It’s a Circus Out There! Which social media sites should I try? By Joanne Jaytanie

Are you one of those people on the pulse of the newest social media site? It seems like every day there is something new coming out.  I’ve signed up on sites such as MeWe and Alignable. I’ve looked at the sites – but I’ll likely never use them, especially if they want me to pay for connections. 

And let’s not forget, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Quora, Snapchat, LinkedIn – just to name a few. My gosh, the list goes on and on. WhatsApp – what’s that? Google+- it’s still hanging on? Reddit – I have no idea. You could spend your entire day and night wading through the bottomless depths of the monstrosity known as social media.

What should you do? Ignore it and hope it will all go away? Become an expert on every media app? Not me. I consider myself techie-less. I’ve come a long way from not knowing how to turn on a computer, but I’ll never be an expert. 

Even so, I am an author, and the computer is my workplace. I’ve found my best strategy is to work with a core of social media apps. Meaning I limit myself to a few choices and try to get a handle on just those apps. Some I enjoy spending time on. Others I get on, get what I need done, and get off. Of course, there’s a downside to spending time on the apps I enjoy – I tend to spend too much time. Every bright shiny picture pulls me in. Every new recipe, how-to, repurposing, new releases—call my name. Have you guessed which app – Pinterest! It can suck you in for hours. It can also be a great place to find new followers and sales.

Pinterest is where people go for inspiration, new ideas, and new purchases. Over 70% of Pinterest users are women. Approximately 90% try new things that they discover on the site. Nearly half of all Pinners use the platform for purchases or to plan purchases, both large and small. 

Pinterest is also a great place to do research. I set up a new board for each book I write. I have even used my boards as storyboards for my WIP. 

Things are happening on Pinterest. Over 80% of the users are on a mobile device. Therefore the layout of your pins should accommodate this format. That will get you the most views. I have been testing animated pins and find that they do get more interaction. 

Currently, the top categories for pins in the United States are ~ Art, Art Supplies, and hobbies. Seventy plus percent of weekly Pinners have discovered new products and brands on the site.

One of them could be you!

ORIGINALITY BY DESIGN~Pinterest Board

Until next month...

Joanne

Click here to visit Joanne's page to read her past posts.

Three words authors dread ~ by Joanne Jaytanie

There are three words that nearly all authors dread—advertising, marketing, and promotion. By nature, most authors are introverts. They want to write their stories and put them out into the world and have readers gobble them up. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful world?

Even with my background in marketing, I’m no different. Promoting my books is a challenge. I have discovered that the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Think of it this way, you have produced a product—I  know it’s not a product to us, it’s hours, weeks, months of pouring our thoughts, feelings, and emotions on to a page and creating a world that is unique and exciting.

Every story you write will feel this way—that’s what makes you an author. However, when you remove the emotional attachment and look at it from an outsider’s perspective, it is a product.  

Indie, hybrid, or traditionally published, you will have to promote to succeed. Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter are all places you can spread the word. Have you done any interviews? Magazines, blog tours, and podcasts are all great venues to use.

I interviewed with InD’tale Magazine. My interview was published in the February issue. Interviews are a great opportunity for readers to get to know you as a person and author.

In truth, the number of authors who release books each year is staggering and is on the rise.

If your goal is to have more than your family and close friends know about your books you must promote. No matter your budget, with research and perseverance, you can find ways to let people know about your book.

For more information about Joanne and read her posts click here.

Until next time~

Joanne

Co-authoring ~ by Manning Wolfe

The initial idea…
About ten years ago, my work required that I frequently go back and forth to L.A. from Austin, four hours of travel on a non-stop flight. I would work on my laptop for about an hour then indulge myself in a guilty pleasure for the rest of the flight. But I could never finish a full length novel before I landed in California.
I remember thinking, why doesn’t somebody write good page turners that can be read in two to three hours? I wanted engaging stories that made me want to stick to the end, not just fast reads. That’s how Bullet Books Speed Reads (Bullet Books) arrived on my list of someday writing.

Bringing in co-authors …
Two years ago, I began the process of writing Bullet Book #1 with my spouse, Bill Rodgers who is also co-owner with me of Starpath Books, LLC, our Austin based publishing company. The experience was so positive, I decided to invite other writers to co-author the Bullet Books. 

Eighteen months later, the first twelve Bullet Books were launched at the Texas Book Festival and Bouchercon2019. Additional short reads are planned for 2020, for a total of twenty-five Bullet Books.

All books, by prescription, are modern day crime fiction in settings around the world. Audio books have been published or are in various stages of production.

The first twelve authors are all people on my radar, either a part of the Austin writing community, associates from writer’s groups or contacts in Texas, or former artistic clients from my law practice.

The second round of authors are from all over the U.S. and one in the U.K. The first group joined primarily because of our personal relationships, those in the second group have been attracted to the project itself and the benefits to their writing careers.

The writing process…
The actual writing has been organic, and working with each co-author has been a different experience. I ask that the co-author come up with an idea of what they would like to write then we brainstorm the plot together. Some begin with a short story that was expanded to a full concept. One story began as a complete but outdated novel that was shortened, re-worked, and brought into modern time. In all cases, the concept, working title, and basic plot were nailed down before the book was written... although in most cases, there was not a full outline. The plot evolved as we wrote, as it does with all books, but having a path to completion helped keep us on track with the story.

All of the books were written in the style of co-authoring, as opposed to paired writing. We wanted to find a blended voice in an effort to make each Bullet Book unique. 

I read the other writer’s work and then followed their writing style. Some used short staccato sentence structure, some stuttering ellipses, and others hammered home cliffhangers or punctuated the ending of each paragraph. Each co-author had a style and rhythm to their sentence structure, and I adapted my writing as much as possible so as to not change that. 

One co-author is known for his love of noir and I had never written in that style, which presented a challenge. On my turn, it was required that I add words, but not go too far afield of the genre restrictions.

What I did strongly insert into each book was structure. I put in three acts early on and continuously worked the story into them on my turns to write. Once I put in the beginning, middle, and end notations, the missing plot points and areas that dragged began to show themselves and were easily repaired during re-writes. Most co-authors either already had a sense of the design or expressed their appreciation for the methodology and found it useful. 

Publishing goals…
A big asset of co-authoring was the necessity to meet deadlines and be accountable in order to keep the process moving. Although deadlines were not rigid, we were all highly motivated to have the entire first dozen for sale and for signing by the end of October 2019.

What didn’t work so well…
As a dedicated Scrivener user, I briefly experimented with bringing the co-authors into the app for writing. It didn’t take with a single non-Scrivener user. Even those who tried the software abandoned it at the first opportunity and went back to Word.

The books that fell out of development were those where the plot was not firmly agreed upon in advance, proving to me that a “meeting of the minds” to begin a project is probably the most important step. 

The second area that lead to failure was when the idea was made “too precious”. The tight grip didn’t allow for the book to breathe and develop organically. 

These two areas of difficulty are naturally in conflict and require a balancing act. Not having a plan at all didn’t work, and rigidity in the concept might not have been the kiss of death, but it was definitely the kiss of paralysis.

It was fun and everyone learned in the process …
Missteps aside, it became thrilling to send off a draft of the story with new sections written and get back a draft with passages that played off the new scenes or dialogue. It was also fascinating to watch the mind of another author at play. Each of the dozen co-authors had a different approach, mindset and developmental style. All were a joy to experience through the process of co-writing.

Manning Wolfe

Manning Wolfe, an award-winning author and Attorney residing in Austin, Texas, writes cinematic-style, smart, fast-paced thrillers with a salting of Texas bullshit. Her series features Austin Lawyer, Merit Bridges. As a graduate of Rice University and the University of Texas School of Law, Manning’s experience has given her a voyeur’s peak into some shady characters’ lives and a front row seat to watch the good people who stand against them. You can follow Manning at the links below.

WEBSITE

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

   

Making Decisions ~ by Joanne Jaytanie

Perseverance doesn’t always pay off, but sometimes it does.

I count myself fortunate that the last 30 days have been filled with firsts – in the best of ways. This story began three months ago. And, I thought long and hard over the decisions I faced and realized that if I were to accept the opportunities I was invited to partake in, it would mean sticking to a rigorous schedule, with little to no wiggle room. 

In late August, I was invited to write in a collection with nine other authors. I’ve mentioned this collection in my two latest posts, Never Say Never and An author’s life and as with most collections, that meant writing a story to a theme that was chosen by the group. I didn’t commit to the collection immediately. Instead, I mulled it over for a few days. I really wanted to take part, but I’m not a fast writer, and my process can often make for many a re-write. What if I couldn’t come up with an idea? What if I couldn’t get the book done by the deadline? I drug my feet for days trying to decide what to do. In the meantime, the group was tossing around different Christmas themes. Among the mix was an idea of having all the stories take place around an inn or a lodge. This type of theme gave us considerable latitude with our stories, and the decision was made to name the collection: Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge. 

I started to think about my Christmas collection Forever Christmas in Glenville. If I was going to write a Christmas story, I wanted it to also work as a book three in this collection for two reasons: First, we all agreed that after January 2020, Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge would be taken down. Each of us would then be able to publish our individual stories. When this time comes, I don’t want a standalone Christmas novella. I want a novella that I can incorporate into my existing collection. Secondly, I wouldn’t have to start from scratch. Writing the new novella as book three of Forever Christmas in Glenville would provide me with a setting, backstory, and characters. It couldn’t have been more perfect. I’d wanted to write Gina’s story, and this theme was tailor-made for her. So, I committed to the collection.

Now I just had to come up with a plotline for this new novella, which I titled Christmas Chemistry. Two thoughts kept tugging at me: First, Gina, a character in Forever Christmas in Glenville, manages the main house that is the heart of the Christmas tree farm at Forever Christmas. The second was the antique reception desk at the main house at Forever Christmas. I can’t go into any more details without giving away too much of the story. I do find it peculiar that I tend to leave a few threads in nearly every story I write that I can later pick up and sew into an entirely new sequel.

Over the next two months, I wrote and promoted Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge. We promoted the collection in every way we could think of; a free cookbook - Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge Cookbook, media kits, blog tours, Facebook groups and parties, tons of book sites, teasers on all our social media sites, and postcards we handed out. Previously scheduled book signings and events featured our collection. We even had a book trailer. Within days of the collection’s release it became an Amazon bestseller. We dedicated a great deal of time and work to this collection, and in doing so, we achieved the goal that brought us all together to begin with – USA Today Best Selling Author!

Taking part in Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge has been an exhilarating ride and I’m thankful and honored to have been invited to be a part of this adventure. If you'd like to read more about the collection, including excerpts from all ten stories, click here.

Sabrina York – Cooped Up For Christmas — It was supposed to be an easy gig—working as a concierge at a luxury lodge for the super-rich over Christmas—but then he had to show up. The boy who broke my heart all those years ago. But former Navy SEAL Cameron Cooper isn't exactly a boy anymore.

Tamara Ferguson – A Kiss Under A Blue Christmas Moon — Blue Moon’s bandleader, Noah’s been crazy about Mia since the moment they met at a magical beach concert, but Mia’s father sabotages their romance before Noah goes to war. Six years after escaping her controlling father, Mia’s returned to Crystal Rock to find Lieutenant Noah Erikson’s never stopped loving her.

Jen Talty – Alaskan Christmas – Flynn Wagner sets off to the frozen tundra and the Mistletoe Lodge, prepared for endless stories about her mother. However, nothing can prepare her for coming face to face with the one man she couldn’t get out from under her skin. At the lodge, Colton Granger never expected to find the woman who had changed his life forever in high-heeled boots, a winter coat that wouldn’t keep a person warm, and a killer smile that would soon melt his heart.

Natalie Ann – Christmas Love – Former model, Noelle Bennett has decided she wants to be behind the camera instead of in front of it. Just her and the woods around her little home, snapping pictures of the winter landscape and historic Inns. Then how did sexy veterinarian Dr. Chase Martin talk her into adopting a puppy and wondering if the peaceful life wasn't what she wanted all along?

Pam Binder – Christmas Makeover — Mistaken as a wedding and events planner, the out-of-work dog walker, is hired to transform a rundown inn into a Medieval themed-wedding destination. But the owner’s handsome son, Owen, has other plans for the Inn.

Tammy L. Grace – Christmas in Snow Valley — Fifteen years ago, he broke her heart. She never moved on. Will a little Christmas magic bring them back together?

Jacki Delecki – Mission: Impossible to Wed — A wedding designer and a Special Ops soldier are thrown together for a country wedding that has them both thinking they’ll never get married.

Joanne Jaytanie – Christmas Chemistry — It's nothing but an old tavern. But to the Jamersons and Brocks, it's a treasured history, a precious legacy. Can Gina Jamerson and Owen Brock meet in the middle or will their families ruin any chance of compromise?

Kim Hornsby – The Christmas Challenge A hermit blogger attends a destination wedding as part of a Christmas challenge and meets someone who gets her heart racing again only to discover he has a game-changing secret—about her.

Lauren Gayle – A Southern Lights Christmas When a rare winter storm covers their Christmas getaway with bone-chilling snow and ice, two strangers are challenged with the reality of winter in a southern town.

Chemistry and Christmas draw them together, but family loyalty could keep them on opposing sides.

After the loss of Gina’s dad, her mom and siblings needed her more than ever. So Gina uprooted a life she loved and moved to Glenville, Washington. She’s become immersed in the charming town and its heartwarming people who accept and love her. Gina never imagined she’d find her forever career managing the main house at Forever Christmas tree farm. Now a popular overnight destination, the main house needs a proper name. Searching for the perfect name, Gina discovers that generations ago her family was quite prominent in Glenville.

Owen Brock has built a thriving law practice in Phoenix, where the weather is always perfect. Phoenix is also as far away as possible from the frigid winters of Glenville—and his overbearing family. His mother’s health is declining, so Owen decides to return home only long enough to assess mom’s condition and to help his family reclaim their history lost in a card game decades ago.

He never dreamed he’d be battling with Gina Jamerson over an old tavern worth nothing to anyone except the Jamersons and Brocks. 

To learn more about Joanne and read her past blog posts click here.

Until next time...

Joanne

An author's life~by Joanne Jaytanie

As I previously mentioned in my last post, Never Say Never, I was invited to write in the collection, Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge with nine other incredible authors. We've all pulled together and promoted our collection for the past two months. Our efforts paid off, and the collection quickly made it into the Amazon Best Sellers lists. It’s been a real pleasure working with these women. I’ve learned a great deal from them, and I feel fortunate to have gotten to know each of them. I would join any one of them in future collections.



The Emerald City Writers Conference was held a week ago. Jacquolyn McMurray and I taught our first writers’ workshop. We discussed the pros and cons of writing in a collection. I would be remiss if I didn't say thank you to Jacquolyn for learning PowerPoint. It provided us with a great outline and a handout for the attendees.  

I attended Passport 2 Romance, hosted by Greater Seattle Romance Writers. This is my favorite event of the year. The event takes place in a hotel ballroom, and the line of readers waiting to get into Passport 2 Romance grows each year. What makes this event special is that authors are not allowed to sell. Everything we bring is to be given away. It puts everyone at ease and enables authors to chat with the attendees. 

The authors of the Christmas collection put together a huge basket and we raffled it off. The winner of the basket told me it weighed 31 pounds! 










This past Saturday, I attended my second book signing at the Kitsap Mall for National Book Month. It’s a nice feeling to meet local people and to chat with author friends that I haven’t seen much of lately. 

Best of all, I was thrilled and honored to be awarded the winner of The Emerald City-Greater Seattle RWA Best Blurb Contest for Published work with Salvaging Truth, Hunters & Seekers, Book 1.

The life of an author isn't just about writing. It's about networking, building friendships, learning, and giving back to the community. It's about celebrating our colleague’s wins and comforting a friend when they need extra support. Yes, writing is a solitary occupation, but it is also a community, and the friendships you build along the way are priceless.

To read my past blogs and to find out about my books go to my personal page.

Until next time…

Joanne