an interview on indieview

An interview with me can be found here. I discuss many things. Particularly writing-based.

Just saying. 🙂

No doubt I’ll see you here, right?

Right?!

July 31, 2014 1

just1more welcomes TWITTERTASTIC Jo Linsdell

I am happy to welcome the TWITTERTASTIC Jo Linsdell to my blog as part of her Virtual Book Tour.

Welcome, Jo. 🙂

I participated in the http://www.promoday.info that she organised in late May, and was intrigued by what she shared regarding TWITTERTASTIC.

So, first off, some information on the book itself, which seems to be the logical place to start, and then the interview.

How to be Twittertastic

(Writers & Authors Guide to Social Media BOOK 1)

By Jo Linsdell

About the book:

Are you ready to be Twittertastic?

Twitter is the most immediate of all social media and allows you to connect with readers and others from the literary industry from all over the world. The fastest growing network with a 44% growth from 2012-2013 Twitter now boosts 255 million monthly active users.

How to be Twittertastic teaches you what Twitter is and how to use it to build your author brand, connect with readers, and sell more books.

Learn strategies and tips that will help you leverage your Twitter presence and get the most out of your tweets.

What’s covered:

How to set up your profile and personalise it
Creating your network
Ideas for making the most out of the new features
Tweets- Types of content you can share
Retweets, hashtags, and other Twitter terminology made simple
Twitter etiquette- Dos and Don’ts of the Twitterverse
Time savers

and more…

How to be Twittertastic is the first book in the Writers and Authors Guide to Social Media series.

Release date: 1st July 2014

Product Details: Kindle

File Size: 2191 KB

Print Length: 94 pages

Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Language: English

ASIN: B00LFFRYEE

Purchasing links:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LFFRYEE

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LFFRYEE

http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00LFFRYEE

http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00LFFRYEE

Author bio:

Jo Linsdell is a best selling author and illustrator and internationally recognized marketing expert. She is also the founder and organizer of the annual online event “Promo Day” (www.PromoDay.info) and the Writers and Authors blog (http://WritersAndAuthors.blogspot.com). To find out more about Jo and her projects visit her website www.JoLinsdell.com.

Author website: http://www.JoLinsdell.com

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/657184934375734/

Social Media Links:

Questions about the book

What is your book about?

How to be Twittertastic is a writers and authors guide to the social media site Twitter. It covers a bit of everything from how to set up your account and personalise your profile to third party apps and getting the most leverage out of your tweets. It’s also packed full of useful resources to help you make the most out of time and marketing efforts.

How long had the idea of your book been developing before you began to write the book?

I got the idea for the Writers and Authors Guide to Social Media series a while ago but as I was working on illustrating some children’s picture books for clients and was also busy publishing a children’s picture story book of my own (The Box) and so I didn’t have time to develop the idea right away.

A couple of months ago I decided that Twitter would be the topic of the first book in the series as it’s the site I use that gains the best results. As soon as I had some free time I started brainstorming and plotting out a rough table of contents. It didn’t take me long to know what I wanted to write.

What inspired you to write this particular book?

I’m a real social media junky and often get asked by other authors for tips on how to market their books online and build their author brand. When you have a passion that also happens to be in high demand it makes it easy to get inspired.

This whole series is designed around the idea of making social media easy for authors to understand and to supply them with information and tips to help them get the most out of their time and efforts.

Social media is used by billions of people worldwide on a daily basis. Our audience is online and can be reached free of charge without us even having to leave our homes. Authors need to be taking advantage of this opportunity to connect with their readers and build their fan base. A lot of authors aren’t using it because they don’t know where to start. Others are using it but not making the most of it. I hope this series will help them build their online presence and give them some ideas for what and how to post.

How long did it take you to write your book?

A couple of weeks. The book is a quick read. I didn’t want to keep repeating the same things over and over (I’ve seen others do that to bulk out a book and found it very annoying) and to be honest, there is only so much you can write about Twitter. The site is designed around the idea of clutter free, to the point, content. I wanted the book to be the same.

Did you do any research for the book? If so, how did you do it? (searching Internet, magazines, other books, etc.)

I researched online using Twitter search to find examples to use in the book, and Google to find statistics, etc… As social media is one of my hobbies as well as a tool I use daily for marketing, I was already quite up to date on most of the details. I’ve also done several webinars on the topic and so already had a lot of notes to work from.

Who designed the cover?

I designed and made it myself using Adobe Illustrator.

Where is the book available to purchase?

How to be Twittertastic is currently available in kindle format on all Amazon sites and will be out in print later this month.

General writing related questions

What’s your writing schedule like? Do you strive for a certain amount of words each day?

I’m a mum of two and so I have to grab time to write when I can. I don’t have a fixed schedule as such. I normally try to get some writing done in the morning and then again in the evening once the kids are in bed asleep. As for word count, I tend to ignore the actual number of words written and concentrate more on finishing a segment of the book instead.

What genres do you write?

My main genres are children’s picture books and non-fiction marketing guides for authors. I’ve also written poetry and have several novels of various types that I’m working on. I don’t like to limit myself and love experimenting with new projects to see where they take me.

Do you have a saying or motto for your life/or as a writer?

Yes. “Don’t just dream it, do it.” I apply it to every aspect of my life and my writing.

Random get to know the author questions

What was your first job?

My first job was working as a Saturday girl in a small hairdressers when I was about 13. I had to wash clients hair, sweep the floors, tidy the stock room, and get everyone coffee. I didn’t stay there very long but I learnt a lot whilst I was there and will always remember it as my first job.

What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?

Probably when I left England to go to Rome back in 2001. Two weeks prior I’d opened an atlas, closed my eyes, and pointed at the map. It was on Italy. The next day I quit my job and booked my one way flight ticket to Rome. I’d only planned on staying for 3 days initially but I’m still here and with no plans on leaving anytime soon (that however is another story). I remember when I was on the plan having an overwhelming feeling of “am I brave or just plain stupid”. I was completely on my own, didn’t know of word of Italian, and had no real plan of action for when I arrived. All I had was my backpack. It was both the best and scariest thing I think I’ve ever done.

What do you like to read?

I have quite varied tastes and will read most genres. My favourites are crime and mysteries, easy read chick-lit, and non-fiction books about marketing (I’m always on the look out for new inspiration ;)).

What was the first book to have a big impact on you?

The Diary of Anne Frank. I read it in school, and several times since. She was such an inspiring person and the book is so powerful. It really gets under your skin.

Thanks for stopping by, Jo, and good luck with the rest of the tour and the book. 🙂

July 4, 2014 2

3words July – tomorrow

3words will be returning tomorrow.

This time “we” will be writing for just 20 days, so “we” will generate a 2000 word story.

I’ve had no ideas so far regarding character, setting or plot etc, with which to set us on our way, so if you have an idea let me know.

Oh yeah, the “rules”:

It’s simple –

“We” choose a character name, setting or event so we all begin in the same place
Every day I post 3words here & via Twitter using #3wordswonky69
Every day any participant writes 100 words of a story INCLUDING the 3words
Post your 100 words via the #3wordswonky69 or on your blog or keep private
TWENTY days later (on the 20th) you will have a 2000 word story
Perhaps I’ll anthologise any interested participants’ stories into an eBook?

As we progress, others involved can suggest words for us to use, and no doubt I will incorporate some.

Anyone wanting to play along either post a comment to let me know, or just simply play along via the #3wordswonky69

June 30, 2014 1

editmonkey on your shoulder

Would you appreciate or benefit from having a little EDITMONKEY sitting on your shoulder, helpfully pointing out when you:

use the wrong there/their, stationery/stationary, affect/effect
should have a full-stop in place of a comma
are missing quotation marks
are using a passive voice
use some words too often
use words like very that can be replaced by stronger ones

Well, Economy Edits was created to help the indie writer on a budget. Find us @

economyedits.wordpress.com

June 29, 2014 5

a FREE copy of MY book for YOUR review

Hi.

Are you interested in reading one of my books for free in exchange for an Amazon review?

That’s why you’re here, right? I thought so.

Simply let me know which of my books below you would like to START with (see what I did there… enticing you to read one then another… subtle, huh?), and I will email you a copy. Easy. 🙂

And there are FIVE EXCITING OPTIONS. (Did you become extra-excited by the caps?)

First up, my romantic tale of one woman’s life:

This follows Lizzy Anderson from her first birthday when she realises she sneezes in sevens (hence the title – had to be a reason, right?). She struggles through a tough and lonely childhood, meeting the love of her life aged 9, and again at 18. They begin a life together, and we are drawn in to her journey, hungry for her highs and lamenting her lows as she weaves through adulthood, parenthood, love and death during one woman’s life, leading to old age and the inevitable. ( approx 310 pages / 93,000 words )

Next, my possibly confusing dare of a read:

This story centres around Ed, a middle-aged, frustrated would-be-writer, family man struggling to maintain his grasp on a reality he finds he never really wanted, having been caught in the flow where there were more interesting lives he could have lived, if only he’d made other choices at three key moments in his life. When a catalyst creates a window of opportunity for him, Ed decides to write the novel he’s always dreamed about, but gets lost in a metafictional frenzy of ideas, struggling to find his true self while he and seven others live the same life. ( approx 730 pages / 275,000 words )

Next, a deliberate change of pace with my good friend Wonky:

Wonky lives in a carpet, and is the protector of 12 yr old Odd Bob, an overweight and often-bullied friend who used to talk with Wonky in the downstairs loo of his family home. As he grew up, he lost faith in Wonky, but Wonky’s always been there, trying to help and do the best he can for his friend. When the bullying worsens and Wonky’s frustration grows regarding being unable to help as much as he wants to, something strange was always going to happen. And it does. This is the first tale in a series. The second is already available. The third will be started soon. ( approx 40 pages / 12,000 words )

And finally, my two collections, the first being three novellas set in a cafe:

In the first tale, Cafe Books, a young man returns to his home town to help his mum with her cafe. He swore he would never return because of past problems with one particular girl, but can’t deny his mother. Then the girl walks into their cafe and all kinds of feelings, memories and secrets are exposed. In the second tale, Ten Minute Windows, a lonely and frustrated mother frequents the same cafe and sits at her favourite table every day, for just ten minutes, being the only time she has for herself. One day there’s an obnoxious man at her table, and he keeps coming back, day after day. In the third tale, Kissing The Mist, an undecided young fiancee seeks the advice of her much-loved, book-fan grandmother, bringing another old, second hand book as a gift. Only, this time the book comes with a history and the grandmother’s past unfolds and unravels the young woman’s delicate grasp on the life she’s found herself living.

And finally, my collection of (mostly) shorter stories:

This features ten of my favourite stories from the last twenty years, and include: a Pushcart Prize nominated story of two alienated sisters and one twisted father; a chance meeting in a public park between a man, a cheeky young girl, her dog and her mother; a super-short life story of an unappreciated working man who lives for his family; a once-exiled flasher who dares to return to his childhood village hoping for some kind of redemption; two co-workers struggling with their undisclosed-yet-known-about affair and their own feelings toward each other; a man talking with his lover’s cat at night in the garden, trying to right their problems, but only exacerbating them; a much-mocked/unloved father feeling compelled to spend more and more time in his dream-based reality; a mother and her young child mourning the loss of the dear man in their life, while trying to remain positive; an office clerk struggling with a family death and his drinking problems during an unwanted anniversary; and a man reflecting on his abused childhood and abusive wife, desperate to believe in something.

So there we have it. Or them. Hopefully something will tickle your fancy and you’ll want to read. And then review. Just leave me a comment or send me an email with your (first, heh) choice and I’ll express deliver a pdf copy to your inbox.

Many thanks for reading this far. I just wish I had something extra special to offer you by way of reward… oh wait…

June 27, 2014 9

Seven Sneezes available in PAPERBACK

Find it first at CreateSpace 🙂

https://www.createspace.com/4869363

Also, if makes no difference to you where you buy it, please buy from CreateSpace as you will pay the same but my commission is bigger. Cheeky but true. 🙂

June 23, 2014 0

Saturday Swims, part 1

As per my post yesterday, today I begin my quest to better market (or simply improve) my eBooks.

And, as the subject suggests, I am beginning with Saturday Swims, being about

my first published short story collection. And yes, I know a writer should love his words, but I really do like these stories.

But what did I DO for them? Well…

I offered a free PDF copy of one of them for anyone who signs up to follow me
I updated and really improved the Amazon product description (see below)
I posted Facebook, Google+ and Twitter updates
I contacted some book-friendly sites via Twitter to tweet re this book
I submitted the book to AwesomeGang.com to list (very helpful site)
I submitted the book for review at a couple of sites

Now for another coffee and per chance a cookie… 🙂

Here’s the new/updated product description:

These are ten of my favourite stories, being tales of everyday people struggling through sadness and hope while hoping for connections within distance, all of them trying to find a liveable pathway through the minutiae of daily living.

In A SWIM IN THE CLOUDS, two once-close sisters reconnect through words and books, but mostly through action while confronting their dark past, and their hopes for a better future.

In GIRAFFE SPOTS, a lonely man who is missing his sister’s support learns how to blow bubbles and forgive while spending an afternoon in the park with three surprising new friends.

In UP AGAINST A WALL, an everyday family man stoically performs his job, but lives for his family, while feeling his life is unappreciated by all, especially his beloved, distant daughter.

In BOBBY LOU, a once-exiled and self-confessed flasher returns to his home town seeking redemption, reconciliation or understanding, and rekindles an important connection.

In HAZARD LIGHTS, two lonely co-workers struggle to be true while keeping their affair a secret, yet daren’t admit even the most rudimentary feelings towards each another.

In COLD, a relationship-questioning drunk discusses his problems with his partner’s cat in the garden while said partner sleeps, seeking answers or reason but finding only mistakes.

In HALFWAY HOME, a long-term family man struggles to find any kind of happiness in his distant wife or mocking daughters, and finds he feels happier living within his sleeping reality.

In EVERY MINUTE, a boy and his mother struggle to find any kind of sleep or peace, pining for the man of their house who is no longer with them, while wishing for a better future.

In HOW EASY WE BREAK, a barely-functioning, self-distancing alcoholic tries to keep hold of himself but slips, and slips again, influencing and harming those who would love him.

In LADDERS, a currently unemployed, middle-aged, repeating-father is unhappy at home, but finds an unexpected way to dream while resolving his past mental and physical issues.

( 155 pages / 41,000 words )

June 21, 2014 1

FREE story – yes, really

Not wanting to leave out anyone who hasn’t already been following my blog, I want to make today’s idea (see last post for reference, but covered here, too) available for everyone.

So, for anyone who clicks that little Follow box over there ===>

to Follow My Blog via email, I will send you a specially created for you –yes, with your name included– PDF copy of any one story from my Swimming In Clouds short story collection.

Your PDF will include: