If you haven’t read Alana’s work yet, check it out! In the meantime, let’s dive into part 1 of this interview series:
Bio: Alana is a pastor’s wife, homeschooling mom, self-diagnosed chicken lady, and Christian suspense author. Her novels have won awards from Women of Faith, Book Club Network, Grace Awards, Readers’ Favorite, and more. Alana’s passion for social justice, human rights, and religious freedom shines through her writing, and her books are known for raising tough questions without preaching. She and her family live in rural Alaska where the northern lights in the winter and midnight sun in the summer make hauling water, surviving the annual mosquito apocalypse, and cleaning goat stalls in negative forty degrees worth every second.
Laura: Alana, how do you develop your ideas?
Alana: A lot of my inspiration comes from real-life stories. I read a lot of memoirs and biographies. For my North Korean suspense series, I try to keep up with the changes going on over there, and for my States-based Kennedy Stern series, I keep my ears open for different sorts of controversies going on in the evangelical world that could make good stories.
Laura: Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Alana: Somewhere in the middle. I can’t go into a book with absolutely no idea, but I don’t bother plotting in depth more than two or three chapters ahead. I’ve heard writers like this called “headlights writers” since we have enough light in front of us to see what’s ahead but not much beyond that.
Laura: I love that! This is the first I’m hearing “headlights writers,” but I love it. Any tips or suggestions for those, be they plotting or pantsing?
Alana: I figure you just need to figure out what works for you. I like to plot out a brief outline for my next day’s writing right before I go to bed. I also believe that in the end it will save me time to sit back and ruminate over an issue for a few days if I have a plot issue instead of ploughing ahead, so I try to be gentle with myself if I have to step back and reevaluate my ideas.
Laura: Do you write daily or when inspiration hits?
Alana: I do try to write every day although I recognize that sometimes I need to be more gentle with myself if I’m stuck on a plot point. I also try to schedule about one week out of every month that’s more focused on editing and marketing and not drafting.
Laura: You know we focus heavily on “butt in chair” commitment here at Accountability For Writers, however, I agree that it’s also important to be gentle with oneself when stuck. I too find that switching to editing or marketing for a period each month makes a big difference in my overall productivity. But, even then, we can still hit blocks. How do you push through blocks or even just the drudge-work aspects of writing?
Alana: I think there’s a balance between being disciplined and being gentle with yourself. I try to take enough breaks (like I’m pretty good about taking weekends completely off the computer) that I don’t really burn out, but I also recognize that I can’t make myself write if I’m really stuck. That’s why I try to have a few projects going on at once so if I get stuck on one I can ideally go work on something different.
Laura: I get that, thank you. OK, next question for you: Character or plot driven?
Alana: I’m not sure you have to be one or the other! I’d say my North Korea series is definitely character-driven, and my Kennedy Stern more plot. I write a lot of suspense, which tends to be a plot-driven genre, but I do like to go deep into my characters’ POV to give them the justice they deserve.
Laura: Fair enough. What about your favorite type of hero? Villain? Anything else you LOVE to see in a work?
Alana: I really like antiheros, like Agent Ko in my North Korean spy thriller series. I’m also a fan of complex characters where you can empathize with their motives even if you find their behavior inexcusable.
Laura: I’m a big fan of the antihero, too! And complex characters make the most fascinating. What’s your favorite genre to write for?
Alana: I’ve been writing for years now but still don’t know that I’ve nailed down a favorite genre. Most of my books are suspense, but I also enjoy the literary fiction/women’s drama series I’m working on.
Laura: Do you sprint, participate in NaNoWriMo, or use other motivation or supports?
Alana: Yes, my basic writing day includes four half-hour sprints. I don’t always officially sign up for NaNo, but I do try to set and keep the 50,000 word goal.
Laura: Wow, that’s wonderful! It sounds like you have found what works for you in terms of keeping you productive. But that can’t be all that motivates you – who or what helped you get to your first and/or last book?
Alana: My husband is one of my biggest encouragers. I couldn’t do any of this without his support. He keeps me going when I feel like giving up.
Laura: That’s wonderful, the support of loved ones can make all the difference in the world, from my experience. Why do you write?
Alana: Such a hard question to answer because seriously I can’t picture not writing! So in that sense I write because that’s how I feel I’m fulfilling my calling. (And I know from experience I get really grumpy if I go too long without making one of my characters suffer!)
Laura: I get that 
I think a lot of us feel that way. That said, beyond fulfilling the need to write, what do you love most about being a writer?
Alana: I love the chance to meet and connect with so many other writers and readers. I always assumed writing was a pretty solitary gig until I found out how many relationships a book can build.
Laura: Oh! I agree! I so deeply value the relationships I’ve developed with other authors – they are some of the best I’ve built. I too long thought writing would be a solitary gig, but then I’ve had the opportunity of getting to know many wonderful authors such as yourself!
This is the end of part 1 of the 5-part interview with Author Alana Terry on Showing Up For Your Art. Stay tuned for part two, where Alana answers questions about “Perfecting The Product.”
FIND ALANA:
You can learn more about Alana Terry and grab a free novel at www.alanaterry.com/free-book.
]]>If you haven’t read Krista’s work yet, well, get to it – you won’t regret it. Now, let’s dive in!
Krista Walsh Bio:
Known for witty, vivid characters, Krista Walsh never has more fun than getting them into trouble and taking her time getting them out. When not writing, she can be found walking, reading, gaming, or watching a film – anything to get lost in a good story. She currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario.
Laura: Thanks for participating in this long series. Let’s get down to it, let’s look at one of the bigger complaints of so many writers: So many loathe marketing and promotion. What’s your relationship to it?
Krista: I find it fascinating. I still have a lot to learn, but the possibilities are endless once you start getting ideas.
Laura: Great attitude! I suspect that’s precisely the attitude that helps create success. Would you say it’s easier to market when you love your story and/or characters?
Krista: That’s a tough call. When I’m excited about a story, I’m more passionate and enthusiastic about it in public, but the downside is that I jump into the dialogue in the middle of things, which doesn’t always give my audience time to catch up.
Laura: Ah, yeah, that makes sense. I’ve done the same thing myself. So, what are your marketing and promotion strategies?
Krista: I book ads, create teasers. Lately I’ve been playing with book trailers. I host FB parties and create book-related swag to send out as prizes.
Laura: I have to tell you, I’ve been really impressed with your efforts. Do you also use Amazon free or countdown promotions? If so, do you have a strategy for doing so? Have you experimented with timing?
Krista: I’ve used the Amazon Free promotions, but not the countdown. I stacked a bunch of ads for the free promotion, but it didn’t have the success I hoped for. I haven’t looked at timing yet, as the research I’ve read hasn’t been clear that there’s much of a difference, but it’s something to look at.
Laura: Have you discovered solid tools for making a best-seller category list?
Krista: I’m still searching for the perfect combination.
Laura: It does seem, at least in my experience, that what works one time, doesn’t necessarily work the next – but I think that may have to do with how the algorithm keeps changes. On another note, what are your favorite marketing tools? (social media, PR service or support, bookbub, etc)
Krista: BookBub is great, but now that they’ve opened their doors to Trad Pubs, it’s harder to get a featured deal for indie titles. When I do manage to get one, though, it’s by far the greatest bump to my visibility.
Social media is wonderful for connecting with readers, but for marketing, it’s not effective. Either people don’t see it, or you’re constantly plugging your works to people already in your circle.
Laura: Yes, that has changed this. Any insights into the world of Amazon algorithms or best-seller lists that you’re willing to share?
Krista: As soon as I’ve figured out the secret, I’ll be sure to share it!
Laura: Do you attend cons or other live events? If so, any recommendations as to events or strategies for promoting yourself while there? Also, I know you mentioned holding your own live events in an earlier segment, and I’m sure our readers would love to hear more about that, too.
Krista: I’ve hosted my own live events and have attended one small con. I’ve always had good success at these events. My strategy is simple: Make the table look pretty, and always appear engaged. The one con I attended, I looked around at the other tables and saw most of the vendors on their phones or wrapped up in their thoughts. They didn’t draw a lot of people do their tables. I try not to sit down, I don’t do a hard sell, but I make eye contact with people as they pass and always have free take-away swag people can take with them with ways to contact me or follow up with my books.
Laura: Wow, simple, but true – if you’re there to connect, and you’re in your own world, well, that kind of precludes connecting. Important observation, thank you for sharing. Do you employ giveaways, and if so, how would you describe the anatomy of a successful giveaway?
Krista: I occasionally try for a giveaway, but not often. There’s a danger of giving too many free things away – as I’ve learned the hard way. It’s a strategy I would look at again in future, though, to best learn how to go about it.
Laura: Excellent point. Any advice to authors struggling with marketing and promotion?
Krista: See what’s trending and figure out if there’s a way you can twist it to your own voice and audience. If something isn’t working, you’ll know pretty quickly, so change it up. And I would say focus on building your readers and forming connections over making quick sales. Loyal readers last longer.
Laura: Loyal readers last longer. That’s a terrific note to end this on – again, thank you so much for your time and wisdom!
This is the conclusion of the 5-part interview with Author Krista Walsh on Showing Up For Your Art. A big thank you to Krista for her patience with my many questions, and her willingness to share with other rising writers, the wisdom she’s learned along the way. If you missed earlier installments, you can find them as follows: week 1 is here, week 2 here, week 3 here, and week 4 here.
In the meantime, find Krista – and definitely check out here wonderful work:
]]>If you haven’t read Krista’s work yet, well, get to it – you won’t regret it. Now, let’s dive in!
Krista Walsh Bio:
Known for witty, vivid characters, Krista Walsh never has more fun than getting them into trouble and taking her time getting them out. When not writing, she can be found walking, reading, gaming, or watching a film – anything to get lost in a good story. She currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario.
Laura: So glad to have you here for part 4 of our series, where we focus on Finding Readers, and getting reviews. How do find readers, Krista?
Krista: I’m still learning new ways to do this! So far, my method has been to book ads for the first books of my series and offer an incentive to sign up for my mailing list. As the list grows, the hope is to connect with readers so they look forward to my next release.
I also love joining other authors with Facebook launch parties/other cross promotion ideas. They’re fun, they let me connect with new authors as well as new readers.
Laura: Great methods, that much I know to be true – and I love joining with other authors for Facebook launch parties and cross-promotion. So, now that you’ve mentioned some ways you draw readers, what about the even tougher part – how do you get readers to give you reviews?
Krista: I ask nicely ^.^
With Amazon changing its Terms of Service, it’s getting more difficult to get reviews. People who have legitimately read and enjoyed the book have been unable to leave one because we’re connected on Facebook or Twitter, which are my main methods of connecting with readers. I have a review group that I send ARCs to, and usually the turnaround is about 15-20%. Otherwise, I do send out the occasional reminder on my FB page and newsletter that reviews are the best gift an author can receive (the # of them, not the content. Content is for other readers)
Laura: Oh, the Amazon TOS is frustrating – I’ve experienced the same issue. Amazon doesn’t recognizing that one can have fans who had made friend requests, but instead views it as friends who were “doing one favors” or some such thing. So frustrating. But, moving on: Do you pay for review services such as Kirkus, etc?
Krista: To date, I have not.
Laura: Do you connect with review websites?
Krista: Again, I haven’t yet. It’s possibly an avenue I’ll explore in future, but I’m not sure how effective it is.
Laura: I know – I’ve heard mixed responses to them. Do you feel that building connections with fans helps increase readership, and the likelihood of getting them to leave a review?
Krista: In my experience, yes! My main reason for connecting with readers is gratitude that they took the time to read my work and for wanting to connect with me. It’s incredibly humbling. But I do find that once the connection is made, these readers become your loudest supports, including reviews.
Laura: I agree – there’s nothing quite like fans reaching out – it is beyond humbling – excellent word choice there. What have you found to be the best way to connect with fans/potential readers?
Krista: I love chatting with my readers on Facebook. I have my author page, which is finicky at best to reach people, but I also have my street team and my mailing list, which is full of great people.
Laura: What’s the best approach to winning a reader’s heart?
Krista: As an author, I’m still exploring this question! I make a point to answer all the emails I get and reply to every comment on social media. If a reader takes the time to contact me, I believe it’s only right that I take the same time to reply – I always love when authors I look up to do the same for me.
Laura: I agree – that’s so very important. What’s the fastest way to lose a reader/potential reader?
Krista: Spamming them. There’s nothing more obnoxious than a constant flood of “Buy my book” so I try my best to avoid that.
Laura: Agreed! Any advice to authors struggling with finding readers and getting reviews?
Krista: Look where the trends are in social media and follow the crowds. I haven’t made my way to Snapchat, yet, but that’s where a huge younger demographic is hanging out. Make yourself approachable and have something of value to offer. Once you have the readers, the reviews will come organically.
This is the end of part 4 of the 5-part interview with Author Krista Walsh on Showing Up For Your Art. Stay tuned for part five, our final portion, where Krista answers questions about “Marketing and promotion.” If you missed earlier installmens, you can find them as follows: week 1 is here, week 2 here, and week 3 here.
In the meantime, find Krista – and definitely check out here wonderful work:
]]>If you haven’t read Krista’s work yet, well, get to it – you won’t regret it. Now, let’s dive in!
Krista Walsh Bio:
Known for witty, vivid characters, Krista Walsh never has more fun than getting them into trouble and taking her time getting them out. When not writing, she can be found walking, reading, gaming, or watching a film – anything to get lost in a good story. She currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario.
Laura: What do you do to prepare for your book launch?
Krista: After I finish the necessary hair yanking, nervous eating, and unrelenting insomnia, I get down to business. First, I make sure the link is available on Amazon a few days prior to release to give time for ARC readers to leave their reviews. I put together teasers and do some blog posts that I do my best to make fun and engaging.
There are a few ad services that don’t require any or a lot of reviews for a new release, so I try to book them as close to the release date as possible to kick things off.
Laura: Where are you published?
Krista: My Meratis and Cadis trilogies are both wide across distributors (B&N, Kobo, Amazon, etc), while for now, The Invisible Entente is exclusive to Amazon.
I also have print version for all books through Createspace.
Laura: How do you determine your pricing?
Krista: On Createspace, I let myself be guided by the minimum amount I’m allowed to sell by, and then try to keep it consistent across a series.
For the ebooks, I look at other successful indie books in my genre, and also go by page count. So far, I’ve never priced a book above $4.99USD
Laura: How did you promote your first book, and how have you tweaked or changed that with more recent ones?
Krista: I didn’t do much with the first one. I didn’t know enough about it at the time. Now I try to get as many eyes on it as early as I possibly can and ask my street team to help spread the word. I also promote my backlist with each new release to raise visibility.
Laura: Do you hold a book-release party? Online? Live? Both?
Krista: I host FB parties for each release. I find they’re a great way to connect with readers, to offer something back, to meet new people and maybe make a few sales.
I also love in-person events, but with my release schedule as tight as it is, I don’t have one for each book. Instead, twice a year or so I’ll throw something together and try to make it as fun as my online events. A friend of mine is an incredible baker and she makes cakes. At the last one, I had colouring book pages another friend of mine made out of my book covers and had a few locally made creations to give away in a draw.
Laura: Wow! Those are some fun ideas! What do you feel creates a successful book-release?
Krista: Personally, if I gain a few new loyal readers with each release, I’m really happy, and for that, I find reader engagement plays a big role.
Laura: You mentioned making sure the link is working prior to release, so ARC readers can leave reviews. Tell me how you go about distributing ARCs, and getting reviews prior to release?
Krista: I created a review list out of my newsletter subscribers, and exclusive offer for my loyal readers. I send out a separate newsletter with Dropbox links to the ARC files, and then send a follow-up email when the link is live.
Laura: Do you also blog, guest blog, promote through websites, social media, etc, prior to launch?
Krista: I do blog, but more because I’m excited than that I find it works for marketing. The same is kind of true with social media. I don’t find many of my sales come out of what I tell people. But it does help to stir up interest, so I find it worthwhile.
Laura: That makes a lot of sense. What about promotional materials? What bling works best?
Krista: I go simple but fun. Some of my favourite swag items are my bookmarks and notebooks with the book covers on them. I also do postcards. With my latest series, I’m trying something new with the cards where I have character stats on the back. Extra details that aren’t mentioned in the books. Any reader who has all seven postcards at the end of the series can post a photo of them to social media and win a prize.
Laura: Oh, love that idea – how fun! What about book trailers, yes or no? If yes, what makes for a good one?
I’ve been experimenting with book trailers for my latest series with some success.
We have fun going through music to see what will fit best and choose the setting. Personally, I like short trailers that focus on the tone of the story with a general idea of what it’s about. If I get chills while watching a book trailer, I’m likely to grab the book.
Laura: Very cool, these are awesome! As we wind up this portion of the interview, any words of wisdom for someone looking to create a successful launch?
Krista: Get creative and try new things. Something no one has ever done before might be the edge that launches you into the Hot New Release category.
This is the end of part 3 of the 5-part interview with Author Krista Walsh on Showing Up For Your Art. Stay tuned for part four, where Krista answers questions about “Finding Readers, Getting Reviews.” If you missed week 1, you can read it here, and you can catch week 2 here.
In the meantime, find Krista – and definitely check out here wonderful work:
]]>If you haven’t read Krista’s work yet, well, get to it – you won’t regret it. Now, let’s dive in!
Krista Walsh Bio:
Known for witty, vivid characters, Krista Walsh never has more fun than getting them into trouble and taking her time getting them out. When not writing, she can be found walking, reading, gaming, or watching a film – anything to get lost in a good story. She currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario.
Laura: What’s your editing process like?
Krista: I go through about 15 passes from start to finish of the book, going through it myself about 12 times before publication. I takes notes while I work on the first draft so I know what needs to be changed during revisions, I do a couple of passes on the computer, then one draft I print out and do by hand (I would love to do more drafts by hand, but paper).
To keep things from being too overwhelming, I break the task up by chapter and take it one at a time, never going too far ahead so I don’t get lost in everything that needs changing.
Laura: Do you hire an editor?
Krista: I do! I’ve had some wonderful experience and some horrible ones, but I’ve found an editor now that I love, who works with me to bring out the best of the book.
Laura: Do you have alpha and beta readers providing feedback as you’re readying your book?
Krista: Yep! And I’m so grateful for their help. I use an alpha reader near the beginning of the editing process to help me at a deeper story level. If the plot doesn’t work, I’d rather know right away. I send to my betas after I send it to the editor to make sure I smoothed out all the rough edges and didn’t leave anything open or inconsistent.
Laura: What’s the biggest challenge of the editing phase?
Krista: Staying confident in my own voice. I always reach a point where I worry the changes I’m making in a draft are making things worse instead of better, and occasionally it’s enough to make me want to scrap the entire thing and go at it from scratch. So far, I haven’t gone through with the threat, but it can involve some tough love to push through and remind myself I know what I’m doing.
Laura: How do you develop your cover concept? Do you know what you want and convey it to the artist, leave it to them, or take another approach entirely?
Krista: Covers have never clicked with me. Many times I’ve been told to “look at the bestselling books in your genre and see what covers are trending”, which is great advice, and yet I have trouble translating that into ideas for my own covers. But I’m getting better!
For my most recent series, I chose a cover artist who knows the genre really well and knows what works. It gives me a chance to learn while knowing I’m in excellent hands.
Laura: That’s a good idea. How important would you say cover design is, in relation to book sales/success?
Krista: I want to say it’s really important. A catchy, stunning cover will draw the people scrolling down the Amazon page and checking out thumbnails, but at the same time I’ve seen a lot of books with poor covers hit bestseller rankings, so it’s difficult to pin down what the magic is.
Laura: Any advice on cover design that sells?
Krista: Personally, I love bright colours. Even if everything else is black, but there’s a splash of brightness, it’ll catch my eye.
Laura: Any advice as to what to avoid in cover art?
Krista: Too much colour – nothing turns me away more than a psychedelic trip after staring at the bright neon font against a kaleidoscope of an image. Choose a few images that apply to you genre/story, but less is more.
Laura: Thanks, Krista, for sharing some excellent advice!
This is the end of part 2 of the 5-part interview with Author Krista Walsh on Showing Up For Your Art. Stay tuned for part three, where Krista answers questions about “Launch!” If you missed week 1, you can read it here.
In the meantime, find Krista – and definitely check out here wonderful work:
]]>If you haven’t read Krista’s work yet, well, get to it – you won’t regret it. Now, let’s dive in!
Krista Walsh Bio:
Known for witty, vivid characters, Krista Walsh never has more fun than getting them into trouble and taking her time getting them out. When not writing, she can be found walking, reading, gaming, or watching a film – anything to get lost in a good story. She currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario.
Laura: How do you develop your ideas?
Krista: It’s a process, and one I’m still developing. I usually start with a character with a problem and branch out from there. Sometimes it’s stream of consciousness notes, sometimes an idea web, a “what if” chart, random scenes on cue cards…
Laura: Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Krista: I used to be a certified pantser. I’d have a few ideas for scenes I needed to hit throughout the story, but never dug much deeper than that. Lately, my process has been changing a lot. With each new book, it seems. The more craft books I read, the more it evolves, and now I’m a dedicated outliner.
Laura: Any tips or suggestions on plotting or pantsing?
Krista: Regardless of preferred method, I think a blueprint is essential. Not an outline, but the beats a story needs to hit to make sure the structure is sound. Pantsing is a lot of fun, and sometimes I still throw up my hands with short stories, but the end results are a lot stronger (and require fewer rewrites) when the beats are lined out.
Laura: Do you write daily or when inspiration hits?
Krista: When I’m drafting I write daily. The word count can change, but I make sure to get in at least 1k a day. I find it’s easier to keep going once I’ve started. As soon as I take a day off, it becomes more of a challenge to get back into the flow of a story.
That said, during non-drafting periods (edits, brainstorming sessions), I’m a lot more forgiving of myself in terms of actual word count. Then it’s all about daily goals (editing) and letting my imagination run wild (brainstorming)
Laura: How do you push through blocks, or even just the drudge-work aspects of writing?
Krista: You can find ways through those?!
Generally, I find music works. Usually while I’m drafting, I develop a soundtrack that goes with the story. If I get stuck, I throw on my headphones and go for a walk. On a good day come home with at least one bit of dialogue or one scene that I jot down on a cue card. Having the new idea usually excites me enough to get back into it.
During edits, I break my tasks down into bite-size pieces so it doesn’t seem so overwhelming.
Laura: Character or plot driven?
Krista: Character, for sure. For me, the plot is just how I get the character up the tree. The real fun is watching the squirm as they try to get back down.
Laura: Favorite type of hero? Villain? Anything else you LOVE to see in a work?
Krista: In hero or villain (especially in those grey characters that don’t fall on either side), I love intelligence. Sherlock Holmes, Tyrion Lannister, Hannibal Lecter — I’m a sucker for a character who knows how to outwit the people around them. They’re such a challenge to write, but one day I’ll get there!
Laura: Oh yes, I relate – me too!
Laura: Favorite genre to write for?
Krista: Fantasy! It didn’t start out that way. My first attempts at fiction were solidly literary. That was what I read, so that was what I wrote. Then magic crept in and I haven’t gone back.
Laura: Do you sprint, participate in NaNoWriMo, or use other motivation or supports?
Krista: NaNoWriMo is a fantastic event, and I jump on all of them throughout the year. It’s how I trained myself to get a first draft done in a month on a regular basis (which, again, helps if you have the blueprint in front of you so you know where you’re going). I also have some groups of Facebook that help keep me focused on days where my brain just isn’t having it.
Laura: Who or what helped you get to your first and/or last book?
Krista: My mentor getting started with Colin F. Barnes. He convinced me to walk the plank into indie publishing, and I’m grateful that he did. Lately, I wouldn’t be able to get through the process without fellow author Kate Sparkes, who’s great at talking me down from those ledges.
Laura: Kate’s awesome, we featured an interview with her here last month! I feel like you definitely need that kind of writing support, it makes all the difference. Ok – next question: Why do you write?
Krista: Because I need to. Because I can’t imagine a life where I didn’t. I have pictures of myself writing stories at six years old, writing novel-length fan-fiction stories at fourteen, my first novel written at eighteen (none of those will ever see the light of day). It’s my catharsis and passion, and I love it.
Laura: Love it – great answer. As a reader of your work, I can say it shows! You’re clearly one of those people who was born to write.
This is the end of part 1 of the 5-part interview with Author Krista Walsh on Showing Up For Your Art. Stay tuned for part two, where Krista answers questions about “Perfecting The Product.”
Find Krista:
]]>If you haven’t read Kate’s work yet, well, get to it – you won’t regret it. Let’s begin with a little bio:
Kate Sparkes lives on the magical island of Newfoundland, where she’s always checking wardrobes, locked doors, and interesting caves to see whether they lead to new worlds. She passes the rest of her time hanging out with her family, reading, walking her dogs, and writing fiction that lets her come very close to escaping reality.
She likes sending treats to newsletter subscribers, so be sure to sign up for bonus content, sneak peeks, advance review copies, news about future books, contests, and more! Visit www.katesparkes.com for details.
Kate Sparkes on Showing Up For Your Art – Part 5: Marketing and Promotion
Laura: So many writers loathe marketing and promotion. What’s your relationship to it?
Kate: “Loathe” seems like a strong word… so I’ll use it. Loathe. We hates it.
Laura: Is it easier to market when you love your story and/or characters?
Kate: I don’t know. I’ve never written a story where I didn’t love them. I write books I want to read and stories I’m passionate about, so I can’t say what it would be like to promote something I felt lukewarm about.
Laura: What are your marketing and promotion strategies?
Kate: Social media. Being myself, trying to entertain people, and occasionally putting a promo message out (a teaser, letting people know about a sale, things like that. Always trying to add value rather than repeating BUY MY BOOK every 2.5 hours via automation). BookBub ads for sales when I can get them. Two free stories to entice people to my newsletter.
I’d like to start using Facebook ads. That’s probably next on the list.
Laura: Do you use Amazon free or countdown promotions? If so, do you have a strategy for doing so? Have you experimented with timing?
Kate: I’m not in KDP Select, so I don’t have experience with those things.
Laura: Have you discovered solid tools for making a best-seller category list?
Kate: BookBub is a fantastic tool if you can get in. It’s expensive, but it’s also the only email book promotion newsletter I’ve found pays for itself. Even $5 ones have failed me. I’ve found that pre-orders really hurt my books. The two that I used them on have suffered in their rankings because they didn’t get the release day boost, so I’m reluctant to use them on future projects (unless I have a tight enough release schedule to have pre-order links in the back of the previous new release).
And choosing the right categories is key. Try to get into some that will give you visibility without huge sales numbers.
Laura: What are your favorite tools? (social media, PR service or support, bookbub, etc)
Kate: I’ve mentioned BookBub a few times, so there’s obviously that. They seem to be moving toward taking on more traditionally published books and mega-bestsellers (you’ll see “500 five star reviews!” and such in a lot of their emails now), but it’s still possible to get in with them if you keep trying and have a great book. I like social media, but that’s mostly because I like social media for itself, not because it sells books. It’s more a connection tool than a marketing tool for me.
I’d love to use a reputable PR service that specializes in my genres, but finding time to search for the right one is tough. I’m a control freak and refuse to waste my money on anyone who’s not going to get better results than I can get myself. But what a load off that would be!
Laura: Any insights into the world of Amazon algorithms or best-seller lists that you’re willing to share?
Kate: No. Amazon is a mystery to me. I like them. A lot. But I don’t have time to go poking about, strategizing, and trying to figure them out. I trust that their end goal is to put the best books in front of customers so that the customers will be satisfied, so I focus on writing the best, most compelling and entertaining books I can so Amazon has good reason to sell my books.
Laura: Do you attend cons or other live events? If so, any recommendations as to events or strategies for promoting yourself while there?
Kate: Not typically. I actually just did my first one recently. It was fun. Not great for promotion, but I felt like the panel I was on helped a few newer authors, and I got some experience out of it. I’m generally not really sure about what I’ll get out of cons and such (especially with my introverted nature that keeps me from chatting random strangers up and pitching my book), so I don’t invest time and money into going. I’m pretty isolated here, so it would be a big commitment.
Laura: Do you employ giveaways, and if so, how would you describe the anatomy of a successful giveaway?
Kate: I do giveaways at my release parties (ebooks and several signed paperbacks), and will occasionally do them elsewhere (though my blog or Instagram, for example). I think the key is to make it as compelling as you can to make people want to enter, and as shareable as possible to get more eyes on it (so using Rafflecopter and having people tweet or post to FB for entries is great). You really want to try to use giveaways to get new and potentially interested eyes on your work rather than just having the same people enter all the time. And if you can make the entries pay off long-term by having people join your mailing list in exchange for entering, so much the better!
Laura: Any advice to authors struggling with marketing and promotion?
Kate: Know that you’re not alone. It comes easy for some people, and not for others. Don’t stress yourself out trying to be someone you’re not just to sell books. Focus on creating good work, do what you can to get it in front of people who might love it, and try whatever you feel comfortable with. I’ve said no to a lot of perfectly good opportunities that I wasn’t comfortable with (mostly things that involve getting people on my newsletter list who don’t really want to be there or cross-promo with authors I hadn’t done a quality check on before they wanted me to recommend their books). This is your business, and it has your name on it. Have a vision of what you want it to be, and take steps to get there. Even if they’re baby steps.
It has been wonderful to have had this opportunity to interview Kate Sparkes – she’s a highly talented indie writer who has managed to make the dream of writing full-time a reality. I hope you’ve enjoyed this chance to take a peek inside her growing publishing world (someday empire?), and that you’ve discovered some insights that will illuminate your own path. If you haven’t read earlier parts of the series, you can find part 1 here, part 2 here, part 3 here, and part 4 here.
You can check out some of Kate’s work for free – learn how:
If you haven’t read Kate’s work yet, well, get to it – you won’t regret it. Let’s begin with a little bio:
Kate Sparkes lives on the magical island of Newfoundland, where she’s always checking wardrobes, locked doors, and interesting caves to see whether they lead to new worlds. She passes the rest of her time hanging out with her family, reading, walking her dogs, and writing fiction that lets her come very close to escaping reality.
She likes sending treats to newsletter subscribers, so be sure to sign up for bonus content, sneak peeks, advance review copies, news about future books, contests, and more! Visit www.katesparkes.com for details.
Kate Sparkes on Showing Up For Your Art – Part 4: Finding Readers, Getting Reviews
Laura: How do find readers?
Kate: I actually don’t know sometimes. I’m not good at getting out there and finding them. Most of my readers come to me through word of mouth or Amazon’s recommendations.
Laura: How do you get readers to give you reviews?
Kate: I ask for them. I put a pleasant, friendly call to action in the author’s note in the back of my books explaining how important and appreciated reviews are. And I’ll ask my reader group or newsletter members for reviews. Nothing pushy, ever. Just, “If you enjoyed _____ and haven’t had a chance to review yet, it would be wonderful to have your review out there to help other readers find the book. Here’s the link.” Other than that, it’s kind of a numbers game. Some readers will review no matter what. Others only will if they’re really mad about the book. And some just need a little reminder that it helps. Most people really don’t know how badly we need reviews.
Laura: Do you pay for review services such as Kirkus, etc?
Kate: Not so far.
Laura: Do you connect with review websites?
Kate: No. If my books are on review blogs, it’s because the reviewer found it on their own or they requested an ARC. I feel like I should, but again, it’s one of those things I’d do if I had more time, but just can’t now.
Laura: Do you feel that building connections with fans helps to increase readership, and the likelihood of getting them to leave a review?
Kate: Yes, absolutely. I know I’m far more willing to leave a review for an author who I’ve interacted with than one who doesn’t seem to care about me except as a review machine to help them sell more books. And I don’t know whether building connections helps find new readers, but I think it helps hang onto the ones you have. And fans are pretty awesome people to connect with.
Laura: What have you found to be the best way to connect with fans/potential readers?
Kate: Facebook is wonderful for regular connection and conversation, but I couldn’t make it work until I started a group instead of relying on my page. Facebook page posts are really suffering in terms of visibility, but members of my group seem to see a lot more posts. And it’s a more private, comfortable place, so they get to know me better there than on my professional page (not that I’m too concerned with being professional there…)
Laura: What’s the best approach to winning a reader’s heart?
Kate: I’m going to say that the books are the most important thing. If they fall in love with your stories and characters, that’s as good as them falling for the author. And I think authenticity is important. I don’t wish readers in my group a happy birthday because I’ve calculated that it will sell books, I do it because I want to make them smile. I don’t post encouraging memes or offer NaNoWriMo support because I think it will help Amazon rankings, but because I care about these people and want to make their lives better. And as long as that’s not taking time away from my writing, it works for everyone.
Laura: What’s the fastest way to lose a reader/potential reader?
Kate: Being a snarky (redacted) toward other authors is a big one for me. I really hold back on my criticisms of bad books these days because negativity is so off-putting for me as a reader that I don’t want to have that image myself as an author. “Promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate” is something I’m really trying to live by.
Laura: Any advice to authors struggling with finding readers and getting reviews?
Kate: Be yourself and see what happens. You never know what might spark a genuine connection with a reader.
Thanks so much, Kate! Stay tuned folks, part 5 will feature Kate’s thoughts on Marketing and Promotion. If you haven’t read earlier parts of the series, you can find part 1 here, part 2 here, part 3 here, and part 5 here. You can check out some of Kate’s work for free – check out how:
If you haven’t read Kate’s work yet, well, get to it – you won’t regret it. Let’s begin with a little bio:
Kate Sparkes lives on the magical island of Newfoundland, where she’s always checking wardrobes, locked doors, and interesting caves to see whether they lead to new worlds. She passes the rest of her time hanging out with her family, reading, walking her dogs, and writing fiction that lets her come very close to escaping reality.
She likes sending treats to newsletter subscribers, so be sure to sign up for bonus content, sneak peeks, advance review copies, news about future books, contests, and more! Visit www.katesparkes.com for details.
Kate Sparkes on Showing Up For Your Art – Part 3: Preparing for LAUNCH!
Laura: What do you do to prepare for your book launch?
Kate: The first priority is making sure the book is the best it can be. After that (and formatting, proofing the paperback, etc.), I’ll get it out to advance readers who are willing to leave an honest review on Amazon. I aim for at least 20, and hopefully get a dozen reviews somewhere near release day from them. Those readers come from my newsletter subscribers and my Facebook reader group, and I try to give them 2 weeks to read. I’ll plan a facebook launch party and invite everyone. I post teasers wherever I can (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook). I try to remember to post in other Facebook groups, but usually fail or end up being too shy to post.
My launch strategy is not the most sophisticated.
Laura: Where are you published? (amazon, B&N, createspace, smashwords, etc)
Kate: Amazon, plus Kobo, Nook, iBooks, and anywhere else Draft 2 Digital will distribute. I might try KDP Select when my pen name takes on a new and busy genre, but we’ll see how things look when the time comes. For now I’m pretty stubbornly non-exclusive.
Laura: How do you determine your pricing?
Kate: I almost never want to pay more than about $5 USD for an ebook, so I price my books at or below that. One of the reasons I decided to self-publish was because I didn’t want to pay what publishers charge for ebooks and would have felt weird asking people to spend that for mine. $4.99 is my regular price for my big books, with frequent $2.99 sales on Bound (and occasional 99 cent sales if I can get enough promo going). Short novels and novellas are $2.99.
Laura: How did you promote your first book, and how have you tweaked or changed that with more recent ones?
Kate: I started with posting on my blog long before I even thought about publishing. I’d participate in a weekly blog hop where we posted snippets of our books, and got a small following there. I had my first facebook launch party for Bound and was fortunate to have enough people buy and leave reviews that it gained Amazon visibility in a few sub-genres, and things picked up from there. It hit #1 in a few of those categories within a month, which was actually a little confusing for me, because I do stink at promotion. Getting a BookBub ad helped bump it up again a few months after.
Things haven’t changed much. That probably hurt me with my latest release, which was pretty quiet in spite of excellent reviews. But I’m really not built for promotion.
Laura: Do you hold a book-release party? Online? Live? Both?
Kate: Just on Facebook. There’s not enough local interest to make a live one worth the time or energy. But my Facebook parties are REALLY fun. Guest authors, tons of prizes, scavenger hunts, music. And I love hosting them, so that’s kind of my reward for getting the book out there.
Laura: What do you feel creates a successful book-release?
Kate: I guess technically “selling a lot of books” is successful. But in terms of a successful release event, I think people hanging around, being engaged in the party, and feeling like their presence was valued is pretty successful. I always want people to feel like they got value out of spending their time at my parties, even if they don’t walk away with a prize.
Ultimately the goal is to have people talking about, reading, and recommending the book. If people are doing that, your launch was successful.
Laura: Do you distribute ARCs, and get reviews prior to release? If so, where do you distribute them?
Kate: I distribute them via email to people who requested them (and who have reviewed one of my books previously or can show that they’re regular, reliable Amazon reviewers).
Laura: Do you blog, guest blog, promote through websites, social media, etc, prior to launch?
Kate: I don’t, other than posting on my own social media accounts. I’m happy to do something if someone approaches me, but my time is so limited that I don’t go out of my way to seek opportunities. I suppose it would be different if I were writing non-fiction. I’d be seeking out guest blogging opportunities and such for that.
Laura: What about promotional materials? What bling works best?
Kate: I don’t do much! I use Moo Cards to make cover cards (cover image on one side, tag line, title, and my name on the other) that I can sign and mail out instead of bookmarks. Those and my business cards with my covers on them are my only branded swag. But I’ll also give out store-bought bookmarks and other little goodies that relate to my books. For Into Elurien I sent out some monster erasers and decorative antique keys, and for Sworn I had gold feather and dragon charms that I put together myself. Signed books seem to be the biggest draw, though the itty-bitty toy mythical creatures that went into one prize pack for Sworn were a big hit. You never know.
I guess I don’t do a lot of branded stuff because I’ve never bought a book after I got “bling”, so it’s not at the top of my list for promotion. Anything I send out is usually as a thank-you or to make parties and giveaways fun.
Laura: Book trailers, yes or no? If yes, what makes for a good one?
Kate: Great for other people, not something I’ve ever seen a need for myself. Again, they’re cool, but I’ve never bought a book based on one. I’m not sure it would be worth the money for me to hire someone to do it. If I had the skills, maybe I would.
Laura: Words of wisdom for someone looking to create a successful launch?
Kate: Put out the best book you can, and package it as professionally as possible.
Be available. Run your own party, or at least be active in it. If it’s a live event, be out there mingling and willing to sign books. If it’s an online party, join in on discussions and answer questions. Be enthusiastic about this amazing thing you’ve brought into the world, and celebrate it! For non-party stuff… Aim for solid build-up and excitement. “I wrote a book, buy it” isn’t enough. Everybody and his uncle is publishing books now. You need to get people excited about YOURS. Respond to tweets instead of just automating them and walking away. Let readers know you value them. Share snippets and teasers. Do a reading. Show off how good it is.
And if the launch doesn’t lead to immediate bestsellerdom? Don’t get down on yourself. Maybe this one is a slow burner that will pick up momentum over time. Maybe you’ll hit it big on your next book and people will come back to this one then. Maybe you’re going to have a small but rabid fan base who will want everything you write. Don’t let anyone else define success for you.
Thanks so much, Kate!If you haven’t read earlier parts of the series, you can find part 1 here, part 2 here, part 4 here, and part 5 here. You can check out some of Kate’s work for free – check out how:
Glad to see you here today. Are you ready to take a leaping bound toward unleashing your writing superpowers? I sure hope so, because today you’re going to learn a routine called The Procrastination Punch-Down, and as you probably guessed, it’s serious business!
Procrastination is the bugaboo of many writers, even the greats – and keep in mind that even the greats are usually awful in first draft, with the exception of the few inspired lines we are all gifted by the Muse from time to time (follow the Way of the Writer long enough, and you’ll come to understand that most great writing happens after the first draft). In fact, one’s ability to overcome procrastination is considered by many to be a key to discerning who will succeed as a writer, and who will remain a dreamer of writing.
The Warm-Up
We don’t just dive into the Punch-down, we warm up first. How do you do that? You ask yourself a question: Why do I procrastinate?
Many answers may pop into your mind, things like “I’m waiting for inspiration(that darned Muse! Where is she?),”” or “I’m waiting to have the perfect chunk of time.” It may be that you write better on stormy days (did you know a startling number of writers find themselves more inspired to write in inclement weather?), or when the house is clean (or empty). Maybe you just need to “feel it.”
Well guess what, sweetums? You only think that’s why you procrastinate. Oh sure, I know it looks like that from where you stand, but the truth is far, far more frightening! Hang onto your seat, this is going to throw you for a loop, my friend.
The excuses you give, c’mon, you know deep down that they’re not true, you sense it in your center, even as you speak the words, but you can’t really explain it beyond that – and it isn’t your fault. See, what’s happened here is that you’ve fallen prey to the Procrastination Goblin! He is a hungry little monster, just aching to feed off your fear, self-doubt, and
Procrastination goblin, you ask? Yes, the procrastination goblin – and he’s a hungry little monster, just aching to feed off your unspent creative juice.
He’s full of tricks, too, that goblin! He compels you to think of all the things you ‘should’ be doing other than your creativity, while also triggering your fear, self-doubt, and perfectionism.
Yes, I said perfectionism there, too. Does that sound like one thing that isn’t like the others?
Many think perfectionism is a good thing, but far, far too often, it can lead to someone freezing in their steps, waiting for the right moment and circumstance – something that may well never come. And that Procrastination Goblin? He loves perfectionism, because he knows it will deadlock you for long periods of time, so he can feed to his heart’s content.
Now that you know procrastination isn’t about you, but the result of an evil Procrastination Goblin whose compelled you to put off until some ephemeral later what you know in your heart you are called to do today, solely so he can feed off of your unspent creative energy, it’s time to take him down.
Time For the Punch-Down
Now that you know the truth, it’s time to give that greedy parasite the boot! You’ll find it’s much easier to do, now that you know the truth. Here’s what you need to do:
STEP ONE: Keep your ears open for the words on your lips (or inside your head) that involve putting your art off until later. Unless there’s a reason involving mortal danger, natural or human-made disaster, or utter and total chaos and destruction, anything that derails you from doing your art now, should be considered highly suspect – for you are a creator, creating is what you do. You are not a “waiting until-er”,- but a creator. Waiters wait, creators create. When you forget you’re a creator, and turn into a waiter, the Procrastination Goblin is almost definitively in play!
STEP TWO: Look in the mirror, really meet your eyes – you need to see the you beyond the film of the Procrastination Goblin’s spell. Hold eye-contact with your mirror self, and say aloud three times, “Waiters wait, creators create – I’m a creator!” Make sure to say it louder each time – and really feel it, down in your bones. If you now feel moved to action, skip to step four.
STEP THREE: Once you’ve had some results giving the Procrastination Goblin the boot, you probably won’t need to go beyond Step Two, however, when you’re first starting out, even though Step Two may leave you fired up, self-doubt may still linger – this is the thicker, foundational level of the Procrastination Goblin’s spell, his insurance, if you will, that even if you overcome the more superficial excuses related to things such as limited time, feeling uninspired, and chores that need doing, your doubt as to the value of time spent in creating will win the day (for him!). AND – the value of his efforts are doubled-down, if you have bought into the lie of perfectionism.
SO – now you need to bring out the weapon of Goblin Destruction: It’s time to shout (or write – with feeling!), “First drafts are NEVER perfect, it’s all about progress, not perfection – and I won’t let you stop my progress! Goblin, be gone!” It’s perfectly acceptable to punch your fist in the air at this point (make sure no one – and no thing – is standing within reach!).
STEP FOUR: Congratulations, you’ve punched down the Procrastination Goblin – time to sit down and write, to make your art! (NOTE: If you feel called to celebrate, rather than work, you may need to go back and repeat steps two and three, as it sounds like the Procrastination Goblin still has you under his spell, as were he truly gone, you’d be ready to dive into creation).
CAVEAT
Never forget, while you may have beaten down the Procrastination Goblin today, he will be back to try again another day – stay alert! Every time he shows up, punch him down as soon as you’re aware of his presence, you cannot allow him to dig in and take root, he’ll be all the more difficult to root out. You’ve got this, Creator! Remember, you’re more powerful than some Goblin who needs to feed off your creative juices – were that not so, he wouldn’t come after you in the first place. You are in control, you just need to remember that, and show the Procrastination Goblin – and yourself – whose boss.
For today: Do the Workout, Superhero! And do it daily, until you’ve given the Procrastination Goblin the boot – and any time he dares to rear his head again? Punch-down time again!
Thank you for this bit of your time and mind-space.
Create an amazing day for yourself!
Laura
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