” I said. “Angry, but doesn’t know why.”

During the next session on the next day, I expected to be told to work on my story. But that’s not what the instructor said. Instead, she told us not to write. NOT to write. I couldn’t believe it. She wanted us to sit with our story, to let it come to us, and so we were instructed not to write a word for seven days.

At first, I thought she was shirking her duty. Still, I did what she said. On the first day, nothing much happened. On the next day, while at Walmart, I saw a woman with a butterfly tattoo on her ankle. My main character had a butterfly tattoo, I suddenly realized, but hers was on her left breast, just above her bra line. These revelations kept coming. I saw a yellow Honda, so old it was mostly rust. That was her car. By the fourth day, I could hear her voice, the familiar twang of a country singer, and that attitude I said she had. She was showing me that in spades.

By the time I sat down to write, I knew this girl. Her story flowed as I typed away. All that waiting caused me to consider who I was writing about, why I chose her, and what I wanted to let her say.

I can’t imagine the mess I would have made of that story if I had written it just after being given the assignment. I was not an experienced writer, and it felt as if everything I wrote sounded depressingly similar. I remember those last days, waiting to write, itching to write, more excited about writing than I’d been in a long time. The reason was I’d been told not to do it. That gate the teacher put in my path made all the difference in the way I saw my story.

I’m not suggesting that as a writer you stop all writing for a week. What I am suggesting is that if you’re having trouble getting started on a story, or if you’re stuck trying to finish one, that you put it away, that you forbid yourself to work on it for a week. Spend those seven days internally trying to write the story. Think about it at odd hours of the night when you can’t sleep, or on your drive to work. Keep your story alive, try to remember all the lines you think are perfect, and let your characters chatter all they want. But don’t write a single word until the eighth day.

It could be the break you need to restart your engine. You could come away with a story you absolutely love.

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Marla Cantrell is a 2014 Arkansas Arts Council Fellowship award winner for her work in short fiction. Her work has been published in several publications, including Deep South Magazine, Do South Magazine, @Urban Magazine, Word Haus, and in the Show Off Anthology. She is also the managing editor/writer for Do South Magazine, in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  Her work can be seen at her website,www.SouthernPencil.com, and at www.DoSouthMagazine.com.

ARE YOU WALKING WITH THE CROWD?

By Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief, Southern Writers Magazine

What does it take to succeed? People look for this secret in all walks of life. The funny thing is, it’s not hiding,  You just have to spend a little effort looking  for it.

So what is success? My Thesaurus says it is achievement, attainment, accomplishment, victory, and triumph. My dictionary say’s “success is achievement of something planned or attempted”.

Actually, we each define what success is for ourselves. For me it might be getting the interview with a hard to reach International Best Seller. To a Pro Football owner it might be winning the Super Bowl. Each of us has our own interest and measure of what our success should look like.

For a writer, they are successful, when they finish writing their book. They accomplished that goal. When an agent/publisher accepts that book and presents to publishers or to publish, that is success for the writer. When the book releases, again, that is success.

 So how does that author get their book to sell? How do they become that author listed as a successful “Best Selling Author”?

Wait for it... Here it comes…The success secret inquiring authors want to know! (Sorry, couldn’t help myself.) DON’T WALK WITH THE CROWD. GET OUT OF THE MAINSTREAM.

There are thousands of authors telling about their books on Social Medias, their websites, and other sites. Why would your books be noticed more than the other author’s books?

I’m not saying don’t use the venues to market, talk about, promote your book…you should do this. The more places you have your name the more buzz you can create about yourself as the author. You are the brand…the book is the product. The more people who hear your brand name (your name), the more they hear the name of your product (your book title), the more curious they become about your book and will want to read it.

Your date of release for your book is like a “Grand Opening” for a store. That translates for the author into the more buzz you can create leading up to that opening day (release date) the more turnout (sales of your books) you are going to have.

You must do what you can to capture your readers in unusual ways. One author I know, rented a billboard sign, so that people driving to work every day would see that sign. She had a photo of herself, a title that got your attention in big letters, short description and her website. It brought in several hundred hits a day on her website. She started marketing and promoting her book on her website before it was released. She put out press releases, how to purchase a signed copy on the website, prepared the email and list of people to send it to the day it was released. She got 95,000 hits on her website just by doing this.

The point is, look for the unusual to market and promote you and your book. Yes, that author spent a little money. However, remember, you spent your time writing this book, getting it into the hands of an agent/publisher or publishing it yourself. Now it’s time to sell it. It isn’t like you will always have to work hard and spend money promoting your books by yourself, but for now until you become a “Best Selling Author” you will have to do the promotion it takes to get there…part of that is paying for ad space. But do it wisely. Plan it out to get the biggest bang for your buck.  Whether it’s a $100.00 or more than that, plan the best way that is feasible to have several consistent ads to get attention for your book. It’s what’s called “Paying our Dues”.

Advertising is necessary to be noticed and it has to be consistent. That’s how we know about John Grisham, Coca Cola, McDonalds, Home Depot–through advertising. There also has to be a variety of things you do along the way to get attention for your books. Don’t be afraid to step out of your box. It’s worth it to build your name as an author and sell a lot of books. To hear someone tell you how much he or she enjoyed your book is a wonderful thing. You’ve brought joy, pleasure, and happiness to someone else.

Be Unique.

Developing a New Culture in Your Writing

By Cindy Koepp

As a science fiction writer, I design alien races and the cultures they live in. The trick is to create something new rather than just put a human in a funny suit. Many times, the information I record has little bearing on the story, but there have been occasions when details that weren’t mentioned outright affected a character’s thinking and choices.

Here’s a partial list of some of the things I consider when I set out to design a new race and its cultures.

1. What does the average member of the race look like?

This includes height, weight, sensory organs and what those look like, visible gender differences, facial structure, body covering, and number and type of appendages. You could also include typical clothing and adornment here. Since no two individuals are alike, I also include major ways they would vary from one person to the next.

2. What kind of planet do they come from?

Sometimes I figure this out before I figure out appearance. Other times, I allow the appearance to dictate the ecology. This includes the gravity, atmospheric conditions, climate, predominant terrain, the type of star or stars, the distance from the star(s), and typical flora and fauna. The amount of detail you need is partly determined by whether the story takes place on the planet.

3. What is their society like?

Every culture has their accepted behavioral norms and taboos. Often, there is a difference between stated norms and practical ones.

How do they communicate: pictures, words, telepathy, gestures? Specifically, I consider how they greet each other, whether they have any strange language quirks such as accents, and the sorts of idiomatic language they might use. Body language is important, too. What do happiness, anger, fear, and other major emotions look like?

What sorts of holidays to they celebrate? Is there a dominant religion? That can have a huge effect on how they act and what they value.

Family structures, typical childhood and the transition to adulthood, and interpersonal or interspecies relations can fall here, too.

4. How do they govern themselves?

If you get enough people in a certain place, some sort of leadership and organizational structure will emerge. Consider whether there’s a central ruling body and how the rulers get to be there. If leadership is more decentralized, how is order maintained? How are laws made and enforced? How do the citizens feel about the government, and what does the government do, if anything, about dissention?

5. What is their history?

Where they have been will effect where they are now. There’s no need to write an entire history book or come up with a cast of major historical figures, but a general idea of major events in history or development would help determine their values.

Try It Yourself

Cultures can be extremely complex, and this list is not exhaustive, but if you keep these things in mind, you can lay a good foundation for a new culture.

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After hatching years ago in a land very far away, Cindy Koepp tried to hide under a secret identity, but she finally gave that up and started openly telling people she was an alien capable of adopting many forms. To her surprise, with the exception of one class of elementary students, no one believed her. They assumed she was joking, thereby giving her the perfect cover story. She spent 14 years mutating the minds of four-footers – that’s height, not leg count – but gave that up to study the methodology needed to mutate the minds of adult humans. In her off time, she writes about her adventures under the guise of telling science fiction and fantasy stories, records her blog articles, and reads wonderful books in exchange for editing help. Her books include; Mindstorm: Parley at Ologo, Remnant in the Stars and Language Arts Centers for Intermediate Grades. Here are Cindy’s social media links: Twitter: @CCKoepp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Koepp   Blog: http://cindykoepp.wordpress.com Webpage: http://ckoepp.com

How to Land a Literary Agent

By Susan Klaus

The unpublished and self-published have often asked me this question, how did I get my agent and consequently have not one, but two traditional publishers buy my novels. First I’m fairly new to blogging and the book business, but this is my story. I signed with an agent roughly two and half years ago, and it took her a year to sell my books. My first thriller, Secretariat Reborn about horseracing and cloning was optioned by Oceanview Publishing and was released last October. Tor Books bought my futuristic fantasy, Flight of the Golden Harpy and it came out in June. And my second thriller, Shark Fin Soup about a young man’s attempt to stop finning and save the sharks, was also purchased by Oceanview and released in August, so I’ve had a busy year.

This is my advice on how to get the agent for the writer who is passionate about becoming a traditional published author. Before going down this road, you should realize that this takes time, work, and money besides having a darn good manuscript. Agents and publishers are not interested the same old story. A good book is not only well written but the plot is unique, timely or both with realistic characters to love and hate. To find out if your book is a standout, you should join a writing group or club with other writers willing to give you an honest critique but be prepared to grow a thick skin. The opinion of relatives, spouses, and friends don’t count. Of course, they love your book.

Once you feel confident that you have a sellable story, hire a professional editor. This is where the money comes in. Have the editor fix the first ten pages of your work to see what you’re getting before you commit the entire manuscript and learn how many manuscripts they edited that became traditional published books. Once the manuscript is polished and edited, you’re ready for the next step and it’s not querying agents.

Your book needs a resume’. Enter it in writing contests. A win or even become a finalist attracts agents. You should attend every writing conference and convention in your area. Many offer sit downs with agents and publishers for a small fee.  You’ll also meet and hopefully develop a relationship with the best sellers at these events. Give them your elevator speech about your book, but don’t be pushy. Many big authors are very gracious, understanding your dilemma and might offer to read your first few chapters. It never hurts to ask. Why should you do this? Because they all have agents. If they like your work, they might be kind enough to give you a referral to their agent or at least a great blurb for your book’s resume’. This is how I obtained my agent. I met a best seller who was nice enough to read my work. At the next conference he introduced me to his agent. Funny thing since then, I’ve stood around in the lobbies at conferences during the workshops, talking to people about my books. Several agents have approached and wanted to sign me and I had to turn them down. Now that’s a great feeling.

You might wonder why I don’t mention the query letter, writing and sending out hundreds to agents and publishers. I never did this, but it can work especially if you have built a decent resume’ for your book, blurbs from big authors, contest wins, or a nice press review on your self-published book. But still, I feel the odds are stacked against you like playing the lottery. Agents and publisher receive thousands of queries. What are the chances they’ll discover yours?

One last thing about agents and for that matter, publishers, you should never have to pay them. If they request money from a writer, they are not a real agent or traditional publisher. The real deal gets paid from a percentage of your book sales. Hope this helps. Good luck and happy hunting.

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Suaan Klaus is a fantasy and thriller author. Tor Books released her fantasy, Flight of the Golden Harpy, a Royal Palm Literary Award Winner for Best Sci/fi on June 17, 2014. Her thriller, Secretariat Reborn, a FAPA Silver Presidential Award winner for Best Adult Fiction was released by Oceanview Publishing in Oct, 2013. Its sequel, Shark Fin Soup, currently a FPLA finalist for best thriller came out August 19, 2014. Klaus is the host/co-producer of The Authors Connection Radio Show, 18 million listeners in 148 countries and is pres./founder of Sarasota Authors Connection Club with 280 members. She was born in Sarasota and resides in Myakka City, Fl. where she has bred and raced Thoroughbreds and now raises rodeo bulls. Website: susanklaus.com, On Facebook, Susan C. Klaus and on Twitter, Klaussue.

A Writer's Resolutions

By Lily Mastron

I love making lists, so I put quite a bit of effort into my New Year's resolutions. Lists are my thing. I love the satisfaction of crossing goals off one at a time. I may not make all my goals, but at the end of the year I can look back and see how far I've come. 

Resolutions don't have to be complicated lists of "pie in the sky" ideas. Nothing has to be earth-shattering about them. The key really is to keep it simple. Those outrageous tasks look great on paper until you actually try to tackle them. A long and difficult list tends to make people overwhelmed. It does not make for a productive year. 

I like to organize my New Year's resolutions so that all my little resolutions add up to a larger picture. This allows you to accomplish a large task, but you don't really notice until you've already finished. 

Consider making a goal of writing just 15 minutes everyday. Each day add to the writing of the day before, and in two weeks, you'll have a short story! This is so much less overwhelming than staring at the paper thinking, "I have to write a whole short story today."

Once you have the short story, keep adding each day. Take your characters on an adventure. Send them to another country. Make them fall in love. The most important thing is to keep writing and exercising that portion of your brain. By the end of the year, you could have a full novel, maybe even a series of novels.

When making writer's resolutions, remember to keep it simple. Start by writing a few minutes at a time, and keep adding to the plot. Eventually, the writing will add up to a bigger picture resolution, without leaving you overwhelmed and frustrated.