Enjoy!

FirstWriter.com is a one-stop resource for new writers as they progress through their writing career.  On the resource list is copyright information, editorial services, writing tips, and much more.  Firstwriter’s mission is:  “quite simply, to help you get published. Whether you’re an aspiring writer or an established professional, we aim to provide you with the tools you need to find placements for your writing quickly, accurately, and with minimum cost.”  Firstwriter is maintained by a small group of dedicated professionals based around the world. The company exists only online, so they are not restricted by geography and can choose to work with the best people for the job—regardless of where they live. Their team includes people from the United Kingdom, the United States, and as far afield as China.

Finding your way through the conference maze. Romance writer Roni Loren (Crash Into You, available in January 2012) has both feet on the ground—usually at one writers’ conference or another. She attends three such events every year and has developed a working strategy, which she gladly shares in her Fiction Groupie post, “Top Five Mistakes Writers Make at Conferences.” Her nitty gritty advice is strong on seeking out sessions that will help you hone your craft, rather than leaping ahead to composing query letters and courting agents. Learning and networking are king and queen, according to Loren. If you’re interested in scouting out what’s happening from New York City to Grand Cayman, visit the Writers’ Conferences & Centers website, where you can also find out about scholarships and retreats.

Give your chapters, books, and promotional materials unforgettable endings. In “Endings To Remember,” Peter P. Jacobi offers news story tips that any writer can employ for more effective prose. The former university professor and writing/editing consultant outlines the importance of crafting a persuasive, thoughtful, provocative conclusion to your literary piece that will cling to your reader’s consciousness like static electricity. So how is it done? Should you use a quote? What about a descriptive snapshot, some dialogue, or an anecdote? Only you, the writer, can tap inside to discover the best choice for your particular story, but if you put in the effort, it will cap your writing with meaning that can make a difference in the life of your readers, and maybe even move them to action.

Shannon says: Research your choices.  There are lots of self-publishing companies out there these days.  CreateSpace, Lulu,  iUniverse, BookLocker, Xlibris, and Authorhouse are just a few.  Some are totally free, and some aren’t.  For those that aren’t, check out their contracts or packages that they offer.  Know what you are getting for your dollar up front….

I’ll add: Keep in mind that going through many of these companies is not true self-publishing. AuthorHouse and Xlibris, for instance, are both owned by vanity/subsidy giant Author Solutions. If you intend to sell books and make a profit from your venture, it is recommended you not go this route. (I recently blogged about the different publishing options.)

Shannon says: Know your budget.  If you use a POD company that charges for a package, which package can you afford?  You should also plan on purchasing review copies.  How much money are you willing to invest on other marketing?  Don’t forget postage and shipping supplies!  Are you paying for editing services or for book cover design?…

I’ll add: Make sure you have a budget! In my opinion, you need to have your manuscript edited and you need to have a professional cover design, at a minimum. Yes, there are “free” services out there, but the adage “you get what you pay for” is certainly true. In terms of marketing and promotions, there are plenty of things you can do for very little or no cost, but if this is not your forte, you’ll want to set aside money for promotions. You can write the best book in the world, but if no one knows about it, no one will buy it.

Shannon says: Be prepared to invest in review copies!… 

I’ll add: Absolutely. I have seen more than one author’s attempts at promotion fail because they do not want to send out free review copies. We had one author, in fact, ask us to set up a virtual author book tour for her, but she neglected to fulfill review copy requests. The tour was a failure. My co-author of The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing, 5^th Edition, Marilyn Ross sent out some 500 review copies for her book Jump Start Your Book Sales; it was a valuable promotions tool and she attributes that as the number one reason the book enjoyed excellent sales.

Shannon says: Invest in a decent book cover…. Most POD companies have some sort of automated book cover design program with stock images.  Don’t use their stock images!  If you do, just know there will be other books out there that have the same cover as yours…. Research your options or hire a graphic designer for assistance.

I’ll add: I wholeheartedly agree with this. The templated covers put out by these so-called self-publishing companies scream self-published. Not only will there be other covers out there with your exact same image, but these amateurish-looking designs do nothing to generate interest in your book. I would also venture to say that a professional graphic designer with book cover design experience is essential.

Shannon says: Edit!  Most POD companies offer some sort of editing service, but it can be quite pricey.  If you can’t afford to hire an editor, at least have a smart friend or two read over the manuscript and look for mistakes and misspelled words.  Don’t think that your own eyes will catch everything, no matter how many times you read your own book. I’m guilty of doing that myself, and readers were quick to point out my mistakes. Sure, traditional books even have mistakes in them and some are always going to slip through, but if your book is full of mistakes and errors it can be a big turn off to the reader, and to reviewers!

I’ll add: The POD companies offer sub-par editing that is not worth the (usually expensive) price they charge. And don’t count on friends (unless they are professional editors) and don’t think you can self-edit. (I have been an editor for more than two decades—and I still needed an editor to read through The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing. The editor found plenty me and my co-author had missed.) Find yourself an editing professional whose style meshes well with yours. Ask for a sample edit of a chapter or so to determine whether the editor can edit your work without changing your voice. Where to look? Ask around writer’s groups (on Facebook or LinkedIn), tweet about your needs on Twitter, or look into groups such as the Rocky Mountain Publishing Professionals Guild, which provide listings of editors (and, incidentally, the other pros you may need in your self-publishing venture).

Shannon says: Format your book properly and follow the rules!  I have never, never, NEVER seen a traditionally published book that lacked right margin justification and I’m tired of self-published authors telling me that they did it that way because it’s easier to read.  No, you didn’t follow the rules because you didn’t do your homework, or you don’t know how….

I’ll add: I generally recommend that authors do not attempt their own interior designs. Unless they are well versed in a design program such as Adobe InDesign, they are probably not qualified and the results may not be pretty—or professional. However, if they want to do their own page layout, they should read websites such as The Book Designer so they can learn the elements of what makes good design.

Shannon says: Understand that physical bookstores are not your friends….  And never, NEVER call a bookstore and try to promote yourself over the phone!  They don’t have time to talk to you. Almost all bookstores expect a discount so that they can sell a book and make a profit.  With almost all self-published books, companies charge all customers list price so there is no discount for bookstores.  Or there’s no distribution of your book through wholesale channels for chain bookstores to be able to get your book anyway.  And if there is, the book is usually sold non-returnable so a chain bookstore will require pre-payment….

I’ll add: It is often an author’s ultimate goal to have their book on the bookstore shelves. But Shannon is right; this is really not the most lucrative way to sell books. Although you can get into the trade distribution system by printing with Lightning Source (owned by Ingram, one of the largest wholesalers in the country), you will be expected to offer a deep discount and a returnable product. However, I think it is worth it to have your book available at the bookstores, so this is another reason why I believe going the “POD self-publishing” company route is not a good idea. As Shannon says, companies charge customers list price so there can be no discount. Self-publish the proper way, and you can offer a discount and still make a profit.

As usual, it all comes down to educating yourself about the process and doing the most professional job you can. Your book’s success and your own reputation are on the line.

1. Blogging can help you stand out in the Internet crowd without spending thousands on a fancy website.  

2. Blogging gives you a place to develop content.

3. Blogging will help define you as an author and will help you refine your message.

4. Blogging will help you build credibility.  

5. Blogging gives you a “home base” for your social media activities.

6. If you intend to pitch other bloggers about reviewing your book or perhaps providing a guest post, you need to be a blogger first.

7. If you intend to be a leader within your industry, a blog will give you a voice even more so than a book will.

Keep in mind that while it is important to update your blog frequently, posts do not have to be long (this post, for instance, is just 220 words). Good luck…and good blogging!

A lot of authors get stuck on their book projects. Some writers start strong, but flail over time as they encounter a few of the realities of book publishing. Others have trouble getting started at all. So their dream of writing a book stays just that: a dream.

When you’re stuck, sometimes it helps to ask questions. Whether you call it playing “devil’s advocate” or give it a more highbrow term like the “Socratic Method,” simply asking questions can be a great way to get a book project back on track. Here are 5 questions to get you started.

1. Why are you writing the book?

People write books for many different reasons. Do you want the book to further your career? To help you attract new clients? Do you want the book to be some type of lasting legacy? Do you want a book so you have something to sell at conferences? Are you writing a book to create a passive income stream? Is the book for artistic gratification or a story you feel compelled to share?

It’s a lot of work to write and publish a book, so you should make sure you really want to do it. A lot. Be brutally honest with yourself. If it’s not the right time to write and publish the book now, that’s okay.

2. How do you plan to get it published and why?

Every author has three primary ways to publish: by going through a traditional publishing company, by self-publishing, or by opting for a subsidy (vanity) press. With traditional publishing, you submit book proposals through an agent, get an advance, and then a royalty. When you self-publish, you buy ISBNs, set yourself up as an independent press, hire freelance help, and publish the book yourself. With a vanity press, you pay a provider to produce the book, but you are not the publisher.

Each option has pros and cons. You should understand the benefits and pitfalls of each one before you sign on the dotted line. Some traditionally published authors have moved to self-publishing and self-published authors have had their books picked up by big publishers. Only rarely is signing with a vanity press a good idea. However, if you’re writing a memoir that only your family will buy, it’s a reasonable option. Think about your goals and reasons for writing the book before deciding.

3. Who is going to read the book?

This question is probably the most important question of all. And yet, countless authors never ask it. If you are struggling to write, it may be because you simply haven’t figured out who is actually going to read your book.

Here’s a hint. The answer is never: everyone. I’m sorry to say that everyone is not going to read your book. The more specifically and narrowly you can define your reader, the better.

I encourage writers to visualize one specific reader. Decide whether your target reader is male or female. (Yes, men and women both might read your book; just pick one so you can visualize an individual person.) What are his or her likes and dislikes? Does he already know something about your topic? What does he look like? What frustrates him? What gives him joy? What is the story of his life? Where does he live? Where does he work?

The more you can narrow down your target reader, the more you can “walk a mile” in their shoes. Your book will be better and easier to write.

4. What other books exist and why is yours different?

Too many authors fail to do even the most basic level of market research before they embark on a book project, which is silly because it’s so easy to do online. Go to Amazon.com and do a search on your book’s topic. Open up a document and type in all the titles. See if you can tell from the description what the author’s slant or “take” on a topic is. Once you’re done, look for “holes” in the coverage. Can you target your book to a specific niche? Offer a different viewpoint?

Differentiation is the key to a book that sells. After you’ve published the book, you’ll need to market it, so having a keen understanding of what makes your book special is vital.

5. What do you still need to learn?

Book publishing is a big topic. One thing that separates successful publishers from the not-so-successful is their willingness to learn about the book industry. I always say that you wouldn’t open a restaurant without learning a little about the food business; why do people think publishing is different? Get some books about book publishing like The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing and start educating yourself.

Here’s another thing you can do right now to further your education. The third annual Self-Publishers Online Conference (SPOC) is May 10-12, 2011. You can learn the ins and outs of the publishing business from 16 expert speakers — including Sue Collier — right from the comfort of your own computer, wherever you happen to be located.

All you need is an Internet connection. With our unique online conference software, you can attend seminars live or via recording, learn about useful publishing resources in the Exhibit Hall, and interact with speakers and other attendees through the live discussion areas. Visit Self-Publishers Online Conference for more info.

Take advantage of Early Bird pricing now and get an additional 10% off by using the special SueCollier11 coupon when you register.

Susan Daffron, aka The Book Consultant, owns a book and software publishing company. She spends most of her time writing, laying out books in InDesign, or taking her dogs out for romps in the forest. She also teaches people how to write and publish profitable client-attracting books and puts on the Self-Publishers Online Conference every May.

After you’ve got your book organized, I suggest you develop a mission statement just like businesses do. This is some twenty to forty words that capture the essence of your message. Who is this for? How will it assist them? What is its main thrust? Creating this now—and referring to it frequently during the writing process—will help you stay focused.

Determine who your audience is. Otherwise you’ll be like a blindfolded fool with a dart. You can shoot, but the chances of hitting the target, not to mention the bull’s-eye, are slim to none. How old are your typical readers? Which gender? Where do they rank educationally and financially? What special interests, or problems, do they have? Get a firm picture of your readers, and write your book to them.

Next, write the introduction. This sets the stage for the whole book. A good introduction tells the scope of the work and details the different ways people will benefit from reading it. It further helps you think through the project and keeps you on target. You’ll want to rework it after the book is written. Then work on the chapter you’re most jazzed about. It doesn’t matter if it’s chapter three or chapter nine. Nonfiction books don’t necessarily need to be written in chronological order; chapters are typically stand-alone units. By starting on the one that excites you the most, you get into the swing of writing. If you think of the chapters as a series of steps, each piece contributing to the whole, you’ll have a finished book before you know it.

Now think about what you can provide to embellish or clarify your message. Should you include sidebars of relevant information? Checklists? Samples? Dos and don’ts? Also strive to have examples that are demographically correct. Include singles/couples, personal/professional, old/young, male/female. Don’t favor or ignore any one group.

Some people already have the guts of a book and don’t realize it. Have you written several articles on a similar subject? Do you do a regular column? How about a blog? Repackage that data and guess what? You have a book! Find the common denominators, write transitions, link the material, refresh obsolete facts or information, and you’re in business. Be sure you deliver value.

I work with a lot of speakers who have a real advantage because they can simply use an audiotape or video they already have produced for sale and transcribe it into a double-spaced document. (Or simply tape a speech and have it transcribed.) By reviewing and reworking this material, the shape of their books quickly emerges. To beef up their messages, they can simply hire virtual assistants to find relevant articles and new statistics.

What length constitutes a book? It varies widely depending on who you ask. The U.S. Postal Service says you must have at least eight pages to qualify. International postal standards dictate that forty-nine pages is the magic number, not counting the cover. Anything under that is deemed a pamphlet or periodical. The Library of Congress requires fifty to get an LCCN. We usually encourage at least sixty-four pages, depending on the subject matter.

The bottom line is to give your readers genuine value.

Now use file folders to represent chapters, placing appropriate data in each folder. This way, you start to flesh out the book’s skeleton. Review what you have gathered to see where you’re rich with material—and what areas are thin and need further research, or perhaps reshuffling and combining of chapters.

Of course, this method won’t work for everyone. Some people like to group their material into notebooks with section dividers. Still others—like me—prefer to do it electronically. I keep separate folders on my computer for articles, quotes, anecdotes, and so on, organizing them by category or subject. A major advantage to doing it this way is that they are already keyboarded when it comes to the actual writing.

I have been asked more than once how long a chapter should be. How about long enough to reach from beginning to end? Seriously, there is no way to say ten pages or twenty pages. Organize the material carefully and make logical breaks. Some topics will naturally be more meaty than others. Of course, if you end up with one chapter out of all proportion in length to the rest, see if there isn’t a natural break where you could divide it. Or combine meager information with another chapter. Once you’ve grouped material this way, refine it further into a working table of contents (the “outline” from your college days). Group like topics together, and consider a part one, part two, part three structure.

Next week, I will address the actual writing process.

To be effective, the Foreword should be by someone who is known to, and respected by, your potential reading audience. You want a “name” so you can use it to help promote the book. Ideally you have developed a relationship with key individuals in your topic area. This is one reason to continually network within your industry. Attend national conventions and regional workshops where you can reach opinion molders. Use social media to make contacts with heavyweights. Follow up these meetings—both virtual and in person—with personal notes and keep up a dialogue.

Once you identify who you want to contact, the challenge is how to reach them. As mentioned previously, social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn can open doors that would otherwise be closed.  If you can’t find them there, try Google.

Now you’re ready to launch your campaign. Put together a powerful one-pager to these people telling why your book is important, different from others, and why it will be of special interest to them. Customize each note to give it personal appeal. Invite them to read your book and give you an advance comment. You’re not asking for a Foreword at this point. Ask only for their feedback. Include the table of contents, introduction, and promotional material to titillate their interest—and offer to send an advance review copy of the book.

When you get a glowing response, then approach that person about writing a Foreword. This shouldn’t be a saga: one to three pages is normal. People have often asked me whether they should pay for a Foreword. No! This is not accepted industry practice. (But you should make sure to spell the word correctly. I often see the erroneous “Forward” used all too often!)

What sometimes happens is the expert is too busy to accommodate your request and read the book. Is all lost? Never! You might say something like, “Why don’t I put together a few paragraphs for you — subject, of course, to your approval or revision?” He or she will usually quickly agree. Yes, you will write the Foreword. This gives you more control over both the content and the turnaround time.

Just how do you proceed once you’ve garnered this precious gem? Promote the heck out of it! Splash the names of any notables boldly across your cover and promotional materials.

Of course, the brief advance comments (often called “blurbs” in the industry) you collect from other famous people can be put on the back cover of the book, added to the very front of the book before the title page, and interwoven in promotional materials. Third-party accolades win sales. Blurbs also lend credibility to your ads. A statement carries more clout if it comes from someone other than you.

So when you’re looking for ways to help your book stand out from the crowd, don’t be backward about getting a Foreword. It can give you added visibility, credibility, and profitability.

The answer to the first questions is “yes”! Authors of fiction can certainly benefit their platforms by incorporating speaking into their repertoire. So this brings us to the next question: What should fiction writers talk about?

Well, how about…writing? Talk about writing your first novel. Talk about researching effectively. Talk about establishing your book’s theme. Talk about using fact versus fiction in your work. Talk about creating conflict. Talk about bringing fictional characters to life. Talk about where you draw your inspiration from.

Another topic you can cover is your genre. Are you a writer of paranormal fiction? Or maybe you pen thrillers? Or literary fiction? Talk about particulars or trends specific to your genre.

If you’re an indie, talk about your experience with independent publishing. What made you decide to go that route? Did you make any mistakes? What did you learn from the process? What are the pros and cons to publishing independently?

If you’ve published traditionally, talk about your experience with that. Did you have an agent? How did you find one? How long did the process take? What have you learned?

Every author has to market his or her book to some extent, and there is an endless supply of topics to speak about in that regard. Talk about building your platform. (Explain what a “platform” is!) There are dozens of topics alone related to social media, including blogging, tweeting, friending, and the like. What works for you and what doesn’t?

For those of you who do speak, I’ll offer much of the same advice I gave to nonfiction writers: Don’t forget to bring sales materials to your events—bookmarks or business cards with your book cover on it (as well as ordering information, of course). (Or books themselves to sell right on the spot, if that is practical.) Readers of fiction tend to want to buy books written by authors they like, and they will likely want to buy your book after hearing you speak. Some authors give a small discount—perhaps 10 percent—to induce immediate sales. In any event, be sure to weave into your presentation that personally autographed books will be available afterward.

So even if you don’t have a book that outlines your expertise, the mere fact that you’ve written a book makes you an expert the on the process itself. There’s plenty to talk about!

Ranging in age from 13 to 96, those who have already signed on represent a variety of races, religions, and nationalities. These diverse men are clergy and leaders from several major religions, health practitioners, coaches, authors, speakers, multimillionaire business men, an All-American and gold-medalist athlete, and a man serving a life sentence who was released after becoming a long-term model prisoner…just to name a few. Some of their stories include: chilling accounts of surviving in the thick of the Holocaust, a small-town teenager bullied and threatened for being gay, a professional man’s life lessons while homeless, and sports participation building self-esteem in the face of emotional and economic hardship.

Please visit Jim’s website if you are interested in learning more about this compelling project.

Please let me know if you would like to be featured!

Your name:  Lillian Brummet

Your website/blog: www.brummet.ca; http://consciousdiscussions.blogspot.com

Your bibliography: Lillian Brummet is the co-author of the books Trash Talk and Purple Snowflake Marketing. She is the author of Towards Understanding, host of the Conscious Discussions Talk Radio Show, and manager of the award-winning Brummet’s Conscious Blog. She offers a bi-weekly newsletter as well. A quick Internet search will reveal just a few of the hundreds of articles she has written for publications around the globe, and thousands of interviews with Lillian. She has volunteered with many organizations over the years, is a member of Seeds of Diversity Canada and has a passion for rescuing animals and motivating people to be more proactive in leading a conscious and green lifestyle.

1. What is your background? I grew up in a broken home, was on my own at the age of 13, and yet was able to put myself through school, stay out of the system and pay my own way. I began writing very early in life, but used it as a healing tool during my early years to deal with the past. It was in ’99 that we (my husband Dave and I) decided to use this talent for writing as a way to pursue our passions in life and create positive change… leaving a lasting legacy.

2. What led you to self-publishing? I started out as a free-lance writer, later working for several different publications on assignment or as a staff member for a few years, and then branched off to write books… which is our main focus now. We have worked with a few different traditional publishers (in print, with royalties) and soon learned that there were very few benefits in dealing with publishers, as opposed to being on our own. Sure they find distributors, set up the ISBN and so forth, but everything else is left up to us, the writers. So now we are focusing on taking all our work into e-book format. Already 3 of our books have been updated, totally revised and released as e-books and we have numerous others coming out soon.

3. What have you found to be the biggest challenge in self-publishing? You absolutely must have self-discipline. You are the only person who will be communicating with anyone connected with your book so you must be prepared for that. The initial set-up for this can be daunting at first due to the draft email/letter creations and media kits and record keeping… Once all this is set up, the process becomes much more smooth. Keeping up to date with my records is a challenge due to communicating with a large number of media contacts every single day… Who was followed-up on? Who received the files they were looking for? When is the event happening and have I created the promotions for that event? Balancing all of this with the actual task of writing (she laughs) can be a challenge.

4. What has been the biggest surprise about self-publishing? The biggest surprise is how receptive people in the industry are for this genre. It used to be laden with a stigma but that is now fading. People are becoming more educated about the various formats and genres in the industry and the green benefits of alternative publishing options are catching on too. Even e-books and audio books, the newest entries in the world of writing, are getting great reception out there in the marketing sphere.

5. Describe your writing process. The writing itself starts with an idea and the consideration of who I am speaking to. Once I have those two items the rest just falls into place. If I know my audience, I am already aware what they are looking for, what will appeal to them. I then create a brief outline for larger non-fiction projects, and this outline is very flexible so that I can keep the creative level high as I work through the process. Research is a biggie for me I love to research the topics, issues, people involved in an issue contact them and then use this information in the writing process. I don’t worry about editing just yet and sometimes create a few pages just for notes that I can refer to. Once the writing piece has been created, then I become concerned with flow that one idea leads to the next, one paragraph leads to the next. Sentence structure and other editing like grammar is something I do relatively last. My husband is an exceptional editor and proofreader, so he will often work on the project at this point. After taking some time away from it, we will return and read it at least one more time before submitting.

6. How do you stay disciplined? The motivation behind staying on top of things is that I am not having to work for the man… that dreaded day job of drudgery. So that keeps me aware of my position, that by working for myself I do not have to answer to anyone but myself, yet I do find the hardest person to please IS myself! (She laughs). Keeping good records is key to my success in being on top of things. Who I’ve submitted to, where that communication is at and whether they need to hear from me again – these can all be seen at a glance just by using color codes. Green for contacts that are completed, blue to follow up on, pink is a confirmed event, but not yet made public purple lets me know that I’ve already dealt with that contact and it was a positive outcome. Excel is a great program that my husband taught me to use years ago. Every 6-8 months I go through the year’s contacts in that file and do any follow-ups necessary before moving on to new ones.

7. How are you financing your publishing project? With e-book publishing there is no cost, as long as one doesn’t have to outsource things like PDF or EPub (Electronic Publication) formats, image creation, website design, publicity and so on. One can learn how to do each of these tasks, however it can take a huge amount of time and if you cannot find the resources, than you are facing costs for educational courses. Luckily Dave and I work as a team he is really talented with graphics, art, writing copy (sales language), website design, and technical problems. So with my research, content creation and marketing skills we make a great team. He does well with public appearances, I prefer working online and enjoy working with the media, while Dave is comfortable setting up affiliate opportunities and putting our book cover images together. As such our costs are minimal only the advertising we choose to pay for, such as bookmarks and ad spots in a publication, are expenses for us; but most exposure can be had for free if one had the time and initiative. This doesn’t mean that writer’s services are not a necessary commodity, but for the financially constrained author one doesn’t HAVE to outsource, unless they want to.

8. What is your favorite self-marketing idea? Alley-cat marketing… which is really the basis of our e-book Purple Snowflake Marketing How to Make Your Book Stand Out In a Crowd. Simply put it is the difference between giving someone a pen with your information on it or cold-selling someone through an ad; which is what people are tired of… their eyes will just glaze over. It is a different approach, you are giving something away first, rather than asking them to buy. This could be a tangible or intangible gift, but something that benefits the recipient and creates a warm-fuzzy-feeling that motivates them to find out more about you or support you in some way.

9. What advice do you have for burgeoning self-publishers? If you are just starting out in the world of writing and do not already have a following of some kind than you will need to start from the very beginning and that means defining your niche (your writing style, the meaning behind your writing…) and whatever defines you as a person or as a writer. Starting with this you can then begin to develop you marketing platform and design a plan to gain name recognition. Name recognition can be developed in many different ways, which can be confusing and daunting if looked at in a certain light however if looked at in a positive light, these variables give you the opportunity to develop a plan that suits your unique situation and help you stand out in a crowd like a purple snowflake.

10. When you’re not writing what do you do for fun? I am really into gardening, I call it playing in the dirt – it is me time and a form of meditation for me. Dave is a great cook and we often work together, me being the prep-cook/cleaner-upper most of the time. Dave and I spend a lot of time together out of the office as well. We enjoy hiking, bicycle activities and camping. Our love of nature keeps us busy we can often be found cleaning up a beach site, or a river access site or trail… or pulling out invasive weeds. Our dogs help us keep fit as they certainly need their hour-long walk every day and other training or attention that they must have. They bring a lot of joy into our lives and keep us laughing.

11. What project are you currently working on? We are currently building our new e-book empire. Dave has been working for months behind the scenes getting things ready for a new website, and a new e-store offering a whole range of e-books and products. We are selling our books in e-format from now on, as well as many new things to come such as the long-awaited garden book, a series of how-to books, and sequels to Dave’s drum lesson projects. My blog (http://consciousdiscussions.blogspot.com) and our radio show (http://blogtalkradio.com/consciousdiscussions) keeps us busy as well. I start every day with a quick glance at what is happening for these two projects, who is appearing as a guest, what topic I’ll be covering that day… and so on. I love doing interviews and blog appearances, and am regularly appearing in the media whenever possible. There is not a day that goes by that I have not done some form of marketing except one of the three days that I do take off each month. I don’t even open the office door for three whole days in a row every single month and this allows me to refresh my mind and my relationships as well.