Guest Post: On Chapter Books by A. H. Richardson

Chapter books are becoming more and more popular with parents and children. They are great for transitioning younger readers from picture books that rely heavily on illustrations to tell a story to longer more complex stories and plots that rely less on illustrations as it does on prose.

My guest writer today is the author of Jorie and The Magic Stones, the first book in a new chapter book series by A. H. Richardson. Today, she explains the importance of chapter books and why she chose to write in the genre.​

On Chapter Books



A.H. Richardson

Every book that I ever read, or that was read to me, had chapters.

I couldn't imagine a book without a chapter, any more than I could imagine a 'Banana Split' without bananas! Why do I think that a lot of authors are going back to the 'chaptering' of books?

I can only speak from my own personal reasoning, which is that a 'Chapter' has a delightful way of compartmentalizing everything so neatly ... it is a way of putting the forthcoming part of the story, into a little 'box', designed to pique the interest, but not to tell too much at the same time. You want to excite interest and curiosity in what is yet to come, without giving away important secrets. In its own way it is a story 'teaser.'

​When reading to children, or when children are reading for themselves, the end of a chapter signifies many things; as in "that's all you get to read for now", or "end of chapter, let's finish homework!" or "We'll read Chapter Ten - Chook Disappears', tomorrow, when you've done your chores" -- or whatever the rationale might be. The child gets to read the story in little sections, which I think always works well for them.

​As to the genre of story, what could be more bewitchingly delicious than a story about a nine-year old heroine and a magnificent dragon, liberally peppered with all sort of fun bad guys, and a wonderful boy companion, Rufus. My goal was to make this story (or this series, I should say) as enjoyable to grownups, as to the children, and I believe that I made it for this age group for one very good reason: I have not advanced much myself beyond the age of about 12, so I believe I can present a wonderful world to this age of child ... not quite child, and not quite grownup.

Thank you for listening --- and for reading. Read children, read ... books open many doors, you'll see.

Guest Post: The Editing Process by Richard H. Hardy

 

The Editing Process

by Richard H. Hardy
Author of The Infinity Program

It’s interesting that a four letter word like ‘edit’ has so many different meanings.  I’ve heard that Eskimos have a dozen or so different words for ‘snow’.  I think it should be the same for the word ‘edit’.

When I was a young writer banging away on a typewriter, I thought of editing as the last stage in the process.  I thought it was just about correcting spelling and grammar.  Later I realized that editing was also about style and began editing for clarity, concision and flow.  When I reached this stage, the first draft then became little more than a warm-up—the real work began only upon its completion.

As I learned more about writing, I started to include structural changes as part of the editing process.  Like a tall building, a story’s structure must have a solid foundation.  In particular, I began to focus on the opening scene.

Starting points are not always obvious.  For example, if I wrote a story about a bank robbery, where would I begin?  Would it start with the thieves planning the heist?  Would it start as they entered the bank?  Would it start when a gun was stuck in someone’s face?  Would it start during their getaway?  The possibilities seemed endless to me.  My head used to spin!  Finally, I realized that imagination could create problems as well as solve them—it could present far too many options.  I learned then that logic and analysis also have a place in storytelling.  I began to break my story down to the bare essentials, the themes and ideas that engendered it.  Only then would I select a beginning that best suited my theme.  

When Camel Press accepted The Infinity Program for publication I thought I knew something about editing.  But my editors at Camel Press taught me a lot.  Their first copy edit caught numerous examples of inconsistencies.  A character I described as strong in one scene, suddenly became weak and wimpy in a subsequent scene.  And sometimes the physical description of my characters and their back stories were too sketchy.

The copy edit of The Infinity Program also required the addition of entirely new material.  The copy editor requested two new chapters and I discovered opportunities to pull the reader into the very heart of the story.

The final Edit of The Infinity Program was the line edit.  I had always thought I was a concise writer.  I was astonished when my superb editor showed me that I was not.  She stripped away dead phrases that weren’t really needed and replaced weak words with stronger ones.  She improved the cadences, creating a much better flow.   It was a humbling experience but an invaluable lesson.

The editing process is enormously important.   If you can’t find a skilled editor to read your work, my advice would be to find all the books you can about the editing process.  In a way, I think, writing is like a three stage rocket at Cape Kennedy.  The first stage, the creativity and the imagination, gives you the lift-off.  The second stage, your own editing skills, gets you into orbit, and the third stage, the editor, gets you to your destination.  

The Infinity Program Summary

Jon Graeme and Harry Sale are unlikely friends. Harry is a world-class programmer, but his abrasive personality alienates co-workers. In contrast, Jon is a handsome and easy-going technical writer, the low man on the IT totem pole.

Sharing a love of nature, the men set out together, planning to go their separate ways--Jon on a hike and Harry, fly fishing. Three days later, Jon arrives at the rendezvous point, but his friend is nowhere in sight. When Jon finds Harry unconscious on the floor of a cave, Harry claims to have been lying there the entire time. But he is neither cold nor hungry. What Jon doesn't know is that Harry fell into an underground cavern, where he came into contact with an alien quantum computer.

Back at work, Harry jettisons his regular tasks and concentrates exclusively on inventing new operating language to access the alien system. In the process he crashes his office's Super Computer and is fired. Jon convinces the company to give Harry a second chance, arguing that the system he has invented will make them millions.

Jon has no idea what havoc Harry is about to unleash.
Richard H. Hardy's Bio:

Richard H. Hardy was born in Glasgow, Scotland, during a week of relentless bombing raids just before the close of World War II. The day he was born an incendiary bomb fell on the church across the street from where he lived, so he is fond of saying that he entered the world with a big adrenaline rush.

His family later moved to England and then on to America.

After college Richard bounced through a series of temporary jobs as he traveled around the country, wanting nothing more than to write fiction. A job driving a library van allowed him free time to write several short stories and work on a novel.

He and his wife moved to New Hampshire, where he took an entry level job at a software company. He was soon promoted to the technical writing department and ended up producing over 500,000 words of online documentation. After a few years he was promoted to the programming department and ended up as the Senior EDI Programmer, creating EDI maps and writing UNIX scripts and troubleshooting on AIX systems throughout the U.S. and Canada.

After he retired, he started writing fiction again. The Infinity Program is his first published novel. 

Formats/Prices: $5.95 ebook, $13.95 paperback
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
Pages: 250
Release: April 1, 2014
Publisher: Camel Press
ISBN: 9781603819336

Amazon buy link
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1603819339?tag=tributebooks-20

Barnes and Noble buy link
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-infinity-program-richard-h-hardy/1118958489?ean=9781603819336

Smashwords buy link
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/422304

iBooks buy link
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-infinity-program/id849045494?mt=11&uo=4

Kobo buy link
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-infinity-program

Guest Post: Tens List by Dani Pettrey author of Stranded

Dani Pettrey's Top Ten Editing/Revising Tips

1.     Take time off. When you first complete your manuscript, it’s a good idea to take a week or two off and let your story sit. You’ll have fresh eyes when you return to it. 

2.     Read through your entire manuscript in one sitting if possible. This helps you see the book as an entirety and really helps you get a feel for pacing. 

3.     Keep a notebook or sticky notes handy. Have something nearby to take notes with. You’re going to want to jot down your thoughts as you go. 

4.     Highlight sections you want to return to. Flag sections you know you’re going to need to return to. I use different color highlights for different areas. For example, if I need to do further research on a particular section, I highlight it in green. 

5.     Formulate a plan. Once you’ve read your manuscript, review your notes and figure out a plan of how you will tackle the changes. Will you go through linearly or will you work on one thread at a time? 

  

6.     Set a Deadline. Decide how much you need to do each day. Looking at what needs to be done, come up with a schedule for finishing your work by deadline. Earlier if possible. 

7.     Keep your inspiration fresh. It’s important to keep your love for the story fresh while rewriting. I enjoy listening to my story soundtrack while rewriting. It helps to keep the emotions at the surface.

8.     Take breaks. Revisions can be daunting. Be sure to get up to stretch, take a walk, or grab a coffee break. You’ll come back renewed. 

9.     Treat yourself. Set goals and when you meet them, treat yourself. Dark chocolate or iced mochas are my treat of choice. 

10. Trust your editors. Once you finish your revisions, trust your editors to do what they do best and let go. 

      About the Author:

Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of one’s faith and plenty of romance. She’s a huge fan of dark chocolate, is always in search of the best iced mocha and her dream is to one day own a little cottage on a remote stretch of beach. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

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Blog Tour - Guest Post: The Art of Promotion by Tia Liverthorne Bach

The Art of Promotion

By Tia Silverthorne Bach

 I say art, because promotion is different for everyone—and its beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

But nobody will argue the importance of good promotion. When I published my first book, Depression Cookies, I had no clue about marketing. I didn’t even set up a blog until after it was published. I can imagine your collective gasp.

Fortunately, I learned a lot in the process and was more prepared for promoting my second book, and first young adult novel, Chasing Memories. First, I built an author platform which included a blog, website, and various social media. I have a Facebook author page and am quite active on Twitter. But this is just a first step, and writers need to find a balance so these promotional tools do not keep them from writing. At the end of the day, the best way to market a book is to write another book and build a reader following.

Prior to releasing Chasing Memories, I had a cover reveal tour. I asked my fellow authors to spread the word about my cover through a series of timed blog posts. Then, we all shared these posts via social media. I can’t stress enough the importance of building an online writing network. Not only do we support each other, but we share information. I found out about Tribute Book Tours this way as well as the Indie-Credible Tour, a huge celebration of indie books this September.

My best advice is two-fold and simple, but important. First, be yourself. Second, spam marketing never works. Find forums, groups, and authors who write in your genre. Interact with them, but don’t push sales. Let a relationship develop naturally—relationships take time, which is why it is so imperative to start marketing before your publication date.

Try things, and see what works and what doesn’t. And don’t give up.

I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature. John D. Rockefeller

 

Chasing Memories Book Summary:

There isn’t another way; not now. The others are coming. I can’t let them have you…

Seventeen-year-old Reagan has a problem: She can’t remember what happened the night her brother was taken.

Now, the dreams haunting her from the incident are becoming more intense by the day. All the while, the lines between what’s real and what’s a product of her paranormal-obsessed mind are becoming blurred.

Is she losing her mind or has she just stepped into a world she thought only existed in books?

Caught in a web of worried parents, competing boys, Wiccan relatives, protective amulets, and psychiatrist babble, Reagan must determine the truth before it’s too late.

  

Tia Silverthorne Bach's Bio:

Tia Silverthorne Bach is an avid reader, sometimes runner, involved wife and mother, and rabid grammar hound in addition to being a multi-genre writer. Her three daughters were born in Chicago, San Diego, and Baltimore; and she feels fortunate to have called many places home. She's the award-winning co-author of Depression Cookies, a coming of age story written with her mother. Tia's office is wherever her laptop takes her and any place that's conducive to allowing a wild imagination like hers to flourish.

Prices/Formats: $3.99 ebook, $12.99 paperback
Pages: 296
Publisher: self-published
Release: May 22, 2013

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Guest Post: Self-Publishing with Jasime Roy

The Highs and Lows of Self-Publishing

Challenges of Publishing: My Journey
Jasmine Roy

Becoming a book author isn’t a simple job. Though the entry barrier has been lowered in the past few years, sustaining yourself through the bumps isn’t so easy. Making contacts with various parties in the book industry and then proposing your manuscript to the publisher through a book agent. And then waiting for their approval and more likely getting rejections is all so disappointing. After you face a couple of rejections, you are soon on the track of negative self-talk, quick to label yourself as a loser before another publisher really starts to like your work.

This phenomenon is fairly common and has driven many book authors to walk the self-publishing pathway. And there’s nothing wrong with that. This is an age when relying on someone else to carry out your job is likely to land you in trouble and give your nothing but failures and disappointments; a DIY job is highly preferred even in the publishing industry. For new book authors, self-publishing is definitely a route worth taking.

I took up self-publishing when it became too much for me to handle the constant rejections and delays by various publishers. Some sane person who’s been here for quite some time gave me a wise piece of advice of going for self-publishing.  Looking at my initial record of publisher rejections, I felt his advice was well-meaning and a well-intended one.  

My Self-publishing Experience

I love my work, and I know deep inside that I possess the drive and passion to make my dreams come true. However, to make them come true and in the quickest way possible, I needed to make amends in the way that I do my work, not just writing but publishing too.

Since my first successful experience at self-publishing was for a short romantic novel which revolved around a couple who weren’t sure about the feelings they shared for each other but later ended up being together. I thought making an interesting eBook out of this with a touching cover page and a title that captivates and moves the hearts of all that believe in true love.

I hired a self-publisher and instructed them about the design and title text that I wanted to incorporate into the e-copy. I ensured that there was an intrigue factor in the book; nobody likes to read a book that has a tell-all synopsis.  This had happened with me for one of my comic books when my extracts summarized all that was in the book. No doubt that the EBook never found any readers.

For the romantic novel, I registered with all possible free eBook websites and made sure the copies of my eBook were available for downloading from there. I wrote the book extract in such a way that it appealed to the modern youth. When you are publishing a romantic novel, keep in mind the target audience. If the eBook cover page and layout represents the age when your grandpa met grandma, you are cooking up a recipe for disaster.

In the first month itself, my EBook picked up sales through Amazon.com. That was the moment of utmost happiness for me. After enjoying the first few readers for my eBook, I made it a paid version in the third month. And it surprised me to see that people were willing to buy the paid version of my eBook too. Remember to cash in on the success as it may not last. If you wait too long before converting the free version into a paid one, the readers will circulate the free eBook to their friends who will no longer need the paid version. I had committed this mistake while publishing my comic eBook.

Self publishing a book may seem interesting, but you have to be well-versed with a lot of things and be good at handling them all at once. It did not take me much time to find a self-publisher from the highly informative online databases to help me with the implementation part. But, the planning part was all mine; they grant you the freedom to choose whatever design and layout you want for your book. And yes, for a romantic novel, don’t forget to use that oomph factor for publishing!

Author Bio: Jasmine Roy has extensive experience in writing on a range of topic. These portals not only support publishers, new authors, freelance illustrators but they also provide valuable information and services to publishing agents and agencies.
Please visit the author's site:  http://pubmatchblog.wordpress.com/

Guest Post: A Poet Name Fida

I love poetry though I have never really been good at it. So I admire anyone who is blessed with the talent to create poetry. I would love to introduce you all to a wonderful you lady who aspires to publish her very own collection of poetry. Meet Fida Islaih.  Fida will share her writing journey with us today. 
Take it away Fida!

 

~~~~~**********~~~~~~*********~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~********

 

I've been writing for as long as I can remember, but I didn't get serious until I was in middle school. I have a drawer full of unedited stories. 

I was first into writing poetry. I was sitting in class with a poetry project. I enjoyed it and write extra poems for it. After that I continued writing poems.

I read Does My Head Look Big in This by Randa Abdel-Fattah. It inspired me to write a similar story. A few months later I gave it a major rewrite. After that I was inspired to put all the good and bad experiences in different stories I wanted to write. I could make the MC do what I couldn't do. It made me feel better in so many ways. 

I'm hoping to self publish my poetry in the next few months and years. I might self publish my novellas, too. I'm also trying to make them full novels and be able to query them and maybe get an agent. I know a few are interested in the concepts, but like I said, I have to work on length. 

Like I said I've been writing poetry for awhile and I get easily inspired by everything: my experiences and nature. I have more than enough for a collection. 

Recently I participated in the A to Z Challenge and saw that from previous years people self publish their posts. I thought I should do the same. I also thought 26 poems isn't enough. I decided to put in 100 poems. I did exactly that. Right now I'm crowdfunding the collection so that I could get help monetary and professionally for self publishing it. 

I hope you guys are willing to join in. You can find the synopsis, excerpt, and place to donate at poetfida.pubslush.com 

Thank you! 

Fida Islaih, Poet

fida-islaih.blogspot.com

Blog Tour: Guest Post: Handling Pizza and Writer Rejection

Handling Pizza and Writer Rejection

Liz Gruder, author of Starseed

I grew intrigued while perusing a menu recently. When I read the ingredients of a particular pizza outloud: artichoke hearts, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, asparagus, parmesan and mozzarella, my boyfriend made gagging noises. “I hate artichokes,” he said. “Why can’t we get pepperoni?”

I sighed. My pizza had been rejected.

I mused that writing was similar to pizza. You concoct what you perceive is a wonderful, tasty story … and after serving it to consumers, be prepared for rejection.

The stories of famous writers being rejected are legendary.

--J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone was rejected by a dozen publishers before Bloomsbury, a small London publisher, took it on – and that was only after the CEO’s eight-year-old daughter begged her father to read it.

--Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time was rejected 29 times before finding a publisher.

--And C.S. Lewis, (Chronicles of Narnia) received over 800 rejections before he sold a single piece of writing.

Does this mean that those who rejected these writers were wrong? I bet they kicked themselves for lost revenue, but their opinion likely remained the same.

If you scan Goodreads or Amazon popular book reviews, they range from “loved it” to “terrible!”

--Harry Potter. One star. “We can see the beginnings of Rowling's authorial failings … Rowling's prose is quick and simple, but sometimes awkward and without music or joy.”

--A Wrinkle in Time. One star. “Madeleine L'Engle brings to the table a cursory knowledge of astronomy, the imagination of a brown paper sack, and half-assed characters.”

--The Lion, the Witch, the Wardrobe. One star. “I am tempted to give this book a zero … awful book.”

I would hope that the standard for a one-star review is being among the worst books ever. Every element is terrible—the editing, writing, plot, characterization, voice, vision, world building, theme, etc. It hardly seems fair to give these books one star. But this is my subjective opinion. And that’s what rejections and reviews are. In fact, the soaring heights and pitiful lows of many book reviews make the reading public appear bipolar. Witness Twilight.

Many think it’s okay to review a pepperoni pizza when they hate pepperoni and splatter hot cheese all over the wall. If I hate pepperoni, I’m not going to order it, let alone review it. How is that fair to the chef? Others will declare that the chef needs to be executed for his terrible pizza. But herein, again, lies the subjective slaying in “terrible.”

The real issue here is that these writers, whether serving pepperoni or artichokes—were tenacious. They didn’t quit. They found that one “yes” publisher who believed in their work. Later, they ignored the “no’s” who dissed what they dished up and kept writing. They realized there is no book or pizza that will be universally loved. They believed in their visions, persevered and found consumers who enjoyed their unique recipes.

So when ordering pizza, my boyfriend and I decided on a small pepperoni and a small artichoke pizza. We agree to differ, absent the stinging vitriol that often lace book reviews. We respect one another, despite our differences. Best of all, he didn’t try to convince me why I should hate artichokes, for he understands that tastes vary.

--Liz Gruder

www.lizgruder.com
https://twitter.com/LizGruder
https://www.facebook.com/authorlizgruder

Liz Gruder
As a youth, Liz Gruder saw a series of UFOs with her best friend while riding bikes. Ever since, she’s held a fascination for the stars. An avid reader, she used to hide under her covers and read with a flashlight. She has degrees in English and Psychology from Tulane University, a nursing license and a yoga certification. After going through Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Liz realized how short life is and is now slowly fulfilling her bucket list: she’s been to the Egyptian pyramids (totally awesome and thought provoking) and is now teaching yoga and writing speculative fiction. Starseed is her debut novel.

Blog Tour: Query Writing with Kerri Cuevas

Query Writing with Kerri Cuevas

Author of Deadly Kisses

Query!

Did someone say query?

Stop! Don’t run for the hills. I promise it’s not that bad.

We all dread the querying process, and I’m not going to tell you how to write a query letter. There are bloggers who go into great detail about the subject. Being a published author who has gone through the process, I have a different perspective about queries.

When writing a query letter it’s important to not only sell your story, but also yourself. The agent or publisher reading your letter doesn’t know anything about you except what you tell them. Getting your book ready to be unleashed into the world is a long, intense process. Your agent or publisher needs to trust that you can fulfill your end of the process in the allotted time given. They don’t know if you will complete the editing process with them unless you are able to convince them of it in the query letter.

In addition to the obvious credentials—college, writing groups, blogging, critique groups, and awards; you need to ask yourself this: What can you do for them? You need to tell them what things you feel you will be successful with—marketing, speaking engagement, networking, web site development, etc. You need to show them that you will be able to put in the time needed to promote your book, either online, in print or in person. If you have built up a following, either with other books or in building interest in your current book, let them know you have a waiting audience.

We have to be our own best advocates and writing an amazing story is not enough. Use these tips and you'll improve your chances of being accepted by a publisher.

I hope that hill isn’t looking so high anymore.

Kerri Cuevas

author of Deadly Kisses

Book Summary:

Aiden Grant is seventeen, has a killer kiss, and a boss who used to be President, back in the old days. You see, Aiden is a grim reaper and his kiss welcomes the newly dead. But Aiden’s pleasant grim reaper lifestyle is in jeopardy. And it’s not only because Honest Abe keeps throwing out history lessons with reaping assignments, just to confuse him. It’s because Aiden’s next assignment is to reap the soul of Bee, the only girl he has ever loved.

When Aiden’s kiss of death fails, intertwining their souls, Bee is still very much alive and they are both in trouble. The ancients want Bee, who has special powers of her own, and they’ll do anything to get her.

Some rules are meant to be broken—even if that means Aiden must bargain with his own soul to save Bee. Who knew the afterlife could get so complicated?

 Author Bio:

Kerri Cuevas was born and raised in Rhode Island. She moved to New Hampshire with her husband, three kids, cats and a rabbit named Hercules in 2005. When she's not writing, she's chasing chickens on her small farm or searching for the ultimate mac-a-cheese recipe.

Kerri went to college for Early Childhood Education but now writes books for young adults full-time. Her storytelling stems from watching too many horror flicks as a teen, but she no longer needs to sleep with the lights on.

 

Author Links:

Goodreads       Author Website        Author Blog       Amazon 

Guest Post: How Tameka Fryer Brown Landed an Agent

Tameka Fryer Brown, author of MY COLD PLUM, LEMON PIE, BLUESY MOOD (Viking Children's, 2013)

Landing an Agent 

Many have written about the best way to land an agent, with varying perspectives and offers of advice. I’ll add my voice to the fray with a personal testimony on how I landed my agent, what I did and did not do. 

CONNECTING:  As a newbie writer, I DID NOT pitch to agents (or editors) at conferences. Not that there’s anything wrong with doing that, and it may work very well for some. But since I suspect that most agents and editors don’t remember a tenth of the people they come in contact with at conferences, especially those whose only interaction with them is to try to pitch their manuscripts, I decided that wasn’t for me.

As a more seasoned writer, I now strike up conversations with editors and agents at conferences, but I DO NOT lead with my writing at all. I strike up normal conversations about every day topics. Why have I never initiated a conversation with a story pitch? For one thing, I still believe all those pitches tend to run together after a while. Unless you make a personal connection with someone, they likely won’t remember you or your story. Plus, that whole “elevator-pitch your story to all the publishing professionals at the conference” is just not my style. If I’m interested in submitting to someone, I do just that: submit my manuscript. My work should be able to speak for itself.  However, whenever I do make a personal connection with a publishing professional at a conference, they always ask me about what I write and the projects I’m working on.  I try to always be prepared with a 30-ish word synopsis of the projects I’m working on for such instances, but if it’s up to 50 words, I don’t sweat it. We’re just having a friendly conversation—not a nerve-racking pitch session.

SUBMITTING:  Back when I was submitting my own manuscripts to agents, I DID research each of them as thoroughly as possible. It was while reviewing the Andrea Brown Literary Agency’s website that I noticed agent Jennifer Rofé had minored in Social and Ethnic Relations. Since my manuscript highlighted a close-knit, diverse neighborhood, I thought it might interest her. Today she is my agent because of that targeted approach. I’ve sold two books with her, including my latest, MY COLD PLUM LEMON PIE BLUESY MOOD (Viking Children’s/Penguin). So much information is available online these days, no one should ever skip the important step of research.

I DID follow submissions guidelines to a “T”. I DID NOT, however, over-obsess over query and cover letters as it relates to formatting and such. I DID proofread and make sure that my letters looked professional, but I did not worry about whether my bio info was in the third or fourth paragraph, or if I listed my word count in the upper right hand corner or below  my contact info on the left. I learned the most important thing was to craft a letter that hooked the reader from the beginning, described the plot early on, and made my story appear as dynamic as possible, without verbosity.  So long as the content is there (and the glitter/confetti/clipart is not), that’s what counts.

COMMUNICATING:  When Jennifer initially expressed interest in my manuscript, she asked me several questions, among which were: “Do you have any other manuscripts?” and “Are you open to revising your work?” My answers were: “Yes I do.” and “Yes I am.” To those readers seeking to land an agent (or a publisher), these should be your answers, too. 

It’s important for agents to know that you are not a one-book-pony.  Picture book authors especially should have at least three completed manuscripts before seeking representation; novel writers for older age groups might be able to have only one, but it helps to be actively working on another. As for revising—revising is what writing (and publishing) is all about! One can’t get to literary excellence without it. Be one with the Backspace! Embrace the Delete key!

I’m not sure if my experience contradicts everything you’ve ever read about landing an agent. If it does, then that simply proves there is no one right way to do it. Tailor your approach to whatever works for you and make it happen!

Aura Blog Tour: Guest Post: Query Do's and Don'ts

Query Letters 

Do's and Don'ts  

Rebecca Talley, Author of, Aura 

The purpose of a query letter is to ask a prospective editor or agent if he might be interested in reading your work. The query letter needs to pique the interest of the editor or agent so that he will ask to read more. 

In the first paragraph, you want to hook the editor or agent. Make every word count. Don’t over-hype your work, but pull out the most interesting aspects to include in the hook. Make that editor or agent want to call you and insist that you send him your manuscript at once. Work on your hook until it successfully communicates the gist of your story in the most appealing way possible, usually in about five sentences.

In the second paragraph, include the specifics about your book such as title, word count, target market, if it is a series, and that it is complete (fiction manuscripts need to be complete before querying).   

In the third paragraph, you'll want to add your previous publication credits, especially if they are similar to what you are submitting. You can also include memberships in professional organizations like SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). If you have no publication credits, simply skip this part, but do not call attention to your lack of credits.

In the last paragraph, you want to call the editor or agent to action by asking if he would be interested in reading the entire manuscript. Include a request such as, "May I interest you in reading my manuscript?" This is a very important part. Make sure you have included correct contact information. Then close the letter with an appropriate thank you and your name.

Be sure to follow the editor's or agent's guidelines posted on their websites or included in directories. Some prefer only email queries while others will only read print ones. Some will accept either form. If you don't follow the guidelines, your query will most likely be deleted without the editor or agent even reading it. 

Keep the query short and professional.

Do not include praise from your mother or the lady that lives down the street. Do not include a full synopsis of the story.

Do not put in any false information about yourself or your book. Do not "butter up" the editor or agent with insincere praise.

Do not send a query with spelling mistakes or improper grammar.

Study effective query letters and be sure to have trusted readers look over your query before you send it.  

The query letter represents you and your work. The goal is to entice an editor or agent so make sure your query letter is the best it can possibly be.

 Rebecca Talley
Fiction Inspired by Life
http://www.rebeccatalley.com

Aura

"I half-turned to her and shrugged, still processing what I'd seen, or at least what I thought I'd seen, in Ms. Neal's eyes—like they weren't hers. Obviously, they were her eyes, but it looked like she'd plucked them from someone else's head. A dead someone else's head."

In the fight between good and evil, Light is your only weapon.

Crystal Scott finally feels like a normal teenager. She has a lead in the high school play, a best friend, and a gorgeous boyfriend. With prom only a few days away, Crystal’s ordinary life seems perfect.

Endowed with great Light because of her virtuous choices and her inherent gifts, Crystal’s aura has become visible to those with the ability to see auras. Unfortunately, her power has also attracted the attention of demons intent on destroying all Light.

When Vincent Crandall, the human host for a powerful demon, discovers that Crystal’s Light is strong enough to disrupt the connection between demons and their hosts, he realizes she may be able to sever the connection altogether. Determined to stop her from interfering with his plans to rule the world, he sends operatives to neutralize her Light.

After the operatives fail to disable Crystal, Vincent decides he must harness her power for himself. He kidnaps her parents, and Crystal is thrust into battle against a demon army she didn’t even know existed. With the help of a mysterious young man and his mother, Crystal must learn to use the power within her before Vincent kills her parents and exploits her Light.

                                               About the Author: Rebecca Lynn Talley
Rebecca Lynn Talley grew up in the gorgeous seaside city of Santa Barbara, CA. She met, and married, her husband, Del, while attending Brigham Young University. She graduated from BYU with a degree in Communications. She currently lives in rural Colorado on a small ranch with a dog, too many cats to count, and a herd of goats. She and Del are the proud parents of ten wildly-creative, multi-talented children.

Rebecca is the author of a children's picture book, Grasshopper Pie (WindRiver 2003), a children's chapter book, Gabby's Secret (DuBon Publishing 2011), four novels, Heaven Scent (CFI 2008), Altared Plans (CFI 2009), The Upside of Down (CFI 2011), and Aura (DuBon Publishing 2012). She has also authored numerous children's stories and articles for both print and online magazines.

Guest Post: Pitch Perfect: Pitching to Agents or Editors

Pitch Perfect: Pitching Your Story to an Agent or Editor. 

Do's and Don'ts 

by Jodi Kilpack, author of Baked Alaska

The important thing to remember when you are pitching your book is that having the editor listen to you is only half of the goal. The other half is listening to them. They eat, sleep, and breathe books. They understand craft, and genre, and audience, and trends far better than any writer every could because they have a far more objective point of view than we do. The chance to sit down with them and learn from their experience is priceless, and one that many writers miss out on because they are so intent on blowing them away with THEIR idea.

Do: Prepare a short explanation of your book, including your main character and their main problem. This should be a few sentences and NOT be a question such as "Have you ever wondered what would happen if a volcano exploded one mile from your home?" Instead you might say something like this, "My book is about a girl named Kaylynn. She lives in a small town where nothing exciting every happens, until a Volcano explodes while she's babysitting and she has to get all the kids to saftey before the molten lava burns them alive!" You want the editor to understand the main point of your story.

Do: Have a one or two page synopsis ready to hand them if they ask for it, but don't offer it to them. If they want it, they'll ask, and they might want you to send it to them rather than take it right then.

Do: Listen to anything they tell you, even if it's painful. If they say they think your plot is redundant, ask them in what ways. If they find your character dull ask if they have any ideas to make them more interesting. Respect the position they hold and show that you are teachable.

Do: Be kind and courtious. Remember, they are people too and it is not their job to hurt or offend you. They truly are here to help you.

Don't: Argue with them. Even if you think they are 100% wrong, do not argue. It's disrespectful and closes you off to any learning opportunity.

Don't: Try to force your manuscript on them. They have likely traveled and don't want to haul a bunch of manuscripts back with them. And if they don't ask for it, they don't want it. Don't try to assuage your ego by making them feel obligated to read your book.

Don't: Tell them God inspired you to write the book. Even if it's true, it's manipulative and it raises the assumption that they are somehow doubting Diety if they reject you. Be professional.

Don't: Feel like it was a waste of your time if they don't request to see more of your book. Evaluate the experience and draw as much good as you can from it, knowing that you are on a journey that is long and full of learning experiences. Take it in stride, learn all you can, and know that regardless of how uncomfortable the meeting is, you are better for having done it.
Josi
www.josiskilpack.com
 

 

About the Author:
Josi S. Kilpack grew up hating to read until she was thirteen and her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and credits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began her first novel in 1998 and hasn’t stopped since. Her seventh novel, Sheep’s Clothing, won the 2007 Whitney Award for Mystery/Suspense, and Lemon Tart, her ninth novel, was a 2009 Whitney Award Finalist. Josi was the Best in State winner in literature for 2012 and currently has two books (Banana Split and Tres Leches Cupcakes) as finalists in the 2012 Whitney awards.

About the Book:
Sadie plans to spend time relaxing with her two grown children, Breanna and Shawn, and her boyfriend, Pete, while enjoying the luxury and cuisine of an elegant cruise ship and helping to plan her daughter’s upcoming wedding. But even as the crew prepares to leave port, Sadie has suspicions about the voyage ahead and the relationship between her normally easygoing son and a mysterious female passenger he obviously knows but refuses to discuss. When the woman is discovered unconscious during the second night at sea, Sadie’s apprehension escalates. Over the last few years, Sadie has developed an extreme dislike for secrets—and it would seem her son is keeping one from her. *Includes eight new mouthwatering recipes, tested and approved by the official bakers of Sadies Virtual Test Kitchen.

The Puca Tour! It's finally here!!!!!

Welcome everyone! It is an honor to host and celebrate Heather McCorkle and the release of her newest book, To Ride a Puca. I have to say, I have been waiting a loooooong time for this book! I remember the day she gave us a peek at her pitch for this story! I was so intrigued! And then after reading her Channeler novels, I can't wait to read more about Erin's race and ancestors. Without further ado.... Here is Heather!!! :D

Hi all, I'm stopping by celebrate the birth of my new book, To Ride A Puca. Before we get to the goodies I'm giving away, here is a bit about the newborn. It is a young adult historical fantasy about the last of the druids in ancient Ireland. This one was a bit heartbreaking to write and because of that it became very special to me. I hope it will be to you as well.

Invaders are coming to take what isn't theirs, again.

Neala wants to stand and fight for her homeland, but as one of the last druids, she may be standing alone.

Persecuted, hunted down, forced to live in obscurity, the druids have all but given up. Can the determination of a girl who has barely come into her power bring them together? Or, just when she finally finds her place among her kind, will they end up losing a homeland their very magic is tied to?

Disclaimer: This novel contains some violence and difficult subject matter. It is recommended for mature YA and up.

Available in eBook and hardback at B&N, Amazon, and other retail sites.

!!!!!!! Giveaway !!!!!

I’ll be giving away great prizes, a new one, every week for the next three weeks. This week I’m giving away a signed paperback of TANGLED TIDES by Karen Amanda Hooper. It is about a girl who finds herself tangled up in the underwater world of mysterious merfolk and secretive selkies. It is one of my favorite books of the year so far, trust me you’ll love it! The contest will be open until June 3rd, the winner to be announced on the 4th. To enter go to this link. Thanks for having me over Saba!