It came to me after reading Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code first, his preceding novel Angels and Demons second––this awareness of author growth. I found both books enormously entertaining, yet the greater sophistication of the former in contrast to the latter was clear. I suppose I had not previously thought in terms of author … Continue reading Are You Reading The Author You Expected?
Thoughts on Writing
Why An Audio Book?
The hot topic in my writing circles lately is audio books. I sense a fascination among my fellow authors. Several have made them, many want to make them. And why not? Audio books are enjoying an enormous surge in popularity, having more than doubled sales in the last several years. For the author, it's never … Continue reading Why An Audio Book?
But What About Us Readers?
Graffiti on a junior school bathroom wall: "I love grils" "You mean, you love girls" "But what about us grils?" Messages like this one make teaching worthwhile. Most people will admit the demise of physical books was exaggerated. It appears eBooks and traditional books can live side by side after all. Now some are predicting, … Continue reading But What About Us Readers?
Free Choice for Readers
Life in the digital age is user-friendly, full of choices. The choices we make determine the choices available. The path not taken tends to disappear. This is certainly true in the world of books, for readers as well as writers. These creators and consumers maintain a symbiotic relationship, the writer dependent upon the choices made … Continue reading Free Choice for Readers
Writing and…Exercise?
I was fortunate to spend this past week in Palm Desert, CA. To say Palm Desert of course means Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta...even the Salton Sea, for we spent time in all of them. Don't turn away. This article is not "How I Spent My Summer Vacation". It is about an … Continue reading Writing and…Exercise?
Take Control Of Your Event
It's been a full summer of book launches, signings and sales for this author culminating in a long weekend of talks and vending. It was exhausting, yet profitable, a reminder that even something as pleasurable as writing can succeed only with the application of hard work––well directed hard work, which brings me to my thoughts. … Continue reading Take Control Of Your Event
THE POWER OF READERS REVISITED
This article is for readers and, of course, writers who are readers, as all writers must be. So perhaps this article is for everyone, other than those who disdain either reading or writing (poor souls). This piece is a compilation of several posts I have previously published on this site, as far back as June … Continue reading THE POWER OF READERS REVISITED
Write A Lot Of Great Books
Greetings on July 2. This past 24 hour period was the exact middle of the year, 182.5 days. Behind us is all we have done, before us all we hope to do. My goals and hopes for 2015 must now be accomplished in the 182 days that lie ahead. The sense of vast amounts of … Continue reading Write A Lot Of Great Books
Does Social Media Help Market Your Book?
In an interview for Indie Recon, the worldwide virtual conference for independent publishers and authors, Mark Coker of Smashword suggested four approaches for the self publishing author in today’s market. His first advice was to "write a good, no, a great book". I discussed that thought in my April 17 Post, “Five Best Marketing Approaches … Continue reading Does Social Media Help Market Your Book?
Five Best Marketing Approaches for Self-Published Writers
IndieRecon (an independent publishing on-line conference) recently presented an interview with Mark Coker of Smashword. The topic, among other things; new marketing approaches for self publishing authors. He had five central thoughts: 1. Write a good, no, a great book 2. Forget Social Media - it won’t help 3. Write a lot of great … Continue reading Five Best Marketing Approaches for Self-Published Writers
R Lawson Gamble 