The author series continues in 2023, sharing the knowledge (often hard-won) from published authors as they tell us what they would tell their pre-published selves, and NEW FOR 2023, what they always do to help make book launches successful.
Reading, wRiting, and Roaming with Author Valerie Biel
January 26, 2023
Top 10 Publishing Trends 2023
Best Book Marketing Articles 2022
Goals for the New Year: Ideas and Advice from 52 Authors
Self-Publishing News: Amazon, Audio, and AI – was 2022 a Triple A Year for Indies?
FEATURED ARTICLES
Top 10 Publishing Trends 2023
Clayton Noblit for Written Word Media gives us this list of top publishing trends for 2023. The first four are AI (artificial intelligence related). Clearly, this is going to be a big topic for 2023. Other trends include indie author marketing focus as well as advertising/sales strategies. These are wonderful and in-depth resources!
Best Book Marketing Articles 2022
... Continue Reading
January 19, 2023
Welcome to the 2023 Author Series! Here we will continue to share the knowledge (often hard-won) from published authors as they share with us what they wish they could tell their pre-published selves, and NEW FOR 2023, what they always do to help make book launches successful.
Our first author of 2023 is Nick Chiarkas, one of my fellow Wisconsin authors and a good friend and client. Nick is a stellar author and storyteller!
He grew up in the Al Smith housing projects in the Two Bridges neighborhood on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. When he was in the fourth grade, his mother was told by the principal of PS-1 that, “Nick was unlikely to ever complete high school, so you must steer him toward a simple and secure vocation.” Instead, Nick became a writer, with... Continue Reading
December 21, 2022
2023 Literary Calendar
Estate Planning for Authors
The Making of a Six-Figure Author
The Best Books of 2022
FEATURED ARTICLES
2023 Literary Calendar from Sandra Beckwith
I love these calendars that give us all kinds of fun bookish things to celebrate. Take a look and choose which mesh well with the content you create to help you plan your social media posts for the coming year. https://buildbookbuzz.com/2023-literary-calendar/
Estate Planning for Authors – Self Publishing Formula Podcast
Recently one of my author clients died unexpectedly and it reminded me how many things there are to unravel for those who will be handling the estate... Continue Reading
December 15, 2022
You may have noticed that I haven’t shared the favorite books I’ve been reading in a while! But I have been reading a lot (as usual). Some of my reading has been pure escapism as I binge my way through romantic series by author favs like Deveny Perry, Mary Kay Andrews, Jeanne St. James, Jolie Vines, and Jude Deveraux. Or dystopian survival series by Grace Hamilton and T.L. Payne. Pure guilty pleasures, check them out if you are also fans of these genres. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
But I must share the best of the best of 2022, from middle grade to young adult/teen novels and beyond, 5-stars all around for these excellent books.
Mackenzie’s Last Run by Gayle Rosengren
MacKenzie’s Last Run is... Continue Reading
December 6, 2022
The Anatomy of Not Writing a Novel & How NaNoWriMo Rescued Me
I’d never been much of a fan of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) for two reasons. The idea of writing 50,000 <<quality>> words in one month didn’t seem possible, and the ‘rule’ that it had to be a new novel with no previously written words didn’t mesh with my schedule anyway. Easy to dismiss. “Pish posh” as Mary Poppins would say.
And then . . . I was at a writing residency at Write On Door County in 2019 and wrote 20,000 words in 6 days. I started to think that I’d been wrong about the impossibility of 50,000 words in 30 days. In fact, I realized that immersion in the story I... Continue Reading
December 5, 2022
This month Joy Ann Ribar is sharing the advice she wishes she could tell her pre-published self! As we finish up our Author Wisdom series for 2022, I hope you take Joy’s advice into the new year to make your writing journey a little easier. Like most of the featured authors this year, I connected with Joy through the Blackbird Writers. I'm so glad she was able to 'stop by' this month because she’s now off on her next big adventure traveling the country with her husband in their RV!
BIOGRAPHY
Joy Ann Ribar’s cocktail of careers includes journalist, paralegal, teacher, aquaponic greenhouse technician, and author. Joy infuses this mixture into her main character, Frankie... Continue Reading
November 29, 2022
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Publishing World
2022 National Book Award Winners
Amazon Adds Goodreads Ratings to Book Listings
FEATURED ARTICLES
AI in the Publishing World
More and more I’m seeing AI generated work become part of the publishing world. And it gives me pause, I’m not sure what to think of relying on computer generated content. I can see its usefulness, but to what extent is it okay to use? In the past 30 days, here are the AI products/uses I’ve come across.
Audiobooks for Self-Published Authors from BookBaby
BookBaby is now offering audiobook production using AI voices... Continue Reading
November 21, 2022
Coffee, Candles, and Cards: Affordable Gifts for the Writer in Your Life
Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Season’s Greetings, Writers!
The holidays are upon us. Can you believe how quickly the months flew by? A new year, 2023, approaches. Writers are finishing manuscripts, pondering what they’ll create next, and racing through events such as National Novel Writing Month.
For November, in honor of the most hectic time of year, I’m keeping things simple for writers and those who love them. The holidays are busy. Costs are up for everybody. I’m suggesting gifts that are meaningful and affordable: coffee, candles, and gift cards to... Continue Reading
November 8, 2022
This month Christine DeSmet is sharing the advice she wishes she could tell her pre-published self! Such good advice this month! Christine pens fabulous novels but she's also a wonderful writing coach, teacher, and editor. In fact, she was the first professional to critique the initial pages of my very first book-length work, offering excellent advice and encouragement. If you're a writer looking for guidance on your publishing journey, I highly recommend Christine. Her newest Fudge Shop Mystery, Holly Jolly Fudge Folly, comes out this month. (See the full description below!)
