Author Resources

By Michelle Lee
BWL Art Director

Came across a couple of good posts (in my opinion anyways) that might be helpful for authors out there.

I have already shared these with the BWL authors, but I wanted to make sure BWL readers (who are also authors) get the info too.

First up are two about the dreaded book description. : )

http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2010/11/16/how-to-write-back-blurb-for-your-book/

http://catherineryanhoward.com/2012/10/05/the-11-ingredients-of-a-sizzling-book-\description/

If you are looking to do a print run of your elf-published releases, or of a release with a strictly electronic publisher, then this post about CreateSpace might be helpful to you.

Or not ... ; )

Mileage can and does vary. LOL

http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2013/03/12/tips-self-publishing-createspace/

A while back, I posted on the Inside Books We Love blog my Top 5 website suggestions.  If you haven’t read it, you can check it out here:  http://bwlauthors.blogspot.com/2012/03/website-suggestion-top-5.html

One of the posts I found is a really good bit of information about Author Websites, and whether an author's website is hurting their sales.

http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2012/01/06/is-your-website-hurting-your-writing/

Might be interesting reading. And for those of you who are reading it and
thinking, I can't do anything fancy, it isn't saying that. Just that it fits
your writings, and that it is, well, professional looking.

For example, Jamie Hill has a simple website (http://www.jamiehill.biz/) but it FITS her writings.

Victoria Chatham is another BWL author who has a simple, yet elegant website.   http://victoriachathamauthor.com/

So it isn't anything that requires a lot of money and time.

BWL author Janet Lane Walters shared this link on her blog, and I thought some others might also find it interesting. I know I did.

Evidently there is something called a LOGLINE that we should also have for books. I've only ever been using a TAGLINE.

http://rwasd.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/loglines-and-taglines-are-different-and-yo\u-need-both-for-your-novel-by-r-ann-siracusa/

Hope you find it informative.

Another post I did was on some Bio suggestions.  I hope I have provided some tricks and tips that you will find useful.

http://bwlauthors.blogspot.com/2013/05/whats-in-biography.html

A Few Lines From. . . Jamie Hill

This week enjoy a few lines from Books We Love author Jamie Hill’s novel, Family Honor. 

 

He pulled a bigger knife from his pocket. “I know you’re gonna be whoever I want you to be. I’m gonna call you ‘Mama’, and you’ll call me ‘Dickie’. If you don’t like it, our little game will end a lot sooner. It’ll be disappointing for me, but I can live with it.” He smiled. “Not sure you can.”

Family Honor by Jamie Hill

Available here:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00898JCXQ

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/family-honor-jamie-hill/1111519075

 

Find Jamie’s other titles here:

http://bookswelove.net/jamiehill.php

 

Come back next week for A Few Lines from BWL author A.M. Westerling.

Rita Karnopp delivers with her Tango of Death Series

I'm not just an author, I'm an avid reader, and although issues with my vision have slowed me down in both departments, when I find an author I love and discover that reading that person's work helps me to enhance my own novels, I can't pass up that opportunity.  Besides, I love to be entertained and this particular author has never disappointed me..

Don't be surprised that Rita Karnopp is that person, and one of the main reasons I asked her to join me on my blog (Dishin' it Out).  She knows the importance of historical research, and even though we are fictional authors, one thing we both know is that facts pertinent to the era and people about which we write is vastly important and frequently scrutinized by historical buffs.  Besides, Rita is filled with wonderful ideas both for her novels and her blogs.  If I wasn't already a senior citizen, I'd want to be her when I grow up, but that doesn't mean I can't still admire her talent and aspire to reach the heights I feel she has.

I hated the realism shown through the persecution of a young Gypsy girl and her family, learning through a well-researched novel, that the Jewish people were far from the only ones who suffered at the hands of Hitler.  What I abhor the most is we still have these types of  people, but we call them bullies, politicians or terrorists.  Will history repeat itself?  I certainly hope not, but it's true there are those out there who hate us for our differences. This book is an eye-opener.

While I hated the subject matter of Gypsy Spirit, I have to salute my favorite author for taking on such a difficult topic and putting history into perspective through her story, research, and ability to create characters who grab your heart and work their way into your soul.  Kudos again to Rita Karnopp for delivering another winner.

After Gypsy Spirit, be sure to read Book #2, Partisan Heart, and then Book #3, Jewish Soul, of the Tango of Death Series . . . you won't be disappointed you did.  Ginger Simpson

http://bookswelove.net/karnopp.php