AUTHOR EVENT ETIQUETTE

If you’re serious about letting the public know about your book, you should consider attending events that will allow you to showcase your books. Attending author events can be a great way to interact with the public but it’s important to communicate in a manner that will increase the growth of your trade name.

Here are a few helpful tips to help you build a network while interacting with your peers.

Ø  Your interaction with potential customers should be equivalent to your interaction with other authors. They were readers before they became a writer. 

Ø  Always maintain a pleasant face and refrain from excessive staring it can alienate you from your audience.

 

Ø  When interacting at an author’s event, always find a way to engage the audience. You can read an excerpt from your book or simply tell them something interesting about your work.

Ø When you meet a fellow author, never say that you haven’t heard of them. It is considered a cunning way to insult them. This happens more often than you think.  It is important to remember that every encounter is an opportunity to learn something new about yourself. Refrain from bragging. Don’t get defensive be proactive. Remember everyone is a potential customer. Simply say, “Well you can learn more about me by going to my website or any other relevant source.” Both of you should leave the conversation learning something about the each other.

 

Ø You will meet many wonderful people at these types of events but some will grow on you.  They will exude positive energy, concentrate on what matters and behave in a professional supportive manner. Be sure to get their business cards and promote their works when the opportunity arises. 

Now, I am Left To Pick Up The Pieces

A computer virus can be the kiss of death to a writer and for some reason it seems to occur when you’re just about to finish a manuscript. It happened to me with The Legend of Turtle Pond: The Initiation of Tabitha Obrien and with Desolate Terrain. I’d be lying if I said, it wasn’t a terrifying experience. During the mind numbing experience of waiting for my computer to be fixed, I wondered... why would someone create viruses?

Ode to Computer Viruses

Once again you’ve taken me on a wondrous ride only to leave me in the Dead Sea.

Now I’m left to wonder…

What have I done to warrant such aggression from you?

I ask myself, ‘what kind of person creates something that cripples a system simply trying to exist?’

It wouldn’t bother me as much if I weren’t a writer, molding characters for readers to enjoy

but I have no control over characters like you!

Writing stories is easy compared to dealing with your destructive creation

designed solely to maim as many computer systems as possible.

It’s disarming, alarming, especially when it seems to occur when I am about to finish a novel.

They say, Virus Writers do it to prove a point.

 point taken
now please find something constructive to do.

No one’s data is safe until they find a way to stop you!

In closing, I managed to make it through the ordeal but not unscathed. The information on my hard drive was lost but thanks to paranoia, I emailed a copy of my latest manuscript to myself the day before my computer crashed.  This experience has thought me a valuable lesson, to back up my files.

   

Desolate Terrain: Cover Reveal

 The Blurb

Living in the quiet town of Chesapeake, Nevada had a way of making residents feel safe. Sadly, an atmosphere that took years to build is shattered overnight and their beloved town is thrown into the spotlight. Deputy Constance Stone and Sheriff Harper Collins are entrusted with the task of resolving the matter and together they set out to solve a crime.

The situation deteriorates when a series of crimes rock the town. Opportunities unfold for Constance, but it could not come at a worse time. She teams up with an unlikely ally. Despite their differences, the pair combine their skills and their partnership aids in Constance’s pursuit to uncover the criminals responsible for terrorizing their picturesque town.

The Setting

It's a modern city punctuated by warm weather. The majestic landscape of this small town, inspired the founder to build a community similar to those featured in Westerns with a modern appeal. The events unfolding in Chesapeake are undeniably shocking and it will keep you guessing until the very end. 

The Characters

You'll meet many memorable characters in Desolate Terrain. Some you'll love and others you'll love to hate. There's never a dull moment in Chesapeake, Nevada. You're welcome to visit once it becomes available on May 6, 2013.

The Book Trailer

 

A Candid Review of The White Masai by Corinne Hofmann

★★★★★

The White Masai

Once I began the journey, I was a reluctant participant trapped in Kenya observing as Corrine found herself assimilating to customs that were vastly different from her own. And once she took a leap of faith, everything she owned became communal property in a place where women have less value than a goat. Therefore, the village milks the golden cow dry.

There were many occasions when I laughed at her alien moments and I truly felt her frustration when things did not go her way. Surprisingly, I celebrated when she found her version of the perfect man. I was there even when she felt alone and helpless and I wept when there were no solutions to the immediate problems she faced. I also felt her desperation, and the need to be free. By the last chapter, I swore if the story did not end sensibly, I would lose it. As I said before, I was emotionally  invested in her journey. Thankfully, Corrine made the right decision in the end.

Whether you agree with her choices or not you cannot deny the eloquence in her writing. There were so many moments when I stopped in awe of her analogies and metaphors. The White Masai is an essential read for any woman who has ever asked the question, what would you do for love?

 

DISCLAIMER: Readers escape to another reality, if only temporarily, while reading a good book.  When I review a book, I will focus on the entertainment factor, story structure and the eloquence in the writing. I have no desire to undermine an author’s effort. After all, they are responsible for the books we enjoy.

REVIEW SCALE:

5 stars = Excellent story. I would read it to someone

4 stars = Great story

3 Stars = I liked it

The Matter of Image

It is important for authors to realize that they are a product when promoting their book. Doing so does not strip you of your humanity but it puts you out in the public sphere. Actors have a publicist to help generate and manage publicity. Their efforts also help guide and control their client’s image. If you are an independent author, you probably do not have a publicist, but you can still control your image. 

Self-control is a major factor when it comes to molding your public image. It entails controlling your impulses, emotions and desires. One should not discuss some things in a business environment. Refrain from discussing religion, politics, and personal finances when interacting with your customers. It applies whether it is a face-to-face contact or on social media.

In the matters of religion, if the person you are interacting with has stated that they seek salvation, then you are welcome to discuss religion but otherwise keep your views out of your business endeavors. It is important to state that this does not apply to authors who write religious novels. By nature, we are all religious. Some people are devoted to activities and others are loyal to a higher power.

We all have political views but it is expected that our views will vary. The failure of one party does not constitute the success of another.  We are apart of the same democracy, so unity is essential to progress. During the last presidential election, the rates of people ‘unfriended’ skyrocketed. Some of the posts were excessive and others were borderline offensive. Unless you are into the concept of the catch and release of a potential customer, be mindful that not everyone will share your views.

In the past, I have written articles on motivation. I used examples of how low one can fall. They may even feel success is not achievable but anything is possible with skill and determination. We all struggle with something whether its health, society, or finances but unless you are in a support group or you are having a conversation with a friend, leave it out of your interaction with potential customers.

Authors have more control over their image than they think. Controlling your image should not be mistaken for being fake. You are molding what matters when it concerns your writing.  The distance between you and your friends on social media is vast. It is unlikely that you may ever meet them. Still, they can sense your nature and they do not need to have a degree in the Communications Arts to figure out that you are not what you seem. Your image is important so mold it in a way that compliments you.

Thou Shalt Not Smite Thee In The Name Of Success

For centuries, empires were built on the ruins of others. One might say, “It is the natural order of things.” Wars have casualties and they will continue to occur whether it is justified or not. The debris field that is left behind can be difficult to clean up. One has to repurpose what is left and begin again.   

As big as this world is, you would think it was big enough for everyone to feel safe to carve out his or her own destiny. Unfortunately, there are other disturbing trends. It is evident in the highly publicized feuds in the music industry, in workplaces and in reality competition shows like Big Brother.  It is disheartening when talented people try to malign others to get ahead.

I came across a quote by John B. Gough that highlights an important point.

"If you want to succeed in the world, you must make your own opportunities as you go on. The man who waits for some seventh wave to toss him on dry land will find that the seventh wave is a long time a-coming. You can commit no greater folly than to sit by the roadside until someone comes along and invites you to ride with him to wealth or influence."-- John B. Gough

The quote reinforces a value my parents instilled in me from a young age. It is important to build a career by providing the world with skillfully written stories that ignite dormant passions within the reader.  Therefore, I invest a considerable amount of my time writing in the hopes of perfecting my craft. Therefore, I shalt not malign the efforts of other. 

 

★★Valuable Writer Tips★★

★Use your time wisely by improving your writing.

★Research new marketing strategies to boost your readership. 

★Attend writer’s conferences. Some public libraries and colleges have FREE workshops.

★Connect with your core audience. For example, Facebook, create a fan page, street team, join book clubs, and Twitter.

★Find a critique partner who will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.  It will be unnerving at first but it will improve your writing.

 

Back Away From The Shoes Review Drawing

 

 

I need FIVE or MORE people  to participate in the 'Back Away From the Shoes Review Drawing.

 Back Away From The Shoes is a Glamazon Fiction Mystery about a young fashionista that's not afraid to take chances, especially when she wants something.

Here's the blurb:

Life was a breeze for Casey Sullivan, a high school student with an eye for fashion, until a joyous occasion was muddied by an altercation she wanted desperately to forget. One would think that working at the Reinhold Detective Agency would have prepared her for these types of circumstances, but scandalous situations were a far cry from being in the midst of a senseless crime.

A welcomed distraction presents itself as Casey’s anguish builds. Casey grabs the opportunity and flexes her detective skills, hoping it will ease her distress, but her endeavor may be chancier than she anticipated. After all, playing detective is a dangerous game that only professionals should play.

 

In exchange for your honest review, you will be entered in a drawing to win this lovely Shoe Wine Bottle Holder. 

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Here’s the book trailer.

 Rules:

1. Purchase the eBook*: It is available in kindle and paperback format.  You can also download it to your computer as a file.

Purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A9W5JJG/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_h3PRqb1HVPAJ

2. Read, Back Away From the Shoes.

3. Write a review on amazon.com

4. Share it in your ‘Facebook Status.’

5. Post a link to your review in the comment box on this article.  

*U.S Residents only. It must be a ‘Verified Purchase Review.’

*5 or more Participants to validate a drawing.

*** This drawing is CLOSED. The Winner has been notified.***