Bloggin' Authors

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

The Dos and Don’ts of Marketing Your Books with BookBub Ads by T.C. Wescott @mousetrapbooks #bookmarketing

The Dos and Don’ts of Marketing Your Books with BookBub Ads

By T.C. Wescott

BookBub offers a number of ways for an author to market their book. Their most effective (and most expensive) options are the Featured Deal and Featured New Release. These are also nearly impossible to get to get your book into now that major authors and publishers have gotten savvy and started using the service. However, at the bottom of all the BookBub e-mails you receive is an ad for a book. In this realm, the independent author is on equal footing with the big players. There is no review or selection process as long as your ad isn’t inflammatory, misleading, and meets the dimension criteria of the ad. When I learned of this feature I jumped in head first.

I’m not artistically bent by nature and did not know how to create my own attractive ad, so in the beginning I was using Fiverr and paying $5 to $15 per ad creative. I wasn’t very impressed with the results and do not recommend it. Then I learned about BookBrush.com, where you can easily create your own ads using their tools. You get three free per month, but I quickly propped for the annual subscription for $96. You can create ads not only for BookBub, but also Facebook, Amazon, Instragram, etc. The ads created from BookBrush have thus far produced the best results for me.

The other lessons I’ve learned are that you want to choose the CPC or cost-per-click option and set your bid at or above the range of average bids they give you. This will generate instant activity and probably instant sales. Now, if your book is priced at $2.99 or below, you may not profit this way, because many if not most clicks will not result in sales. At least not immediately. But this is a great way to expose a lot of people to your book. And don’t forget that when someone looks at your page on Amazon, Amazon reminds them later via e-mail and Facebook ads that they were interested in your book, giving them more opportunities to purchase it.

If your books are part of a series, sometimes it makes sense to lose money advertising one of the books because the new readers you get will then pay full price for the other books in the series. Don’t be afraid to market, but if a campaign is losing money several weeks with little or no return, you’ll want to revaluate all aspects of the campaign. If the ad is successful in getting a lot of clicks to your Amazon page, but little or no sales result, consider changing your cover art or Amazon description. If you have fake-looking cover art you made yourself, it’s unlikely any marketing you do will be successful. Cover art is one area you must be willing to make an investment. So, all this advice presupposes you care enough about your work to pay for a professional cover artist or at least to purchase professionally generated pre-made art.

Don’t run a single ad. Run a bunch and find out which perform better. Then bump up your daily budgets on those ads and close the others out. I also found that if I put the price of the e-book in Great British Pounds and ran that ad only to the UK while running the same ad with American dollars in other territories really bumps up the return I get from UK customers.

Simultaneous to the BookBub ads I’ve been running for the preorder of my new cozy mystery, Slay Bells: A Christmas Village Mystery, I also have spent a fair amount of money with Amazon Ads, which are also cost-per-click. You would think the Amazon ads would be most successful, as people on the site are actively looking to purchase a book. But as of writing I’ve sold 250 copies of Slay Bells at $4.99 each and only 20% have come from Amazon ads. I estimate 70% has come from BookBub ads and the other 10% from residual marketing I’ve done elsewhere on the web.

I hope these tips prove useful for my fellow writers out there who’ve yet to utilize BookBub’s ad feature, or who have tried it without the success they hoped for. Keep at it. And most importantly, keep writing!

About the Author

T.C. Wescott was born in Missouri but has lived in Oklahoma most of his life. Like pretty much every author who has ever breathed, he is an avid reader. His favorites are classic mysteries from the Golden Age, as well as just before or just after that period (which is widely considered the period between the two World Wars). His first mystery novel, Running from Scissors, was published in July 2018 and will be the first of at least three books in the Running Store Mystery series.

The Christmas Village Mystery series launched in November of the same year with the debut title Slay Bells. The formula for his books is simple - mixing the classic, traditional detective fiction standards with all the trappings of the modern cozy mystery.

Wescott is also (under another name) the author of two award-winning non-fiction books as well as many essays and articles.

His latest book is the cozy mystery, Slay Bells (A Christmas Village Mystery).

Website Address: www.tcwescott.com

Twitter Address: www.twitter.com/MousetrapBooks

Facebook Address: www.facebook.com/BetterMousetrapBooks

About the Book:

Title: SLAY BELLS (A CHRISTMAS VILLAGE MYSTERY)
Author: T.C. Wescott
Publisher: Better Mousetrap Books
Pages: 273
Genre: Cozy Mystery

BOOK BLURB:

‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the village, the night settled in over swirling-smoke chimneys; the air was alive with pine and holly, with sugar and cinnamon and cider, by golly!

Along snowy lanes and through shadows it crept, past windows behind which each villager slept, where sleeping dogs lie and cats rest a’purring-

Tonight, in Christmas Village, a killer is stirring.

Welcome to Christmas Village, a magical hamlet where even in December the roses hold their luster and bees buzz among the bluebells. Nestled betwixt an opulent garden with meandering footpaths and an ancient grove of plum trees, Rose Willoughby’s boarding house is plum-full with lodgers. There are no vacancies, but just wait. Soon there will be one…and another…and another.

When the Inn's guests begin dying in inexplicable ways, some villagers believe a beast from old village lore is the culprit. The sheriff knows better, but he’s just as helpless to catch the invisible killer as are the town folk with their eyes to the sky in search of a flying creature. But our mysterious murderer hasn’t counted on yet another lodger coming to the cottage: Maribel Claus.

Short as a stump, round as a wheel, sweet as a candy cane, and a sharp as a whip, Maribel loves a good puzzle. But can she unmask the phantom killer in time and save Christmas?

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon

# BOOK MARKETING

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

The 'Twist': When the Plot Thickens by Rob Kaufman @robkaufmanct #writing

thewriterslife 6:02 AM 0 Comments

The “Twist”: When the Plot Thickens

By Rob Kaufman

One of the most difficult parts of writing suspense and psychological thrillers is keeping the “twist” (the unforeseen development) a surprise. There’s a fine line between maintaining reader interest while also not giving away too much information. With A Broken Reality, there is a good amount of information provided within the first few pages, but the suspense lingers throughout the book. One review I received said it perfectly:

“What I loved most about this book was that there was no mystery to be solved. The reader knows what happened and what is happening as the story unfolds. Still, my heart was racing to know how it would all play out.”

When I read reviews like that, I know I’ve done my job! Sure, I pepper in clues along the way, knowing that readers are curious people – many will go back and try to find something they might’ve missed. That’s the reason I had to be exceptionally precise with the timeline and action in A Broken Reality. If one small piece of the puzzle was missing or incorrect, my readers would know it… and I’d hear about it immediately.

With my previous book, One Last Lie, it was a few weeks before publication when one of my Advance Readers read the book and brought up a flaw in the plot that no one else caught. After three panic attacks and a few glasses of wine (okay, more than a few), I got myself together and thought things through. I figured out a way to make it work and rewrote a large section of the book. It’s now a top-seller and gets four and five star reviews from readers around the world. That’s the reason it’s so important to have Advance Readers review books before publication. Okay… I digress.

Back to the subject at hand: the “twist”. I often wonder if readers enjoy a full, “OMG, I don’t believe it!” within the final pages or if they would rather have enough clues along the way that they’re not completely surprised at the end.

What’s your preference? I’d love to know so I can keep it in mind for my next book!

About the Author

As a child, Rob Kaufman was always fascinated by the stories recited by those around him and the words used to tell them. As he got older, his need to tell his own stories grew, as did his ability to share them in exciting and captivating ways.

However, he wanted to share more than just stories. His primary desire was to create characters with whom people could relate, while at the same time bringing them through a journey from which most would crumble.

His degree in Psychology was the first step toward getting beneath the surface of the people in his life. What followed was a lifelong search for what makes people tick – what forces them to become evil when deep down in their heart of hearts, they are yearning for love. Rob’s characters walk this search with him, deep into the human psyche, creating psychological thrillers from every day events.

Rob’s second book “One Last Lie" continues to receive great praise and is selling well in both electronic and paperback formats. His current book, “A Broken Reality” is much darker than his first, with characters who hold bits and pieces of strangers he’s known, friends he’s had and personal tragedy he’s lived through.

“This book hits home for me,” says Rob. “There were a few pages that made me laugh out loud as I wrote them... and many that made me cry. And the great thing is, I’m finding that many readers of this book are experiencing the same emotions.”

Through social and other media, Rob hopes to get “A Broken Reality” into the hands of millions, so that they, too, can experience the ups, downs, twists, turns and final tragedy that has helped make this book a Five-Star contender.

Website Address: www.AuthorRobKaufman.com

Blog Address: http://authorrobkaufman.com/blog/

Twitter Address: @RobKaufmanCT

Facebook Address: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRobKaufman/

About the Book:

Title: A BROKEN REALITY
Author: Rob Kaufman
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 320
Genre: Thriller/Suspense/Psychological Thriller

BOOK BLURB:

On a fateful night in the dead of winter, an unimaginable tragedy changes the lives of two families forever. How will they manage to deal with reality while stopping the sociopath who is pushing them toward the edge of sanity?

Ten-year-old, Danny Madsen, has been missing for four days when Jesse Carlton begins his own search for his godson on a frigid, snowy night. Driving along a deserted rural road, Jesse hits a stretch of black ice at the same time Danny appears from the thicket. Unable to control the car, Jesse slams into the boy and watches helplessly as Danny's body flies back into the dark brush.

When Jesse regains consciousness, he has no recollection of how he and his car wound up in a ditch. However, there's a witness: Charles Hastings, the sociopathic kidnapper who chased Danny through the brush and into the path of Jesse's car.

Hastings takes this chance to set up Jesse so he'll take the fall for both Danny's disappearance and death. And so the mind games begin--an onslaught of psychological manipulation that devastates Jesse, his wife, Danny's parents and the cops' investigation. Inexplicably, the torment continues even after the primary suspect is killed and the rollercoaster of emotions and confusion seems never-ending until the final and devastating truth is revealed.

If you like gripping, suspenseful page-turners that keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end, this is a must read!

Link to book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Reality-Rob-Kaufman-ebook/dp/B07HRYRSBP/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538875993&sr=8-1&keywords=a+broken+reality+kaufman

Link to book on B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-broken-reality-robert-kaufman/1129769311?ean=2940156129126

# WRITING

Character Interview: Winter at the Beach's Jenna Jones @_sheila_roberts #characterinterview

thewriterslife 12:00 AM 0 Comments

We are really excited to have Jenna Jones here with us today at Blogging Authors! Jenna comes from the inside pages of Sheila Roberts' new book, Winter at the Beach. Take it away, Jenna!

What is your name?

My name is Jenna Jones, and I manage the Driftwood Inn, a vintage motel in Moonlight Harbor, a charming beach town on the Washington Coast. My daughter and I live in the house next door with my Aunt Edie, who owns the motel. Aunt Edie was a life saver, inviting me to come down and help her run the place after my divorce. I was struggling financially and her invitation was a godsend. Someday, when she's gone (which I hope is a long, long ways away) I'll inherit the Driftwood.

What do you look like?

I'd say I'm not bad looking - certainly not as cute as my younger sister Celeste but no one's as cute as Celeste. I think I still look pretty good for forty. (Eew, forty. That sure sneaked up on me.)

Where are you today and what are you doing?

Today I'm getting ready for the town's winter festival, Seaside with Santa. This was my brain baby and I proposed it to the chamber of commerce as a way to bring in tourist dollars during those quiet winter months. We've got all kinds of things planned, including a parade. There's talk of a storm coming. I sure hope it holds off until after the festival.

You come face to face with your worse enemy. How do you react?

Ha! That would be my ex, the artiste, who cheated on me when we were married, and then when we divorced hit me up for spousal support. (Long story, don't ask.) He is the father of my child though, so, much as I'd like to feed him to the sharks I have to be civilized. So, when he comes to collect Sabrina for a weekend visit I try to be polite.

How would your parents describe you?

I think my mother would describe me as a strong woman. Of course, she's set the example. Widowed young, she raised me and me sister (with the help of grandparents and good old Aunt Edie), worked full time and even managed to carve out a social life for herself. Whenever the going gets tough she always reminds me that every storm brings a rainbow. I like that. Don't you?

Who is your best friend?

I have some great friends, but I'd have to say my best friend is my sister. She's coming down for the festival and is going to ride on our Driftwood Inn float in the parade. Oh, please, God, don't let that storm come. Celeste will freeze her fake mermaid tail right off.

Are you faith-oriented?

Yes, I am. In fact, I'm thinking the pastor at our little church here in town might be a perfect match for my sister, who is clueless when it comes to picking the right man.

Are you married or in a relationship?

Formerly married and scarred for life, although my mom is urging me to give love a chance. I've met two fabulous men here in town and boy are they both tempting. Could I risk my heart and try again? Hmmm.

Do you have children?

As I’ve mentioned, I have my teenage daughter Sabrina, who I absolutely adore in spite of the fact that she's single-handedly turning my hair gray underneath those blond highlights. I wish she was going to be here for the festival, but she'll be vising her father this weekend.

Speaking of the festival, I'd better go. I've got a lot of work to do. Hope you'll come down and join us. Remember, life's good at the beach... even in the winter.

About the Author

USA Today best-selling author Sheila Roberts has seen over fifty books, both fiction and non-fiction in print. Her novels have appeared in many different languages and been made into movies for both the Lifetime and Hallmark Channels. She writes about things near and dear to women’s hearts – love, friendship, family and chocolate.

Her latest book is the women’s fiction, Winter at the Beach.

Website Link: http://www.sheilasplace.com

Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/_Sheila_Roberts?lang=en

Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/funwithsheila/

About the Book:

Title: WINTER AT THE BEACH
Author: Sheila Roberts
Publisher: Harlequin/Mira
Pages: 384
Genre: Women’s Fiction

BOOK BLURB:

Jenna Jones, manager of the Driftwood Inn, a vintage motel in the Washington beach town of Moonlight Harbor, is convinced that a winter festival would be a great way to draw visitors (and tourist business) to town during those off-season months. Everyone in the local chamber of commerce is on board with her Seaside with Santa festival idea except one naysayer, local sour lemon, Susan Frank, who owns a women’s clothing boutique in town. The beach gets hit with storms in the winter, no one will come, too close to Christmas. Blah, blah. What does Susan know?

It turns out that Susan knows a lot. A big storm hits during the weekend of the festival, wreaking havoc with the parade and producing power outages all over town. Including at the Driftwood Inn.

Jenna finds herself with a motel filled with people, all with no power. What to do? Enlist the help of friends, of course. Her friends take in many of the stranded visitors, and Jenna and her Aunt Edie take in the others, stuffing them into Aunt Edie’s house next door to the Driftwood.

All the guests come with their own unique stories. The last thing Taylor Marsh wanted was a getaway with her husband. His refusal to give up on his dying business is taking them down financially and killing their marriage. But her sister Sarah (she who has her financial act together and never lets her sister forget it) insists this will be fun for both their families. It will only be fun for Taylor if her husband gets eaten by a giant squid. Then there’s Darrel Wilson, who planned the perfect anniversary getaway for his wife, who’s been undergoing chemo. So much for the perfect anniversary. And the sisters, Lisa and Karen, who can’t seem to go on a sister outing without it turning into a Lucy and Ethel adventure. Unlikely roommates, all of them. But perhaps each one has a valuable lesson to share with the others. And perhaps, what looked like a disaster will prove to be the best holiday adventure of all.

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon

# CHARACTER INTERVIEWS

Monday, November 26, 2018

Persuasion in a Contentious Society by Juliet Huck @juliethuck

thewriterslife 6:13 AM 0 Comments

Persuasion in a Contentious Society

By Juliet Huck

Observing the current environment in our world, I could not sit back and be silent on how we are treating each other – especially when we need something from someone else. I felt instead of fighting with others it is time to remind us of the beautiful things that can connect us.

It was important to write this book, 50 Ways to Get Your Way, based what seems to be missing in society today – common sense values. These values were drilled into us as farm kids in rural Ohio and have been a valuable tool throughout my career leading clients how to persuade others through personal connections.

I never thought I would be a writer. I have always been a visual designer and a strategist. I fell into it by putting together my first book The Equation of Persuasion - How to secure decisions in your favor - based on 25 years as a Creative Consultant for high dollar, high profile litigation. From Enron to Exxon I have experienced some of the most contentious moments in some of most famous litigation cases of our time. I have inside experienced most consultants will never get.

This book gives everyone simple tools like; it’s not what you know; it’s who you know—and what you know about them. My main message I teach my clients is that the golden rule is to; get out of your own shoes and into the shoes of your audience. This can be challenging, but it is the most important step one can take.

I have learned to trust the voice that comes out of my gut and not my head. I have had some many people advise me on things I completely disagree with. Learning to trust myself and taking the leap of faith has been a great gift.

About the Author

Juliet Huck is an expert in persuasive communications with 25 years of experience. She was born in Marietta, Ohio, and holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. During her career, she has worked with the US Department of Justice for the Enron litigation, Exxon Mobil, Boeing, and law firms, such as O’Melveny and Myers, Kirkland and Ellis, and King and Spalding, among other high-profile clients. Juliet is the author of 50 Ways to Get Your Way and The Equation of Persuasion: Securing Decisions in Your Favor.

Her latest book, 50 Ways to Get Your Way, offers insights for skillfully using persuasion in work and in life by forming meaningful relationships. It is the first book in a series that will teach readers how to get what they want in all facets of their lives.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

AUTHOR WEBSITE | BOOK WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | LINKEDIN

About the Book:

Title: 50 WAYS TO GET YOUR WAY
Author: Juliet Huck
Publisher: The Huck Group
Pages: 120
Genre: Motivational/Nonfiction

BOOK BLURB:

50 Ways to Get Your Way by Juliet Huck Promotes the Art of Persuading Others Using the Simple Power of Commonsense Values

In 50 WAYS TO GET YOUR WAY, Juliet Huck shares the lessons she learned while growing up on her family’s farm in rural Ohio—values such as being grateful, nurturing relationships, and listening intently, which she used to build a successful career as a persuasion strategist working with corporate clients and on high-profile legal cases. Huck teaches readers how to be persuasive in a manner that is honorable and respectful, while making genuine human connections.

The tools Huck shares in 50 WAYS TO GET YOUR WAY are familiar, but the author notes that many of these values are missing in the current social climate. Using beautiful images (many photographed by the author) and conversational prose, Huck encourages readers to commit to a practice of awareness—of self and others—and guides them through the dance of building relationships that will help them achieve their goals. While all of the pearls of wisdom presented in 50 WAYS TO GET YOUR WAY are essential ingredients for developing into a solid human being, several offer the building blocks for becoming an exceptional person who gets what he or she wants. Being empathetic by learning what other people find meaningful, paying attention to the effect that one’s tone can have on others, telling a compelling story, letting go of expectations to minimize disappointment, and understanding the importance of clarity when asking for assistance or sharing plans are just a few of the gems that Huck examines in her book.

Huck acknowledges that the principles outlined in 50 WAYS TO GET YOUR WAY are not “rocket science”; however, she believes they are timely. “Observing the current environment, I could not sit back and be silent about how we are treating each other—especially when we need something from someone else. I felt instead of fighting with others, it is time to remind us of the beautiful things that can connect us,” Huck said.

50 WAYS TO GET YOUR WAY was written with the intention of helping people fulfill their personal and professional needs by mastering the art of making genuine connections.

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon

# Guest Posts

Monday, November 19, 2018

Writing From the Heart by Chris Sarracini @chris_sarracini #children #writing #writerslife

thewriterslife 5:42 AM 0 Comments

WRITING FROM THE HEART

By Chris Sarracini

My children’s book, Where Wishes Grow…, illustrated by Pauline Aksay, focuses on the unbreakable bond of love between a young girl (Maggie), her mother and her grandmother. Maggie’s grandmother is bedridden, having suffered a stroke, and Maggie has some wishes she desperately wants to come true; wishes that would help her grandmother enjoy the vibrant life she once had. And so, Maggie’s mom comes up with a plan to help those wishes to grow.

Writing Where Wishes Grow… was a very cathartic experience for me. Like Maggie, the hero of the story, I too was deeply impacted as a young child when my grandmother suffered a stroke and had to rehabilitate herself physically and mentally. I think Maggie’s wishes for her grandmother stem from my feelings of helplessness when I saw my grandmother struggling to return to health. Needless to say, Where Wishes Grow… is definitely a story I wrote from the heart.

In writing Where Wishes Grow… I wanted to tell a story that would have a powerful emotional impact not just on the kids enjoying the book but also on the parents or grandparents who might be reading it with them. I hoped that it would remind readers, young and old, just how powerful the bonds of family are and how important it is to cherish the shared memories between generations because time with family is precious. And most of all, I wanted the story to remind readers of how hope is one of the most powerful emotions of all.

In order to capture the soft and tender emotions that this story is meant to evoke, the book needed just the right artist. Working with Pauline Aksay was an incredible experience. Since so much of the book revolves around Maggie dreaming of bigger and better things for her Nanna, and since so much of the storytelling happens when Maggie retells her adventures to her mother after having planted her wishes, the dreaminess of Pauline’s digital paintings was a perfect fit. There are very few artists who can transport readers into the vibrant and colorful imagination of a child quite like Pauline.

We hope you enjoy Where Wishes Grow… and that this story, written from the heart, touches yours.

About the Author

Chris Sarracini has been working in the comic book and film industries for over 15 years. In addition to writing for a number of successful comic book favorites including TRANSFORMERS, STREET FIGHTER and DARK MINDS, his own creations include FATE OF THE BLADE and CASA NOSTRA. As a screenwriter, he has worked with Universal Pictures, Disney and Nasser Entertainment. His most recent publication is the children's picture book WHERE WISHES GROW...

Chris lives with his family in Toronto where he continues to create and write.

Website Address: www.chrissarracini.com

Twitter Address: www.twitter.com/chris_sarracini

About the Book:

Title: WHERE WISHES GROW
Author: Chris Sarracini
Publisher: Brownridge Publishing
Pages: 56
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

BOOK BLURB:

Where Wishes Grow… is the story of eight-year-old Maggie, a pensive and courageous dreamer, whose big heart starts to break when her grandmother becomes bedridden and sick with no recovery in sight. Fortunately Maggie has some wishes in mind to breathe life into Nana and is about to learn the secret for making them come true.

Watching Nana’s health fail has been difficult for Maggie and so now much of her time is spent dreaming up wishes for ways she can help her. Maggie conjures up three wishes for Nana she desperately wants to come true: for Nana to see again to enjoy her favorite beautiful things, for her to walk again to visit her favorite places, and for her to speak again so that she and Maggie can sing their favorite songs. The problem is, with wishes this important, Maggie wants to be sure she can realize them; wishing upon stars that may be long dead or relying on birthday candle hoopla just won’t cut it. Thankfully, Maggie’s mother knows the secret for turning wishes into reality…you’ve got to write each wish down and then go plant each one in just the right place. And, as Maggie discovers, retelling the story of how each wish was planted turns out to be the most magical part.

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon

# THE WRITER'S LIFE # WRITING

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

20 Questions with Poet/Author J. Autherine @loveautherine

thewriterslife 4:04 AM 0 Comments

Janet Autherine is the author of Growing into Greatness with God: 7 Paths to Greatness for our Sons & Daughters, and Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul: Reclaiming Your Heart in order to Live and Love Harmoniously.

Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul, is a beautiful collection of poems that tell the stories of strong, vulnerable, courageous women who love deeply, sometimes fall hard but always lead with their hearts. It is a deep and gritty, fresh and robust look at the thrill of loving unconditionally, as well as the mental and physical toll that it takes when peace and harmony are sometimes lost in the process. Drawing on personal experiences from her own journey of the past 30 years, J Autherine delves into the vulnerable hearts of women from around the world, including from her early years in Jamaica.

Growing into Greatness with God, 7 Paths to Greatness for our Sons and Daughters is inspired by her own experiences growing up in Jamaica, as well as her experience raising her three sons to recognize and nourish what God has planted within each of them. Her goal, through her writing, is to empower adults and children to see themselves as unique and amazing, already blessed with the ability to succeed in life and achieve their dreams.

Janet was born in St. Thomas, Jamaica, and immigrated to the United States when she was twelve. She grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Pennsylvania State University and Boston College Law School. Janet continues to practice law but wakes up at 5am almost every morning to cultivate her inspirational writing and introduce readers to great books through her publishing company, Autherine Publishing. She is a proud introvert and running and reading are her peaceful passions. Her books are available on Amazon and she blogs at www.JanetAutherine.com.

Website Address: www.JanetAutherine.com

Blog Address: http://www.janetautherine.com/wild-heart-peaceful-soul/

Twitter Address:@loveautherine

Facebook Address: https://www.facebook.com/JanetAutherineJ/

1. Are you a morning writer or a night writer?

My favorite time to write is usually 30 minutes after I crawl out of bed. I meditate for a few minutes, make a cup of tea and start writing what is in my heart.

2. Do you outline or are you a pantster?

I didn’t outline my poetry book, Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul. I feel the emotion and then let the writing flow. My first book, Growing into Greatness with God used bible stories to inspire children to grow into their greatness so I took the time to outline the book before writing.

3. Which comes first – plot or character?

Usually the plot. My most recent book, Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul a beautiful collection of poems that provide inspiration to strong, vulnerable, badass women who love deeply, sometimes fall hard but always lead with their hearts. It is a deep and gritty, fresh and robust look at the thrill of loving unconditionally, as well as the mental and physical toll that it takes when peace and harmony are sometimes lost in the process.

The poems are from the heart so are largely driven by a strong emotion, such as pain, love, fear or joy. When I ride the emotional wave, the words of the poem flow.

4. Noise or quiet when working on your manuscript?

Quiet is best for me. I love to write early in the morning before everyone else in the house is awake. 5am is my magic hour. An exception is the sound of the ocean, which sparks creativity.

5. Favorite TV show?

I gave up television when I started writing daily, however, when I do indulge, I love to watch the Voice. I love to see dreams fulfilled.

6. Favorite type of music?

Reggae. I was born in Jamaica and a bit of Bob Marley is the perfect combination for anyone who is creative.

7. Favorite craft besides writing?

I used to make jewelry before I became far-sighted. I love the instant gratification of creating something beautiful.

8. Do you play a musical instrument?

In my dreams, I play the piano and the drums.

9. Single or married?

Single

10. Children or no?

I am blessed to have three boys. It is a big, noisy party at my house but we love it.

11. Pets?

I am a cat person. I loved Rudy for about 14 years and he passed away in my arms. He was a very temperamental cat who would go out of his way to let me know when he was displeased but that is what made him special.

12. Favorite place to write?

My favorite place to write is at any time overlooking the ocean. All the senses are engaged and creativity flows.

13. Favorite restaurant?

For a special night out, I love Eddie V’s in Orlando because it has amazing seafood. I am a pescatarian. For a laid-back vibe, Mark’s Caribbean Cuisine plays reggae music and serves up good Jamaican food.

14. Do you work outside the home?

I graduated from law school in 1994 and has consistently worked in the profession while getting up early almost every morning to write.

15. What was the name of the last movie that you saw?

The Black Panther. When I was writing, Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul, I didn’t see many movies but the Black Panther was amazing and I am so glad that I saw it because it inspired me to write the poem, Wakanda Love, which is one of my favorite love poems in the book.

16. Favorite outdoor activity?

Running. I ran the Marine Corps Marathon when I lived in the Washington, DC area.

17. Pet peeve?

Unkindness. Chose to treat everyone well; it is the best choice for humanity and our own mental health.

18. Your goal in life?

My goal is to continue to write books that resonate with readers and share them with as many readers as possible. My first book, Growing into Greatness with God, has become a mission for me because it is an important motivational read for children. I am working to get it distributed internationally and to as many churches, and international children’s missions as possible. I would love for every child to have access to it and to provide it at no cost to those who cannot afford it. Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul is really resonating with women and I am excited to get out and meet all the readers. My next book is Everything’s Irie: An Island Girl’s Approach to Mindful Living and Being. It will be available on Amazon January 2019.

19. Your most exciting moment?

As a writer, I love that moment when the book first appears on Amazon or I walk into a bookstore and it is there. It is a powerful feeling of gratitude.

20. The love of your life?

Without a doubt, my three boys!

About the Book:

Title: WILD HEART, PEACEFUL SOUL: POEMS AND INSPIRATION TO LIVE AND LOVE HARMONIOUSLY
Author: J. Autherine
Publisher: Autherine Publishing
Pages: 158
Genre: Poetry

BOOK BLURB:

Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul, is a beautiful collection of poems that provide inspiration to strong, vulnerable, badass women who love deeply, sometimes fall hard but always lead with their hearts. It is a deep and gritty, fresh and robust look at the thrill of loving unconditionally, as well as the mental and physical toll that it takes when peace and harmony are sometimes lost in the process.

Drawing on personal experiences from her own journey of the past 30 years, J Autherine delves into the vulnerable hearts of women from around the world, including from her early years in Jamaica. Poems such as Quiet Storm reveal the pain of sudden loss, while The Rebel Soul carries with it that air of doubt or uncertainty we all feel when in love.

The pain and struggle of women who love deeply and pour into others without first filling their own jars is prevalent throughout, as is the reoccurring theme of reclaiming your heart in order to live and love harmoniously.

Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul has the ability to pick you up in moments when you feel broken or not good enough to be loved and provide the strength in the love you always need as we search for the one who is worthy of our love.

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Friday, November 9, 2018

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT “THE SHELTERING PALMS” BY PRESTON HOWARD

thewriterslife 5:12 AM 0 Comments

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT “THE SHELTERING PALMS”

The Sheltering Palms was my first endeavor into fiction writing, so there has been some trepidation about the book’s reception. The novel was definitely a labor of love.

I spent well over forty years working around lawyers, cops and unions, and there was simply too much rich material to pass up writing a story about these fascinating subjects. And my childhood around a bourbon-swilling, piano-playing grandfather and other eccentric family characters offered further material for some terrific tales about these oddballs. When I combined my childhood along with my career and developed a coherent story, the result was a satisfying fictional autobiography that hopefully you will enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing it.

During my career, I wrote and published three professional books about police unions, and figured: how hard could it be to write a novel? Boy, was I deluded! A novel is a completely different process, requiring a creativity and word usage that at first puzzled me. But I finally got into the groove and the result is a book that hopefully you will find to be funny, eerie, sardonic and a little bit, no make that a whole lot, lewd.

The protagonist, that would be yours truly, represented some truly heroic police officers and some of the lowest of the low, but all of them compelling characters. Readers might be shocked to look behind the curtain and see what really happens in police departments, but you will definitely enjoy the ride.

I especially hope that you enjoy the character named Buster, who in the book was an attorney in a small east Tennessee burg who mentored me during my formative years. Buster definitely enjoyed his bourbon way too much, had more information floating around in his head than ten people combined, could spin the funniest tales, write the funniest letters, and had the most peculiar ideas about religion and politicians. He was the mold for what has been termed “country lawyer.”

When I finished writing this book, I gave a huge sigh of relief, figuring my work was now complete. What did I know? Several of my colleagues told me I needed a professional editor; I said, “I took English in college, so why the hell do I need an editor.” But I followed their advice and brought on ace editor Jeff LaFerney, not realizing that he was going to push me through an English 101 boot camp and point out the many grammatical errors I had made in the writing process. Because of Jeff’s efforts, the final project is so much improved. I can never thank him enough for his efforts.

I have so enjoyed writing this novel that a sequel is now in the works. It should be completed sometime next spring. Good reading!

Preston Howard

About the Author

Preston Howard spent his entire career working on behalf of police officers, representing them under adverse circumstances, negotiating contracts to improve officers’ benefits and working conditions, and training police union officials in the art of leadership. He has written numerous books and lectured not only in this country but abroad as well.

His latest book is the fictional autobiography/historical fiction/satire, The Sheltering Palms.

Website Address: http://www.prestonhowardauthor.com

Facebook Address: Preston Howard - Author

About the Book:

Title: THE SHELTERING PALMS
Author: Preston Howard
Publisher: Preston Howard Press
Pages: 519
Genre: Fictional Autobiography/Historical Fiction/Satire

BOOK BLURB:

Renowned police labor lawyer, Preston Howard, reached a watershed in his life—a forced retirement from the firm he built from the ground up and a cancer diagnosis. These two events made him take a step back and reflect over a life that had at times been hilarious, irreverent, self-mocking, eerie and even a bit, make that, quite lewd.

A family of unique characters guided the lawyer’s formative years: a bourbon-swilling, brilliant yet flawed grandfather who mentored the young lad in matters of religion, politics and the quest for knowledge; a psychic mother; an oversexed nanny; an aunt and uncle who fought on the front lines of integration; and a fire-balling uncle who got his fifteen minutes of fame in The Show.

Preston Howard first made his mark as a crime-fighting attorney representing the Tucson Police Department. Then he spent over forty illustrious years as a labor lawyer working with police officers and union leaders and handling the gamut of fascinating, high-profile cases across the country and even in other countries.

His many tall yarns might be viewed by some with the greatest suspicion, but his story-telling is undeniably first-class, witty, and absorbing.

PRAISE:

“The best book I’ve ever read about lawyers, cops, and unions.” Bob Helpert, Tucson, Arizona