Book number one was a bit defiant and ugly. Professional book one, I should clarify. By this point, I had six finished manuscripts behind me. I had an agent. I was nominated for a national unpublished award. It was 2009, and I was on the cusp of a ten-year journey to busting past the gatekeepers […]
So. Much. Buzz As the Duke of Sussex's memoir, Spare, hits #1 on the NY Times Bestseller list, there is an amusing divide on both sides of the pond. UK readers are crazy offended that Prince Harry had a ghostwriter. US readers shrug and don't care. On which side of the pop culture divide to […]
No other topic will be as discussed in 2023 publishing as AI. If you’re not yet paying attention, you should be. Let’s break down the perks and concerns of artificial intelligence as it pertains to self-publishing. As with everything in this industry, I encourage you to investigate the subject and reach personal conclusions. My aim […]
Kindle Vella is a way for me to keep a promise I made to myself. More about that in a bit... Kindle Vella is Amazon's answer to the serialized stories that have been populating internet sites, like Wattpad, for years. Amazon is banking on the shifting dynamics in how customers consume video content - fast, short, […]
How many of you have dreamed about having an audiobook version of your novel or non-fiction book, but the task seemed impossible? How many of you want to be the definitive voice of your brand? How many of you can afford the exorbitant prices and excessive time and energy to find narrators and producers, then […]
Originally published Writers in the Storm, July 1, 2022 I’m often asked, “Who pays for ghostwriting?” An all-encompassing response escapes me. My clients are people with the desire and resources to chase dreams, but they lack essential components to get them to the finish line. For celebrities, entrepreneurs, and the elderly, that component is time. […]
Writers, it’s time for us to talk money. Real talk. Actually, how much you’re not making. Writers are notoriously emotional creatures who, especially at the beginning of the publishing journey, make decisions based on gatekeepers: agents, legacy house acquiring editors, contest judges, peer critiques, writing coaches, mentors, creative writing professors. These individuals, in varying degrees, […]
There is a moment I search for every holiday season that brings me to the fullness of all I am supposed to feel this time of year. Some years, it comes in a crowded pew, staring up at the gigantic painted crucifix above the altar and laughing inwardly at the memory of my son as […]
Gone are the days when you must go out into the scary world of publishing alone to find proofreaders, formatters, cover artists, and people to help you upload and strategize about distribution choices. Gone are the days when you worry that your book voice won't match the voice of other written content you put out […]
As writers and consumers of the written word, we must live with the idea of omissions. The process of getting a story on the page is one of inherent loss. Some of you know that I lost my father this past June. I am so thankful for the times I listened, really listened to his life stories, […]
