Introduce Yourself

[Author101]

We all would love to know new members. Please introduce yourself. Do you write? Are you published? Are you a marketing proffessional, publisher?

[Lea Schizas]

Hi Patricia. I have to agree with you about thinking of yourself as a new writer all the time. I find that once a writer claims he/she knows it all their work begins to tumble. They don't update themselves with trends, or try to meet and entice new readers and writers to meet them.

[Lea Schizas]

Oh Steve, how right you are. It's that cover/query letter that sucks royally. Maybe writers should learn that craft first before actually writing. GRIN!

Like a good opening hook in a story, the same goes for the cover letter. Editors seek something different other than the usual rehashed stories. Find that twist and perhaps they'll give us that second look. One thing I've discovered is that editors have their likes and dislikes. One no may end up as a yes with another editor, so never give up subbing them out there.

My only pet peeve is I wish more editors/publishers would accept email queries to save some postage.

Steve Roberts said:

Author101,
I would guess the number one question among authors and wanna-b's is how so you get anyone in the industry to actually agree to look at a manuscript. Writing is the fun part, it builds one up, then comes the selling part, which pops the balloon.

Steve

[Author101]

Lea, thanks for bringing that up again. You both are right on!!! We MUST always consider ourselves new at the game. If we do, our experience will come out in our writing better than the first time (when we gave it soooo much effort!)
Thanks for sharing!
Carol

Lea Schizas said:

Hi Patricia. I have to agree with you about thinking of yourself as a new writer all the time. I find that once a writer claims he/she knows it all their work begins to tumble. They don't update themselves with trends, or try to meet and entice new readers and writers to meet them.

[Patricia Rockwell]

Hi, Lea,
Glad to meet you! Thanks for your support. I will keep your advice in mind, although I doubt I will soon forget how "new" this all is to me!

Patricia

Lea Schizas said:

Hi Patricia. I have to agree with you about thinking of yourself as a new writer all the time. I find that once a writer claims he/she knows it all their work begins to tumble. They don't update themselves with trends, or try to meet and entice new readers and writers to meet them.

[Sandra Kay]

Hi everyone!

My name is Sandra Kay. I'm a published author with The Wild Rose Press. I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to tell you a little about myself. I'm a native Californian, but my family hails from Texas. Every once in a while that marvelous Texas drawl slips out. :-)

I am wife to a wonderful man, who has supported me throughout my writing years. Two daughters, a stepson, and seven grandchildren complete my immediate family. I am fortunate that we all live near each other, so I get to see them often. Except for my oldest grandson, who is attending the University of Colorado in Boulder. He'll be home soon for Christmas. Can't wait!

My book, Heart of Stone, is a contemporary western romance. It has received great reviews. One reviewer said that she was disappointed when the book ended, because she wanted more. She, also, wanted to be adopted by the Brandon family. Heart of Stone will be released in print format in January. I am working on the 2nd book in the four-book series about the Brandon siblings. You can read the reviews and an excerpt on my website at www.sandrakayauthor.com

I've been reading promotional books in an effort to fully understand the marketing opportunities available on the internet. Any ideas on what works for the rest of you will be appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Sandra Kay

[Jeff Cole]

Hi, I am an author and marketing professional. I was a reporter for 25 years. There is no better place to learn to write well than in a newsroom. Writing on deadline (I mean real deadlines of hours, not weeks) teaches one to organize their thoughts, get rid of the unneeded and tell the story well. If one looks at the list of great American authors, you will find that many of them started in newsrooms.

I went into marketing and public relations six years ago. I now own my own marketing firm. Agents I have talked to tell me I am unique in that I understand how marketing works. Everyone in publishing has told me that today selling a book is 50 percent good writing and 50 percent marketing. You have to be willing to sell yourself and your work. And you have to know how to do it well.

As for myself, I grew up in northern New York about 10 miles from Yaddo. If you don't know Yaddo, go its website at Yaddo.org. Just about every major American writer in the 20th century - starting with Poe - worked there at one time or another.

I now live in Milwaukee, WI and belong to a fantastic writers workshop called Redbird. If you are in southeastern Wisconsin, I recommend it. My writing is better because of the feedback I get there.

[Jeff Cole]

Sandra,

Speaking as a pro - first if you don't have one already, start a website. Not just a blog, but an actual website where you can showcase your work. Then learn how to do SEO (search engine optimization) so people will find your site.

Then, set up a Facebook page and get on Twitter. Both places are good for talking about your writing. You might even want to try YouTube. Don't laugh - Jody Piccoult has several videos about herself posted.

And most importantly, find and join a writers' circle. It is very helpful to get feedback from fellow writers. And, it forces you to keep writing.

You can find one by googling your city and writers group. Or go to a good local (not chain) bookstore or a library and ask about such groups. You will find one.

Sandra Kay said:

Hi everyone!

My name is Sandra Kay. I'm a published author with The Wild Rose Press. I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to tell you a little about myself. I'm a native Californian, but my family hails from Texas. Every once in a while that marvelous Texas drawl slips out. :-)

I am wife to a wonderful man, who has supported me throughout my writing years. Two daughters, a stepson, and seven grandchildren complete my immediate family. I am fortunate that we all live near each other, so I get to see them often. Except for my oldest grandson, who is attending the University of Colorado in Boulder. He'll be home soon for Christmas. Can't wait!

My book, Heart of Stone, is a contemporary western romance. It has received great reviews. One reviewer said that she was disappointed when the book ended, because she wanted more. She, also, wanted to be adopted by the Brandon family. Heart of Stone will be released in print format in January. I am working on the 2nd book in the four-book series about the Brandon siblings. You can read the reviews and an excerpt on my website at www.sandrakayauthor.com

I've been reading promotional books in an effort to fully understand the marketing opportunities available on the internet. Any ideas on what works for the rest of you will be appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Sandra Kay

[Heidi M. Thomas]

Hi All,
I just joined today. I grew up in Montana but live north of Seattle now. I'm a first-time published novelist, with Cowgirl Dreams, based on my grandmother who rode in Montana rodeos in the 1920s. I'm learning more every day about marketing and social networking--I need all the help I can get! One thing I did to help ease the pain of rejections when I first started sending out my manuscripts--I decided to TRY to collect 100 rejections. So each "no" was one closer to a "yes." My 37th try was with Treble Heart Books and voila!
Heidi M. Thomas

[Heidi M. Thomas]

Hi Sandra Kay,
Nice to "meet" you. Have you ever considered joining Women Writing the West? www.womenwritingthewest.org It's a great bunch of people--very supportive, a good conference each year.
Heidi

Sandra Kay said:

Hi everyone!

My name is Sandra Kay. I'm a published author with The Wild Rose Press. I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to tell you a little about myself. I'm a native Californian, but my family hails from Texas. Every once in a while that marvelous Texas drawl slips out. :-)

I am wife to a wonderful man, who has supported me throughout my writing years. Two daughters, a stepson, and seven grandchildren complete my immediate family. I am fortunate that we all live near each other, so I get to see them often. Except for my oldest grandson, who is attending the University of Colorado in Boulder. He'll be home soon for Christmas. Can't wait!

My book, Heart of Stone, is a contemporary western romance. It has received great reviews. One reviewer said that she was disappointed when the book ended, because she wanted more. She, also, wanted to be adopted by the Brandon family. Heart of Stone will be released in print format in January. I am working on the 2nd book in the four-book series about the Brandon siblings. You can read the reviews and an excerpt on my website at www.sandrakayauthor.com

I've been reading promotional books in an effort to fully understand the marketing opportunities available on the internet. Any ideas on what works for the rest of you will be appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Sandra Kay

[Heidi M. Thomas]

I agree with J.A. Good for you!! We need more people like you!
Heidi

J. A. DiSpada said:

Hi Tony,
I hate to say this, (haha), but it sounds more like you are a gun owning conservative to me, which is OK too! Welcome to the club, and good luck with your latest effort.
J. A. DiSpada

Tony Walker said:

I'm a gun-owning liberal, probably one of the few in Arizona, and I write regular columns for various gun magazines. My pieces have been published in the USA, UK, Australia, and South Africa, and the checks for these have kept me in gin and cigarettes for a number of years.

I've also had three books published, one by a mainstream publisher in the UK, and two self-published books here in the US.

My latest book is titled How to Win a Gunfight, and it has garnered a couple of excellent reviews. My first novel, Snides , an action thriller, was published back in 2004, and a sequel, Pilgrim's Banner will be published soon.

I also teach the Arizona Concealed Weapons classes, which allow students to qualify for a concealed weapons permit. In addition, I also teach advanced self-defense shooting classes with my wife, Vannessa (the Amazon Queen), who is the only person still living who has ever shot me in the back six times!

Hobbies: Avoiding all forms of hard work, drinking (Tanqueray gin and Schweppes tonic until sundown, Jameson's Irish Whiskey after sundown), smoking, mocking politicians and religious nuts, and trying to keep my cat Jinks off the keyboard.

[Robert Medak]

I am a freelance writer with over 300 articles published for the online market, with close to one hundred being ghost written. I have written over 55 book reviews, with 50 being written as an independent contractor for AllBooks Review. My reviews are posted on Amazon and Barnes and Noble if the book is listed. I have edited manuscripts.

I have been a course facilitator at Writers' Village University (WVU), ,and online site offering over 200 courses in writing. I created a course for writers, Procrastination. I also co-founded a Creative Writing Workshop at WVU. I am currently volunteering as a copy editor for T-Zero Quarter, an E-Zine of WVU.

I have two blogs where I write about freelance writing, one blog for children and about animals. I maintain two blogs, and a Twitter account for AllBooks. I also have a business web site at StormyWriter.com

In October of 2009 I will be presenting a one hour chat and forum presentation at The Muse Online Writers Conference, a free writers conference. The subject is Breaking into Freelance Writing.

I have accounts at various social media sites such as FaceBook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Digg, Flickr, and Twitter.

[John Cargile]

I am a new author, but retired from the newspaper and magazine industry as a writer/editor/publisher. I continue to free lance with two newspapers in my state of Alabama. My new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos, is to be released by Eloquent Books, New York, New York. It is a joint venture business. It is a business between myself and the publisher and why I decided to enter the agreement. I have published one book which is now out of print. Being in a joint venture allows me to control the sales of the book. The company does a lot of work, too. I am pleased thus far with our relationship. Being a former salesman with Bantam Books, I know how hard it is to find a traditional book publisher and why I opted for Eloquent Books. I am on numerous websites, including but not limited to Facebook, Linkedin, Google, Gaia and several author sites. My website for the new novel is being designed by my publisher. It should be up and ready within three to four weeks. The cover, a book review and synopsis can be found at my site here.