Month: July 2016
An interview with the Reader #2
Jayne Williams Andrews
Favorite Read:
Stephen King’s The Stand. Published in the 70’s this post-apocalyptic novel introduced me to the genre. So many of the books, movies and television series today are newer versions asking the age old question, “Will good triumph over evil in the end?” I rarely read a novel twice but this one has been read an
d reread.
What role did books play in your early life?
My sister was an avid reader and read to me from birth. We would walk to our local library with a bag paper bag in hand and return home with a bag full of books. She introduced me to Narnia, Neverland, and Castle Rock. Books became a part of me and a way to escape from the emotional upheaval that was part of my childhood.
Do you happen to have an author crush?
My newest author crush is on Patrick Rothfuss author of The Kingkiller Chronicle series. I finished the first book, The Name of the Wind, and have begun the second, The Wise Man’s Fear. This series is filling the void left by Harry Potter.
Do you think writing courses and writer’s workshops are worth the investment for aspiring authors?
Definitely, aspiring authors need nurturing just as any other artist does. The more knowledge one acquires the better they will be at what they do. Authors can learn from their peers things that they cannot learn anywhere else.
Do you think that networking with other readers is also important?
Yes, after I read a book I am bursting. I need to talk about it with someone who understands. Why do you think people are always recommending or lending books to other people? Because they want to share the experience.
How important is a book’s cover to overall marketing of a book?
Very, even when purchasing a book online I look at the cover. The cover gives you an 
indication of the world you are entering when you choose the book. I have looked over many books because the cover was not appealing only to discover later that it is a wonderful book.
What do you think every writer should know about character development?
Make your characters believable. They must have emotions and personal connections to be real. A reader wants to get to know the characters and feel what they are feeling. You should emerge from the pages white knuckled or sobbing at times.
If you had a chance to address a room full of authors, what would you want them to know?
That I appreciate them. They have made my life so full. Thanks are not enough.
Why do you read?
I read because I love reading. I love reading because if takes me away from everyday life but it also connects me to everyday life.
About Jayne
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Jayne Andrews is the Outreach Services Coordinator for the Augusta Outreach Center of Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services or GLASS. Jayne received a BA in history with a minor in education from Augusta University and then taught middle grades social studies and language arts in the Richmond County School System. She received her Masters of Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina and worked at the Columbia County Library before accepting the position at the Augusta Center. |
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| Website: | http://georgialibraries.org/glass/ |
| Twitter: | TalkingBooksAug |
| Facebook: | |
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‘Stranger Things’ Has Not Been Renewed For A Second Season, But Don’t Panic Yet — Real Stories – UPROXX
Netflix Okay, let’s take care of the bad news first: Netflix’s latest original series phenomenon Stranger Things hasn’t been renewed for a second season just yet. There have been rumors, but we can’t confirm the existence just yet. But don’t panic. The series, which debuted earlier this month and serves as a wonderful throwback to…
5 Questions with Author Dariel Raye
Favorite Read:
I need to cheat a little and choose two more.“The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas, “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler, and “My Soul to Keep” by Tananarive Due
What role did books play in your early life?
I was a child who looked forward to bedtime stories and couldn’t wait to learn to read.
Once I learned, I always had a book with me. If nothing else was handy, I would read the encyclopedia or dictionary. It was that bad! I started reading and reciting stories when I was 3, learned everyone else’s parts in school plays, kept a story journal, and the list goes on. Books were always my escape, a way of visiting other places.
Who was the first person to recognize that you had writing talent?
My 3rd grade teacher, Mr. Grube. The next most notable one was my 8th grade science teacher, Mrs. Paula Justice. Funny. I remember their names as clear as day, and that was a long time ago! You never forget that kind of support and encouragement.
What tactics have you found to be most effective against writer’s block?
I still keep a story journal filled with dreams, images, blurbs, even specific lines and problems that inspire me. I consider social, health, and personal problems and think “what if?” We often determine value based on laws of economics – supply and demand, scarcity vs. abundance. When there’s more than we need, the entity or object is devalued. When supply is limited, it has the potential of becoming pricess. I build my worlds based on that principle. Since social, health, and personal problems are abundant, I never run out of material. I know. Long answer, but it works for me.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about writing for the African-American market?
Stereotypes. Too many people, including some African Americans, expect all of us to like the same things – the same storylines and character constructs.
About the Author
I’m an animal lover, avid reader who fell in love with books and started reciting stories at three years old, award-winning musician and author, algebra and statistics tutor, and counseling psychologist.
Presently, I’m focused on writing two series: Dark Sentinels (sentinel wolf shifters), and Orlosian Warriors (Nephilim with vampire-like traits).
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Social Media
| Website: | http://darkparanormalromanceseries.com |
| Twitter: | http://www.twitter.com/Pendarielraye |
| Facebook: | http://www.facebook.com/authordarielraye |
| Other Social Media | Email list: http://eepurl.com/tHPKb |
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Understanding Literary Conflict
Growing Your Readership
I am often asked what is the best way to grow your readership? First, you have to grow your brand, you grow your brand through readers. To me, the most cost efficient and best way to do both is Instafreebie and Bookfunnel. Choosing between the two can sometimes come down to your budget and end goals.
You get what you pay for applies here.
I was recently speaking with an author who asked me how to grow her readership. I told her I use Instafreebie.
She in turn informed me about Bookfunnel, which is only $20 a year, versus $20 a month like Instafreebie.
Several things came to mind after I shared the info, however, there are a couple of important things to note here.
1. Don’t ask for advice then tell the advice giver what you are doing, especially if it is not working well for you.
2. Bookfunnel is great if you are simply trying to get people to read your book for free.
3. Instafreebie is better if you are trying to grow your email list.
4. Instafreebie, pay the $20 a month for a few months, go back to a free plan, then back to $20 a month when you have some releases.
5. Bookfunnel does not feed into Mailchimp. You can collect no data other than number of downloads.
6. If you have an email base, you market to your email list versus posting “buy my book” everyday on your FB wall.
7. Free books are great when you have a back catalog of your early works or you are on Book 5 of the series and you wish to give book 1 away.
Last but not least,
8. Have a plan. Understand that the why is equally important as the how.
To ensure that I am giving you accurate, unbiased and both sides to the coins, I asked a fellow author how she uses BookFunnel.
“It doesn’t have to feed directly, you don’t send them the Bookfunnel link. You put the Bookfunnel link into the confirmation email for Mailchimp.”
There are other options out there as well. For example, NYTimes Best Selling Indie Author CJ Lyons has her free book registration on her main page. She uses http://www.activecampaign.com/
Check it out here for a free book from CJ Lyons. http://cjlyons.net/
I hope this helps.
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Olivia Gaines Author 
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