Writers’ Podcasts for March Offer Action, Advice, and Affirmation

Writers in the Sky Guests Discuss New Books That Provide Listeners with the Opportunity to Get Lost in a Fictional World and How to Excel in the Real World

Nashville, TN, February 25, 2010—The team members at Writers in the Sky are pleased to share a series of interviews this month that confront the difficult issue of death from several perspectives and also to end the month with an interview that focuses on how to bring your own work to life. The month begins with an author who is making her second visit to the podcast and who will be sharing details about her new thriller. March continues with a holistic guide for those who are confronting the reality of death. The following week features an author who was taught an entirely new theology while coping with the death of his spouse. The month ends when the podcast welcomes an expert in the book business to share how to make our work appealing to publishers.

On March 5, Author Jennifer Chase will be returning to the WITS podcast for a second time to discuss her new novel Dead Game. Jennifer has an educational background in forensics and criminal psychology, which she brings to her writing. Emily Stone and her partner, Rick Lopez, try to track down a serial killer who has been terrorizing followers of a certain online networking group, but they end up becoming targets themselves. Chase will be discussing why she decided to focus on the online community as her chosen environment, what she learned about the writing and marketing process that she was able to apply the second-time around, and what the future holds for Emily Stone. Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Dead Game.

Marilyn Geary and Jacqueline Jannsen sit down with Sarah Moore on March 12 to discuss their book LeaveLight: A Motivational Guide to Holistic End-of-Life Planning. LeaveLight is designed for all those adults who are going to die, whether or not they are facing imminent death. LeaveLight challenges the cultural norm that death is ignored until it is just about to happen. LeaveLight aims to make planning for one's death a natural part of life, to be done early and revisited at least yearly.While providing all of the necessary checklists and forms, LeaveLight also offers readers the opportunity to reflect and focus on their own spirituality. The authors will be sharing how their own backgrounds led them to write this book, how they see its content being used, and why death is such a difficult subject to address in our culture. You may purchase LeaveLight by visiting the Amazon Web site.

The podcast series continues on March 19, when WITS author’s assistant Sarah Moore will be joined by author Lewis Tagliaferre to discuss his book Voices of Sedona. Tagliaferre lost his wife to cancer several years ago and went searching for a way to cope with his grief. During a business trip to Sedona, the spirit of Sedona Schnebly introduced herself and, over the course of subsequent visits, put him in touch with other spiritual teachers. Through these channeled teaching episodes, Tagliaferre learned the five universal principles that now comprise the philosophy known as Theofatalism. During the conversation, Tagliaferre will be discussing how these teaching sessions occurred, what we all can learn from Theofatalism, and how he continues to receive messages from Sedona. Please visit the Amazon Web site to purchase Voices of Sedona.

On March 26, our last podcast of the month will feature bestselling author, editor, and publishing consultant Stephanie Gunning. Stephanie has developed a coaching program to help authors land a book deal, and she draws on her experience as a senior acquisitions editor at Bantam-Doubleday-Dell and editor at HarperCollins Publishers to create her winning ideas. During her interview, Ms. Gunning will be discussing what makes a book concept attractive to an editor, how to write an effective book proposal, and what is involved in book contracts and advances. To learn more Stephanie Gunning and the services she offers, please visit her Web site.

“I believe that the series of podcasts offered by Writers in the Sky this month offer many opportunities for personal reflection,” shares Yvonne Perry, owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services, which produces the podcast. “From confronting our innermost feelings about the taboo subject of dying and death to considering where we stand in our own journeys with the written word, WITS podcasts provide plenty of material for consideration this month.”

About Writers in the Sky: Writers in the Sky blog, podcast, and newsletter is a three-fold production filled with information about writing, publishing, and book publicity created by Yvonne Perry as part of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services.

Listening to Writers in the Sky Podcast on a computer is easy. Go to http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com/. On the right sidebar there is a list of archived shows. Click on the interview you would like to hear and it will open a post that has a link to the audio file.

Transform your Loss: An Anthology of Strength and Hope

Today WITS blog welcomes Ligia Houben as she discusses her new book Transform Your Loss.

Ligia Houben is a motivational speaker and educator in the area of life transitions, and known for her caring and enthusiastic personality. Ligia has a passion for life and believes all of us are able to fulfill our purpose if we can only change our attitude and beliefs. Her work has been centered in the area of grief and loss, expanding into meaning and growth. Ligia has delivered her message from corporations to hospitals. She works with the bereaved, the person who needs to face a new stage in life, children of aging parents, or people searching for more meaning in their lives. She consults with individuals and corporations on life transitions and spirituality with the purpose of providing tools to transform losses and challenges.

Ligia is the author of the self-help book in Spanish Transforma tu perdida. Una antologia de fortaleza y esperanza. The English version, Transform your Loss. An Anthology of Strength and Hope, will be available soon. This book contains "The Eleven Principles of Transformation™" which is a system that involves the emotional, spiritual, and cognitive aspects of the person as they face a transition or loss. Ligia created this system of transformation to help people transform their losses and change their lives.

A self-help book that deals with life transitions. "In this wonderful piece Ligia M. Houben writes to all of us in a very personal and direct manner from her own heart and experience. Although the book describes many personal stories of loss and transformation, it also serves as a tool box of valuable resources to help us deal with grief and loss. The author elaborates the multiple dimensions of loss, and the process to deal with grief".--Rev. Dale Young

Today's Podcast Features the Threat of Charismatic Leaders

Author Barbara Fifield joins our podcast today to discuss her new release Lucifer Rising.  This is Ms. Fifield's second novel, and she also has published extensively in newspapers and literary journals.  In Lucifer Rising, Fifield tells the story of reporter Elsa Eldridge, a recently widowed woman who has been given the task of writing about local cult leader Tyrell.  However, Elsa finds herself under the sway of this charismatic man and fears that her own life may be at risk.

During the interview, Barbara Fifield will discuss why she decided to write a book that focuses on the controversial topic of religious cults, how she integrated her personal background into the story, and what message she hopes her readers will take away from Lucifer Rising.
  
Click here to listen to the entire interview

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Lucifer Rising.

The Tradeoff: Giving vs. Selling

Of all the great tools for helping authors promote their books online, I would say social networking is number one for me. I’m referring to sites like Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Ning, Yahoo groups, and such online places where people share friendship and information.

I hate selling anything but I love sharing what I know and I enjoy interacting with people. I’m not sure that makes me an expert on any particular topic, but it does bring great response to whatever I’m promoting. After all, the only reason I’m promoting a book or offering author publicity service is because I have something valuable to share but I can’t afford to give away my time.

I’m always researching and learning, asking questions, and gathering information. I create books and e-books as a way of dispersing some of the knowledge I have acquired. For example, my e-book Book Marketing in the Digital Age Online Promotion Made Easy is a compilation of the material I crammed into an hour-long lecture I gave at Nashville Writers Meetup Group and everything I presented in a three-hour intensive workshop at the Tennessee Writers Alliance 3rd Annual Conference; plus it includes the research I've done on SEO and social marketing.

I do give away a lot of information to help people see that I have some idea of what I’m talking about. If an author tries my free e-book on freelance writing and has success with it, I figure they will come back for more. Perhaps they will need help with their writing or editing needs.

It’s a win-win for both of us, and that creates a nice balance—a zen sort of thing.

What is Article Marketing?

There are many online article directories where people look for material they can use in their newsletters and on their blogs and Web sites. They may as well find yours!

When people pick up your article, they are required to post the resource box along with it when they use it on their site or in their newsletter. This increases your exposure to more people than you would meet in a lifetime and it gives you links back to your blog or Web site. Naturally, a good resource box with a link is going to be important so write one that entices people to visit your blog or Web site where you can continue to network with them.

Your resource box needs to have your contact information and give your name, Web site or blog URL, and may give a call to take action (such as “call xxx or go to xxx for more info”). Some type of freebie can be presented to entice the reader to click and visit your blog or Web site. Here is an example of one I have used:

Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services (WITS). She and her team of ghostwriters are ready to assist you with writing and editing for books, e-books, Web text, business documents, résumés, bios, articles, and media releases. For more information about writing, networking, publishing, and book promotion, or to sign up for free email delivery of WITS newsletter, please visit http://www.writersinthesky.com/ New subscribers receive a free eBook Tips for Freelance Writing.

Friday's Podcast Will Focus on the Threat of a Charismatic Leader

We hope you will make plans to tune into the Writers in the Sky podcast this Friday when our guest will be writer Barbara Fifield. Barbara will be discussing her new release, Lucifer Rising, with WITS author's assistant Sarah Moore.

In Lucifer Rising, reporter Elsa Eldridge is assigned a story on a local cult leader named Tyrell. However, she did not suspect that she would soon fall under the spell of this charismatic man. She begins a relationship with Tyrell and once she realizes how dangerous he truly is, it may be too late. Throughout the book, Fifield examines the draw of controversial religious figures and the suspectibility that women in particular have to such men while integrating several well-researched aspects of the supernatural.

Barbara Fifield brings extensive writing experience to Lucifer Rising, including a previously published novel and many years as a journalist.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Lucifer Rising.

Title of Document: Book Review
Book Title: Lucifer Rising
Author: Barbara Fifield
ISBN Number: 978-1-4327-4478-6
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target Market: fiction; psychological thriller
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 83

Reviewed by: Sarah Moore

Here are several elements that perhaps you never expect to find contributing to the evolution of a single story—dance lessons, Reiki healing, drug-dependent freeloaders, Italian food and, to top it all off, the rebirth of Satan into an earthly form. However, all of the factors are essential pieces of the plotline in the new release Lucifer Rising by Barbara Fifield. This short novel, which totals only eighty-three pages of text, wastes no time in taking its readers into a world of psychological depravity and dangerous charisma. If you are ready to invest your energy into a book that may leave you with a lingering feeling of discomfort and more questions left unanswered than resolved, then Lucifer Rising is for you, as it is these very elements that make this second novel by Barbara Fifield such a powerful piece.

Lucifer Rising focuses on the power wielded by Tyrell, a local religious leader who uses his magnetic personality to bring the most vulnerable members of society under his spell. He comes to the rescue of those suffering from drug addiction, abusive relationships, and loneliness with promises of healing and security. A local reporter, Elsa Eldridge, is given the task of uncovering what makes Tyrell such a popular figure and, instead of remaining an objective journalist preparing a story, finds herself in a relationship with the mysterious figure. The more time that Elsa spends with Tyrell, the more she realizes that his charm is not actually anchored in a sense of philanthropy, but a much more sinister motive.

Fifield’s extensive writing background, which includes a previous novel and published works in newspapers and literary journals, is obvious throughout the content of Lucifer Rising. She creates characters that come to life with her carefully selected language and finds a way to have her readers (at least this reader!) committed to discovering the outcome of the story within the first few pages. In Elsa, we find a woman to whom most of us can relate in some way. She is struggling through personal loss, anxious to make a name for herself in her profession, and approaches new situations with a healthy skepticism. I certainly can relate to these characteristics. Therefore, when Elsa falls under the spell of a cult leader whose intentions are endlessly more nefarious than one initially realizes, it is not impossible that readers may be able to imagine themselves in such a terrifying yet enthralling relationship.

In Lucifer Rising, Barbara Fifield has created a novel that dances around many issues surrounding religion and absolute good and evil without offering clear conclusions. Instead, her writing leaves the audience the opportunity to sit with their own emotions concerning the characters and the relationships that develop. In more than one instance, I found myself questioning how I would have reacted when confronted with the emotional and physical challenges put before Elsa Eldridge when she simply wanted to write a newspaper article. I like to think that I would have maintained more distance from the dangerous figure of Tyrell, who is revealed to be the embodiment of evil, but so goes the inexplicable power of charismatic leaders. Whether or not you believe Satan actually exists, I offer that the cult of personality in our world is undeniable and on full display in Lucifer Rising.

Reminder of Spirit Authors Grand Opening Webinar Week

The final countdown is on for the big Spirit Authors Grand Opening Webinar Week. Just three days to go! At last count, we have just about 200 authors or authors-in-the-making who have signed up for the calls, and more are signing up every hour. Imagine the cyber-buzz we're going to feel with all those creative and spirit-based people in one place. I'm truly excited and I so pleased to be a part of it.

If you are a mind-body-spirit author, or have a dream of being one some day, or even if you just love to blog or keep a personal journal, and you haven't yet checked out the Spirit Authors Grand Opening, make sure you do so. From Monday February 22 through Friday February 26, my good friend Lynn Serafinn will be hosting a VIP panel of 18 top mind-body-spirit publishing professionals, for five days of FREE webcasts about writing, publishing, promotion and beyond... and I'm one of them!

If you've ever wondered how to keep your spiritual focus while becoming an Amazon bestseller, or how to turn a book idea into a whole career, you'll want to check out this grand opening. You can read about the event, the VIP guests, and sign up to attend for FREE at http://ow.ly/13c8t.  You can listen either via telephone or via live webcast online.

AND.. Lynn just told me there are going to be some very special bonuses on offer to everyone who takes the new Spirit Authors site for a $1 "Test Drive" during the launch. I've been sworn to secrecy on what the bonuses are (sorry), but I can tell you that they are NOT just your run-of-the-mill offers, and the bonuses alone can really help you achieve your goal of becoming a self-published author, and build a business from your publishing success.

If you cannot make the live calls on that day, be sure to register anyway, because you can download the audio recording later.

See you next week!

Publishing Pros Share Their Wisdom

Spirit Authors Grand Opening Week is Coming! 18 Leading Mind-Body-Spirit Publishing Professionals share their wisdom Feb 22nd - Feb 26th Price: FREE! more information and free registration

Dr. Wilson Awasu Joins Podcast Today

Dr. Wilson Awasu joins WITS author's assistant Sarah Moore today to discuss his new release Kim's Confessions. In this book, which reads both as a dramatic novel and a spiritual guidebook, the title character undergoes an awakening about her personal theology when her church hosts a weekend revival. Kim always assumed she had her spiritual life all figured out, and pointed to her role as the church organist and her family's long association with the church as evidence of her faith. When her beliefs are challenged, she is first defensive and then changed.

During the interview. Dr. Awasu will be discussing how his professional background affected his decision to write this novel, why we must stress universal love and acceptance, and what message he hopes readers will take away from reading Kim's Confessions.

Click here to listen... to the interview.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Kim's Confessions.

Writing As a Marketing Tool

Have you ever thought about how much writing you do each day? It may be a typed email or a grocery list written in pencil, but either way writing is a vital part of our everyday lives.

Being a free-lance writer myself, I write or type thousands of words each day. A lot of what I write is used for promoting my own business. In fact, almost one-third of my working hours are spent communicating in the text boxes of social networking circles, writing articles, press releases, blog posts, tweets, interview scripts, and marketing text or updating the text on my Web site. The rest of those hours are spent writing for clients or editing/proofreading their work before it is viewed by the public. Not only is marketing a big part of running a business, so is writing.

Good writing can boost your credibility in the marketplace and with your current clients. Writing can be used as a marketing tool as it represents you and your company to the world. That’s why it’s important for your writing to be concise, clear, and effective. 1.) Concise, because people are busy and most won’t take the time to read a long blog post or email. 2.) Clear, because no one wants to reread a sentence several times while trying to figure out what you are saying; if people are confused about what you are offering, they will probably delete your email or move on to another Web site for the information they need. 3.) Effective, because you want people to take action such a buy your product or hire you to provide them with a needed service.

The ability to communicate verbally is paramount in the business world, but many intelligent people do not realize that having good written communication is just as important. Do you rush to fire off an email without proofreading what you wrote? Your reputation is on the line every time you hit the send key even if you are forwarding a cartoon! Are you communicating clearly, concisely, and effectively? A typo in a tweet, poor grammar in an email, or glaring mistakes in Web copy can completely defeat your marketing effort. No one is perfect, but a thorough proofread only takes a extra couple of minutes. I have caught many an embarrassing error by simply rereading an email before sending it. That is one reason I don’t have Outlook send my emails immediately. I have set an 8-minute delay on send/receive, which means that if I remember one more thing I needed to say to the recipient, I can go back and edit the email even after I hit the send button. I can’t tell you how many times that has saved me from having to send a second email to correct misinformation or add clarity to the first one.

I hope these tips help you get your message across concisely, clearly, and effectively. If you need help with writing or editing, please call (615) 415-9861. Get more information about my writing services at http://writersinthesky.com/writing-services.html

Free Audio: The Insiders' Guide to Getting a Book Deal

If you missed my call, “The Insiders Guide to Getting a Book Deal,” with Stephanie Gunning (a.k.a @AudaciousEditor on Twitter) about how to get a book deal, you can listen to the recorded call now.

Stephanie Gunning is a bestselling author, editor, and publishing consultant with over 25 years of experience in the book business. Her Get a Book Deal Coaching Program is a powerful proven system that she strategically developed from her background as a senior acquisitions editor at Bantam-Doubleday-Dell and editor at HarperCollins Publishers, and her subsequent career helping create, place, and market books for dozens of non-fiction writers, including New York Times and national bestselling authors Gregg Braden, Arielle Ford, Ruby Payne, and Hale Dwoskin, among others.

During our call, Stephanie shared some valuable information and answered questions about the following:

• What makes an author or a book concept attractive to a publisher?
• The way publishers run their numbers when deciding how much to pay an author for a book project they want to acquire
• Book advances and book contract
• Does it help to have an agent? If so, how do you find the right one?
• How does a publishing consultant differ from an agent?
• Why you need to write a book proposal
• Why you should never pay literary representatives money to read for you

She also mentioned the association of author’s representatives, a database where you can search for a literary agent by genre of literature. That Web site is http://www.aaronline.org/Find. Only qualified agents are listed.

Want to Get a Book Deal in 2010? Stephanie will work one-on-one privately to coach you to help create your book proposal. 

7 Quick & Easy Steps to Write AND Sell Your First Book Proposal

Writing a book sounds exciting and profitable, right?

You've been to workshops and lectures where the seminar leaders are obviously cashing in on their books and other information products at the back of the room, and maybe you've thought, "WOW! I'm just as smart as THAT guy (or gal) and I'm an expert in my own industry. I think I'll write my own book!"

Well, you're right! You could write a book and you could profit from it if you can persuade a publisher to buy it (or publish it yourself). That's the good news.

The bad news is that you can't just walk in off the street and expect the major publishing companies to want to invest their time, energy, and resources in your book. You need an excellent, point-by-point book proposal to hand them, which addresses their concerns and speaks to them in terms they understand.

"The trouble is that most first-time writers haven't a clue of what needs to go in a proposal or why a publisher asks to see the elements in a standard proposal... How Do You Analyze YOUR TARGET MARKET, for example? COMPARABLE BOOKS! What's that about?

I have no doubt that you feel compelled to write a book. And that you have something to say that is special, entertaining, and could perhaps help to make the world a better place. (Otherwise you wouldn't even be reading this page.) Maybe you've even been dreaming about doing your book for years.
Publishing companies want to publish GOOD BOOKS. That's true. But they ONLY invest in authors today who understand the business of MARKETING.

Before you try to impress publishers with your ideas... You need to design a clever, well thought out PLAN to put your book in the hands of readers. This step by step system,

7 Quick & Easy Steps to Write AND Sell Your First Book Proposal, will help you achieve success!

Why My E-book Is Not Listed on Amazon

Recently someone asked why my e-book, Online Promotion Made Easy, Book Marketing in the Digital Age, isn't it available on Amazon.com. She was concerned that I was undermining my sales potential and credibility regarding online book promotion. “Don’t most people look there for books when purchasing online?” she asked.

Yes, they do look there for books as well as e-books, yet they do nothing to promote the book for the author. Even if a book is listed on Amazon, people don't necessarily find it randomly. More than likely they have seen the book promoted elsewhere and they assume it is in the Amazon store. Most people do not know that Amazon buys books at a 55% discount in order to resale it to their customers for 30% off retail (the number of sales is going to be higher where the purchase price is lower). A great deal for the reader, but a raw deal for the author/publisher. The profit margin is so small color-printed books that by the time Amazon takes more than half and the publisher takes a cut, the author might not break even. Throw in an affiliate program, and the author could actually be in the hole!

With printed books, it is much easier to let Amazon handle the distribution. To distribute printed books on my own, I would need to warehouse a supply, have envelopes or boxes on hand, and then acquire postage or make a trip to the post office—none of which is required for an e-book. For that reason, I have all four of my print books listed on Amazon. I decided to become my own publisher for my latest book, The Sid Series ~ Collection of Holistic Stories for Children. I set a short discount of 30 percent for that book, which means Amazon has to list my book at full retail price in order to make their profit. That way, they are selling it for the same price as it lists on my Web site. Even and fair.

Most e-books are an electronic version of a print book. Mine is not. Book Marketing in the Digital Age is available only in PDF. People may purchase it on my blog (http://onlinepromotionmadeeasy.blogspot.com/) for $25 using a credit card via PayPal just as easily as they can on Amazon. It can be loaded to an electronic reading device that accepts PDFs.

My networking friend, Carolyn Howard-Johnson, reports that Amazon is now setting limits on the price for the Kindle digital version of books listed on their site. E-books must be listed between $2.99 and $9.99 and that price must be at least 20% lower than the same book in its print edition. If I offered my e-book on Amazon, I would lose 75% of the price it is now easily bringing on my blog
Plus, the author loses some rights when listing an e-book on Amazon. The book mega-giant reserves the right to turn the digital book into an audio book and allow Kindle to use it on future generations of the Kindle reader. Nothing for the author in that deal!

I refuse to drive sales away from my Web site to Amazon’s so they can sell it for less money and net more profit than the author who spent time and money to write, publish, and promote the book. Amazon is the author’s best friend and worst enemy.

Theologist and Missiologist Joins Podcast This Week

Please plan to tune into our podcast this Friday when author's assistant Sarah Moore will sit down for a conversation with Dr. Wilson Awasu. The two will be discussing Dr. Awasu's new book, Kim's Confessions.

In this book, Dr. Awasu details a spiritual awakening that occurs to his title character when she reluctantly attends a weekend revival at her church. Kim believes that she has her religion all figured out due to her position of leadership in the congregation and her family's long association with the church. However, she comes to discover that she has been missing out on the elements of universal love and acceptance that are key to faith.

Dr. Awasu uses Biblical references and honest conversations between characters to develop the message that he hopes to share through Kim's Confessions, using his background as a renowned missiologist, researcher of spiritism and spiritual formations, and a missionary training consultant

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Kim's Confessions.

Book Title: Kim’s Confessions
Author: Wilson Awasu
ISBN Number: 978-1-4327-4463-2
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target: religion; Christianity; personal reflection
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 136

Book Review by: Sarah Moore

Have you ever been in the middle of a large group and wondered what the people around you were thinking? Maybe you were at a conference for work and tried to decide how many others were hoping that it was almost time for a lunch break. Perhaps you were attending a debate between two candidates running for the same local office and you hoped to catch the eyes of your neighbors to see if you get a read on their opinion concerning each politician. In his new release, Kim’s Confessions, author Wilson Awasu offers his readers this very opportunity—to get inside the mind of one woman who is witnessing the same event as many others. When his title character reluctantly attends a seminar at her church that causes her to question the depth of her faith, an insightful inner dialogue is the resulting product.

When we meet Kim, she is operating under the belief that her faith is beyond reproach. She is a ninth-generation Presbyterian and she is the choir director at the church that her family helped to found. She believes that these credentials speak for themselves and she uses these labels as an excuse not to think about her faith and personally test its strength. When a pastor is welcomed into her church to share a series called “Radical Growth,” Kim instinctively puts up her guard and warns her friends not to fall for the brainwashing schemes of this stranger. We soon learn, as does Kim, that her defensive posturing is simply a cover to mask her own doubts and insecurities.

Awasu creates in Kim a woman to whom many readers will be able to relate. She is accomplished in many ways and carries herself with confidence, but still holds onto a nagging sense of self-doubt that she does not want others to see. Whether connected to our faith, our profession, or our personal relationships, I know that most of us have an area of our lives that we do not want to question out of fear for the answer. As the book evolves and Kim comes to accept that she still has so much to learn and embrace, perhaps you will allow Awasu’s words to provoke some personal soul searching as well.

In many ways, Kim’s Confessions reads like a Bible study. Kim takes us through each concept that is being taught in the seminar and shares direct Scripture passages that are used by the pastor to emphasize his message. When a reader comes upon an element that he or she wishes to study more beyond the pages of Kim’s Confessions, as trust or loyalty, these Biblical reference points will provide further context. For those who are not Christian and may be apprehensive concerning the focus of the book, Kim’s Confessions still offers great insight into how any belief system is developed and strengthened in our minds and spirits.

Kim’s Confessions by Wilson Awasu is a well-written, concise book that serves as a guide to one life-changing weekend for its main character. The content is well-researched and the characters, from the church elders to the pastor to Kim herself, are believable in their positive attributes as well as their flaws. Mr. Awasu has done a nice job of putting a new spin on the popular idea of Biblical guidebooks by allowing a fictional character to host the thought process, and I believe this unique perspective will lend itself to future study topics if the author so chooses. If such publications are made available, I certainly will be one of their readers.

Is Blogging Necessary or Is It Just a Fad?

by Kathleen Gage The Street Smarts Speaker and Author

Although some people view blogging as a novelty or a “someday I’ll get around to it” item on their to do list, most companies will find great benefit by adding blogs and blogging to their overall marketing strategy. When done correctly, blogging can have an incredible impact on your market position.

In essence blogs are no different from other marketing channels. Blogs are designed to deliver results, position you and your company and establish credibility. Some of the primary reasons to have a blog and to blog are to build expert status, reach a global market, increase customer and media relations, keep your market informed on what is happening with your company and industry, establish market perception and rank high on the Search Engines.

Determine the Purpose
Are you blogging because this is the latest and greatest fun idea someone on your team thought of or is this a viable part of your overall branding and marketing strategy? If a blog is simply another whimsical idea, you are likely blogging for the wrong reason. If, on the other hand, this is a part of your overall marketing strategy make sure you are strategic in your process.

Blog Consistently
To be effective you need to blog on a fairly regular basis. Your postings can be short, but need to be relative to your purpose. Many bloggers post information from other sites as a way to keep their readers informed on a particular topic. When you post information from another resource you absolutely must reference where you got the information from.

You can blog about new product releases, plans your company has, articles of interest and even what your competition is up to. The more valuable the information the more you will build a dedicated readership.

Driving Visitors
There are a number of effective ways to get people to view your blog. One is to use key words relative to your market and industry. Whenever you post something you want to include those key words.

Next you can announce your blog in your company newsletter, through media releases, to your current opt-in subscribers and in any advertising you do. You should submit your blog URL to Blog Directories.

You can add your blog address to your outgoing email messages by way of your sig (signature) file that you use at the end of your email messages.

Another option is to write articles specific to your market and industry. Add a resource box at the end of your article with a link back to your blog. If your article is perceived to have high value there is a very good chance readers will visit your blog.

Most importantly is to make the blog postings valuable to the readers. If the information doesn’t hold their interest they will have no reason to return.

The more valuable your readers find your information the more likely it will be that they turn into loyal readers.

Subscribers to Your Blog
By offering readers the chance to subscribe to your blog it will be more likely they will continue to read your information. Make it easy for people to sign up for your blog. You can add what are known as blog buttons also known as chiclets. You can also add a simple sign up form by visiting FeedBlitz.com and FeedBurner.com. This allows people to subscribe to the feed and receive updates as you add new content to your blog.

Keywords
Keywords are a way to improve your search engine ranking. Choosing the right words for your products, services, industry or market is extremely important. Keywords are what lead search engines to your blog. The more targeted your list the more effective your postings.

Analyze your business and your market. Think of any words that your readers might be search on to find you that relate to your company, industry, product or service.

The way to narrow your target words down is to use a keyword selector tool. A reliable selector tool will help you to narrow the search by indicating how often people search on specific word combinations.

In Conclusion
Blogging will create great opportunities when done correctly, consistently and conscientiously.

Writers in the Sky offers blogging services for busy entrepreneurs and authors. Ask for Sarah Moore when you contact us on our Web page.

Kathleen Gage, The Street Smarts Marketer™, is an Internet marketing advisor who works with spiritually aware speakers, authors, coaches and consultants who are ready to turn the knowledge into money-making products and services. Visit kathleengage.com for free resources to build your online presence and credibility.

Calling for Submissions for March 2010 Ezine

It's time to start putting together the next fantastic and information-filled e-zine for March 2010. That means I need you to send me your articles, contest announcements, and brags to be included in the next issue. We have more than enough book reviews, but if I have room for them, I'll include them.

Read our guidelines for submittal here. Remember, the better your piece is written, the better attention and credibility it receives--and the less editing I have to do.

Spirit Authors Virtual Coaching and Learning Experience

Hi, WITS Community!

Yvonne Perry here. I wanted you to have this special invitation to a truly exciting event in which I am participating. I have been asked to be one of 18 leading names in the world of mind-body-spirit writing and publishing for a week of FR*EE webcasts, Feb 22-26.

What’s the event? We are celebrating the Grand Opening of the brand new Spirit Authors Virtual Coaching and Learning Experience by my friend and colleague, Lynn Serafinn. Lynn’s a bestselling mind-body-spirit author, transformation coach, book promotion coach and award-winning teacher who helps unlock authors’ potential to become Number-1 bestsellers.

Here are the details:

SPIRIT AUTHORS GRAND OPENING

Register for free at: http://www.spiritauthors.com

• Monday 22 February through Friday 26 February (one webcast per day), from 3pm – 4.30pm Eastern / 8pm – 9.30pm UK

• FIVE unique broadcasts on different topics including writing, publishing and marketing your book and beyond

• FREE to attend; FREE to listen (via webcast)

• A superb VIP panel of 18 spirit-based industry professionals, all leaders in their fields

• Panelists include top-selling mind-body-spirit authors, editors, marketing specialists, ghost-writers, literary agents, publishers and basically wonderful people.

On the broadcasts, you will…

• Hear the experiences and insights of 18 leading mind-body-spirit publishing professionals

• Learn lots of new things about spirit-based writing, publishing and promotion

• Have the opportunity to direct questions to the VIP panel via our webcast

• Find out how you can “Test Drive” Spirit Authors Virtual Coaching and Learning Experience for only $1

• Receive some great free gifts just for checking it out.

Who are our VIPs?

Go to http://www.spiritauthors.com and find out.

Can’t make it to the live broadcasts?

No problem! Register for the webcasts you want, and you will receive a link to download the MP3 after the event. But don’t leave it too long before you listen to them… we’ll be giving away some freebies that will be available only during the week of the Grand Opening launch.

Book your place at: http://www.spiritauthors.com

Whether you're experienced author, a brand new author, or someone who is dreaming of the possibility of writing an inspirational book some day, I think you'll want to check out all 5 of these FREE webcasts.

I’m really looking forward to the event, and to getting to speak with all these fascinating people. I hope to see you there too.

Yvonne Perry

Owner, Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services

Maxine Thompson - Literary Agent, Columnist, Writer, & Radio Show Host

Please give a warm WITS welcome to the multi-talented Maxine Thompson as she is interviewed by Yvonne Perry today on Writers in the Sky Podcast.

In celebration of Black History Month, we are honored to welcome Maxine Thompson to our show. The author of eleven titles—the latest being, Hostage of Lies, a contemporary/historical novel—she is an editor, a literary agent, a ghostwriter, a columnist, a freelance writer, a workshop conductor, and an Internet radio show host. She has been in business on-line since 1999. She has edited or ghostwritten hundreds of African American titles, some of which have made the Essence Magazine's bestsellers list, the Amazon bestseller’s list, and the New York Times Bestsellers list. She first self-published her novel, The Ebony Tree, in 1995.

Click here to listen...

In the interview, Maxine and Yvonne mention a blog tour in which they met. The blog tour was for Yvonne's children's book The Sid Series. Maxine accepted the invitation Yvonne issued to all the authors in her network to come along and participate in order to learn how to do a virtual online book tour. Even though the blog tour is over, you may still review the blog stops and glean ideas on how to promote your book online at http://tinyurl.com/SidTour.

These two authors/editors/book marketers also mentioned demandstudio.com and Examiner.com as places for authors to write and post articles online.

Synopsis for Hostage of Lies:

How important is the past? For 40-year-old Titi, who’s always felt like an outsider in her own family, it’s vital.

Titi has returned home for her father’s seventy-fifth birthday celebration, but she’s not there with well wishes for the man who sent her away many years ago. She’s come looking for answers—about the child she was forced to give up for adoption and about her family’s secretive history. Her mother does not want her snooping into family affairs that are better left in the past, but Titi is determined.

Nefertiti “Titi” Godbolt’s been a captive of her family’s secrets her whole life. Although it’s her father’s seventy-fifth birthday celebration, she’s not there to celebrate a man who always seemed to favor her siblings Josh and Cleo, while he, along with Titi’s mother, treated Titi as the black sheep in the family—even before she got pregnant and they forced her to give up her daughter. But when Titi’s father and his brother have it out during the party, some long-buried family secrets pop to the surface, and Titi realizes there may be some truth to the stories her great-grandmother told her when she was a child after all.

Now she’s not leaving until she learns the truth—even if it destroys her family in the process.

Purchase Hostage of Lies on Amazon.com

Start your own podcast with Audio Acrobat.

Teleconference to Help You Get a Book Deal from a Publisher

On February 18 at 2 p.m. Central Time, I will be hosting my friend Stephanie Gunning as she talks about her new private coaching program: Get a Book Deal™ Proposal Coaching. This is a live call. Here is the call in info you will need to access this teleseminar:

Dial 1-605-475-6350 and enter 356172#

In our conference call, Stephanie will discuss the following. How to:

* Hone your unique book concept
* Develop an actionable marketing plan
* Guide you through preparation of an industry-standard book proposal
* Offer a reading and critique on written drafts of the proposal sections
* Provide you with tools, support, and structure to accomplish your publishing goals
* Help you make the most out of the experience as possible,to achieve and receive your desired creative outcomes, and to feel a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and satisfaction that you have moved toward your full potential as an author

Stephanie has been in the business for 25 years and has sat on both sides of the table--working as an in-house acquisitions editor, as a freelance editor, and as an author. She understands how to navigate the creative process and your publishing relationships. Therefore, she will not make wild promises, but if you're ready to focus on your book, she will give you some tips on how you can get a book deal in two to three months!

Her clients and coauthors include bestselling authors like Gregg Braden (The God Code), Hale Dwoskin (The Sedona Method), and others you may have heard of, and she's well-liked by her colleagues because she's a straight shooter.Stephanie is also wide awake spiritually, which is something I think my WITS Community will appreciate.

If 2010 is the year you plan to do a book, and you're ready to step up, you should seriously consider Get a Book Deal™ Proposal Coaching from Stephanie. Her clients have received contracts from companies you'd be proud to be connected with: Hay House, New World Library, McGraw-Hill, Jossey-Bass, Perigee, J.P. Tarcher, Health Communications Inc, Broadway Books, and others.

Don’t let another year go by. Join me on this call and learn how to Get a Book Deal™ Proposal Coaching. Be sure to let your friends know about this great opportunity.

Yvonne Perry

Everyone Needs a Well-written Bio

Whether it’s for the About the Author section of your book or to post on social marketing sites or your own blog or Web site, every author and public speaker needs an interesting and well-written biographical sketch.

If you have ample time allotted, you can create an entertaining bio for the emcee to read as he or she introduces you, but if you only have fifteen minutes on stage, you don’t want the person introducing you to take up five minutes of your presentation time. So, how do you determine what is really important and should be included?

I use a questionnaire to gather information from the client, then I use this format to organize information for best impact.

1. Summarize. Open with your birthplace, tell where you are living now, and give a one- or two-sentence summary of what you do. This paragraph is your overview and opening statement. This may be the only part of your bio someone reads so don’t wait until the last paragraph to make a splash. Use humor if it is applicable.

2. List your academic credits. If your list is lengthy, just mention your degrees and where you studied. Make it pertinent to the role you are in or the job you want to apply for.

3. Next, tell how you started your career path. Add a short chronological history that includes valuable experience and contribution related to where you are now.

4. Add your goals or mission statement. Future plans, dreams, and ambitions show your forward motion and help define your purpose.

5. List any society or humanitarian contributions you have made, including volunteer work or committees you have chaired.

6. Mention your hobbies. Telling what you like to do in your spare time allows people to get to know you without you having to reveal too much personal information. This final paragraph gives a nice, warm, note to close.

A bio can be somewhat evergreen, but it will need updating just like your resume. If you move or change careers, or if you finish a project or earn a degree, add it to the appropriate place in your bio. You may want more than one bio—especially if you are multi-talented, have a day job and a part-time business. There’s always a need for a long and short versions.

A first impression always sticks with a customer so be sure it is a good first impression. If you get stuck writing your bio or need someone to give you a fresh perspective on your written image, give us a call! 615-415-9861 or check out our Web site: http://writersinthesky.com/

Are You Losing Money by Doing Your Own Work?

by Kathleen Gage The Street Smarts Speaker and Author

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the average small business owner spends up to 40% of his or her time on routine administrative tasks.

Constantly working on non revenue-producing tasks that could be more productively and cost-effectively performed by a highly skilled, knowledgeable assistant is losing your business significant income.

As you grow your business, it will be necessary to consider outside help. Over the last few years, the Virtual Assistant industry has taken the market by storm. What was practically unheard of a few years ago is now a viable and growing industry.

When done correctly, one of the greatest advantages in hiring a Virtual Assistant (VA’s) is you can focus on higher level objectives while your VA takes on a huge part of your workload.

Virtual Assistants range in expertise, specialty and pricing. Most VA’s work on a per hour rate, retainer fee or contract basis. VA’s either own and operate their business or contract under an umbrella agency. This means you are not responsible for employee taxes, benefits or insurance, which can substantially reduce your costs and liability.

A VA’s experience level range from new to the industry to many years of experience. However, most have previous work experience that qualifies them to jump right into the services they offer.

The VA’s goal is to help your company grow. In essence, when you succeed, they succeed. Unlike a temporary agency where you might get a different temporary worker for each job you have, with a VA the same person works with you on an ongoing basis.

Depending on your needs, you can hire a VA for as few or as many hours a week as you need. You can also hire on a per project basis.

Again, this means you are not burdened with hiring a part- or full-time employee. You simply hire as needed.

In many cases, once you contract a VA you will be charged for phone conversations, planning sessions and any project changes you make. Be aware of spending too much time just “shooting the breeze” with your VA as it can cost you money and time.

Before hiring a VA, determine your needs, plan how you will utilize their time and be prepared. Some of your projects will require you to contract vendors who handle specific types of tasks such as editing, copywriting, transcription services and web design. However, a highly skilled VA may be able to do many of the above-mentioned tasks.

If you are on a limited budget, you may be able to negotiate the pay structure to include commissions and bonuses. Some VA’s may be willing to take a lower hourly rate if there is an opportunity for commissions or bonuses. For example, if you have a VA who books speaking engagements for you, you can offset the hourly amount with a generous commission structure. However, before you offer commissions and bonuses, make sure the VA is qualified and skilled to handle the specific jobs you need done. You may also be able to negotiate one fee for any training you do and a higher fee when the VA is fully trained.

Hiring a Virtual Assistant is not something that should be taken lightly. It is a position of trust and confidence. Often the VA has access to your usernames and passwords, confidential information, financial data, databases and other highly sensitive information.

A partial list of what a VA can do:

• Transcription services
• Set up a blog
• Blogging on your behalf
• Post to blogs and forums
• Set up Virtual Book Tours
• Submit and track articles to directories
• Answer support emails
• Set up autoresponders
• Write media releases
• Distribute media releases
• Clean up a mailing list
• Do keyword research
• Proof copy and provide editing services
• Assist with teleconferences and seminars
• Update web pages and build squeeze pages
• Input sequential autoresponder messages
• Organize joint ventures and submit bonus items and programs
• Bookkeeping
• Concierge services
• Sales
• Marketing
• Travel arrangements
• Event planning
• Procedure documentation

You can choose to use a VA agency or contract an independent VA. It all depends on your needs, plans and budget. Take time to interview your VA prior to hiring them. Check their references and track record.

_______If you are looking for a VA to help with administrative tasks, please consider Katie Perry. She has worked as Yvonne Perry's admin for three and half years, so she'll be well trained and learns fast. Contact Katie or read more at http://tinyurl.com/y9p77yf

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For even more information about marketing your book online, read Book Marketing in the Digital Age, Online Promotion Made Easy.




Purchase Now!

Maxine Thompson on African American, Family, & Women's Issues

On Friday, February 12, Yvonne Perry will interview Dr. Maxine Thompson as her guest on Writers in the Sky Podcast. During the interview, Maxine will talk about her12-year self-publishing process,
and discuss African-American issues, family secrets, and women's societal roles that her book, Hostage of Lies, brings to light.

During the sexual revolution of the 1960s, having a child and not being married was frowned upon in society in general, and among working class Blacks in particular. The main character in Maxine's book is an African American named Nefertiti, who, at age 15 gave her child away. We will touch on closed adoption, slavery, and being the black sheep in a family.



Dr. Maxine Thompson is an author of eleven titles, the latest being, Hostage of Lies, a contemporary/historical novel. She is an editor, a literary agent, a ghostwriter, a columnist, a freelance writer, a workshop conductor, and an Internet radio show host since 2002. She has been in business on-line since 1999. She has edited or ghostwritten hundreds of African American titles, some of which have made the Essence bestseller’s list, the Amazon bestseller’s list, and the New York Times Bestseller’s list. She first self-published her novel, The Ebony Tree, in 1995.

Purchase Hostage of Lies on Amazon.com

How experienced does a writer need to be to hire Writers in the Sky?

A writer or author need only to have a desire to improve his or her work in order to use our services. We can ghostwrite a book from conception to final proof, work with an author on development of a draft he or she has in progress, or we can copy edit/proofread a completed manuscript for an experienced writer. We have clients who are editors themselves; they want a second pair of eyes on their work before it goes public. We also have very green newbies who don’t know when to use a comma or a semi-colon.

Regardless of your experience or skill level, WITS can help. See http://writersinthesky.com/

Why Article Marketing?

Article marketing is one of the best ways to market your book or company because it has a wide range of use, spreads like a virus across the Internet, and it’s absolutely free! All it takes is some time, but as you learn some basic tips on how to write articles, you will get faster and better at it!

Like writing media releases, you may tie the topic of your article into something happening in the media. However, I have found that my evergreen articles posted on ezinearticles.com are picked up and read by more people than those that are seasonal-based or holiday-themed. They are more universal and reach a wider range of people. However, you may be trying to narrow your market and reach a niche, so consider what you want to convey or offer, and who you are trying to reach with each article.

Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services offers article writing and assistance with posting articles online. Contact Sarah on our Web site or read more at http://writersinthesky.com/writing-services.html#article

How to Activate and Listen to the Extraordinary Voice Within

Janet Conner joins Yvonne Perry today on Writers in the Sky Podcast to talk about Writing Down Your Soul: How to Activate and Listen to the Extraordinary Voice Within.

Janet stumbled upon this deep soul writing process during a time of great distress. Believe it or not, her dog brought her a divine message that led her out of depression and gave her insight into a totally new understanding of meditation and writing that she shares in her new book.

Janet realized that her deep soul writing practice was something more than journaling. Lots of people journal, but not a lot of people experience the clear guidance and profound miracles she experienced on the page. So Janet set out to investigate why. She wanted to know what happens in body, mind, and spirit when we engage in deep soul writing. The result is her new book, Writing Down Your Soul: How to Activate and Listen to the Extraordinary Voice Within. On our interview, Janet shares the fascinating reasons that the process works so well to open the writer to his or her soul's purpose, desires, wisdom and guidance.

Click here to listen to the interview...

Whether you journal now and want to deepen your writing practice, or have never picked up a pen, you can use the easy method described in Writing Down Your Soul to begin the most profound conversation of your life.Learn the five magical questions you need to ask your internal guidance. Find ways to bring out areas that need to be healed in the privacy of your own space. How to ask for and receive comfort, guidance, and protection.

In our interview, Janet shares the details of how to use these seven steps to get into theta brain wave:

1. Set your intention to connect with the voice inside you
2. Address the voice directly: Dear ______ (fill in the blank with whatever name you want)
3. Write by hand
4. Activate all five senses. Vision, hearing, and touch are automatic in this process, but include a candle, incense, aroma oil, or flowers for smell and water for taste
5. Ask open-ended questions as you write.
6. Write fast; don't stop to correct grammar, spelling, punctuation (very hard for me as an editor). Just let the words flow from spirit to paper without the interference of logic or correctness.
7. Be grateful; say thank you.

Let me know what you discover in this practice. Leave a comment to let me know you've tried it and what you experienced.

Purchase Writing Down Your Soul.

Visit Janet Conner's Web site http://www.writingdownyoursoul.com/
 

Build a Strong and Successful Partnership with Your Publisher

You have to be a proactive author, if you want to succeed. I have seen many, many authors fail to thrive because they don't "get" one simple point: authors write and market books, whereas publishers manufacture and distribute. If you are confused on this point, you're setting yourself up for a big disappointment! Fortunately, there is a lot you can control.

The month or week before your book is printed is not the time to first get actively involved in its publication. No one knows as much about your book and how it fits into your business plan than you do. You have to shine a guiding light for your publishers beginning on the day you sign your publishing contract.

Stephanie Gunning's new audio program, Partner with Your Publisher: How not to Feel @#%*!ed When Your Book Comes Out, describes step-by-step actions you can take to be your own best advocate!

Read more here http://tinyurl.com/yfpbw37

Author Jennifer Chase Returns to the WITS Blog to Discuss Dead Game

Today we welcome back Jennifer Chase, author of the new thriller Dead Game, to our writing blog. She shares a discussion about her book with Sarah Moore, Author’s Assistant for Writers in the Sky. Jennifer has joined us once before, to talk about her first book Compulsion.

SARAH: Welcome back to Writers in the Sky! What has life been like for you since you were last with us discussing Compulsion?

JENNIFER CHASE: I can’t believe that is has been almost a year since my last novel! It’s been a great time for me. I’ve been interviewed, participated in book signings, networked with readers and fellow writers. And of course, I’ve spent a fair amount of time writing Dead Game. It’s been a challenging year with new experiences, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

SARAH: Share the premise and general plot of Dead Game so that we will know the genre and storyline of your book.

JENNIFER CHASE: Dead Game is a thriller novel that revolves around Emily Stone who continues to anonymously hunt down serial killers and child pedophiles.

Here’s the book synopsis:

In her independent efforts to catch child killers, Emily Stone discovers the evidence that the cops can’t—or won’t—uncover. Now, this covert investigator is back on the hunt for the world’s most sick and twisted murderers. But even with help from ex-police detective Rick Lopez, this time she’s facing her most dangerous opponent yet.

The headlines in the San Jose Mercury News blare updates on a serial killer who seems able to slaughter with impunity. Men, women—it doesn’t matter; the victims serve only to satisfy a perverted need to kill. The killer watches the moment of death on multiple computer screens, over and over again. The only connection is that they’re all devotees of the latest video-game craze—a sophisticated brain-puzzler called EagleEye.

When the killer goes after Lopez’s law-enforcement mentor, Lopez and Stone decide to give the cops a little extra, unsolicited help. What follows takes them deep inside a shocking high-tech world, a kind of social-networking community for serial killers. But when they start getting too close to the truth, all hell’s going to break loose.

Now, Stone and Lopez become the killer’s next target as Stone must make a difficult decision to leave the ones she loves in an all-or-nothing effort for survival. Can they stay alive long enough to blow the whistle on this unlikely perpetrator?

SARAH: What made you decide to make technology and the virtual world a focus of Dead Game, which is quite different than what we read in Compulsion?

JENNIFER CHASE: What I realized was how much we rely on technology for so many things in our lives. Just look around when you venture through your day. Everybody seems to have cell phones for texting, email, surfing the web, and playing games. That is what gave me the idea to use technology and the virtual world for serial killers. I wanted to create a different type of serial killer and how he would search for his specific victims as they use their technology throughout their day.

SARAH: How long did it take to write Dead Game? Have you evolved in the way you develop your work since writing Compulsion? What lessons did you apply to the process the second time around?

JENNIFER CHASE: It took me about the same amount of time to write Dead Game as it did Compulsion. From book outline through publication, it took approximately nine months. It worked out well for me to have an extensive outline that became my choppy first draft and then the writing of the actual chapters went smoothly. This process seems to work well for me and I will continue to use this type of outline with future books.

One of the lessons I learned the second time around was that just because you’ve written a book once doesn’t mean it’s any easier for the next book. Of course, your confidence is boosted that you can actually write and complete a book, but I’m finding that every project has challenges and obstacles that you must overcome. There really isn’t any easy shortcut, only tuned up techniques that you’ve learned through the creative process that works best for you. For me, it is taking the extra time to outline and research makes all the difference in the world. This technique is especially helpful if you want to stay on a schedule and not spend a considerable amount of time with rewrites.

SARAH: You chose to use the same publisher again—Outskirts Press. What about your experience the first time made you stick with them for the publication of Dead Game?

JENNIFER CHASE: I felt that Outskirts did a great job on the book with the appearance, cover, and quick turnaround. They are very professional and answered all of my questions. I wanted Dead Game to be consistent with Compulsion and I definitely wasn’t disappointed with the finished product the second time around. They produce top quality books.

SARAH: How you are promoting Dead Game? How has the success of Compulsion affected your marketing efforts this second time around?

JENNIFER CHASE: I have a very active blog that has been a great marketing tool for promoting my books. I couldn’t have done this without the professional services of Full Circle Administrative Services. In addition, I’m on several social networks (Goodreads, Author’s Den, Bookblogs, and Twitter) along with interviews, appearances, and book reviews that are scheduled in the near future. It’s an ongoing process and it seems that there is always something new to learn every week about marketing. I try to stay on top of ways to keep my books consistently promoted. The beginning marketing of Compulsion has helped to pave the way for my future books.

SARAH: What are you doing the same and what have you decided to do differently with the promotion of your second novel when compared to the first?

JENNIFER CHASE: I’m promoting Dead Game the same way as the first novel. This time it seems to be a little bit easier since I’ve established one novel already. I didn’t have to start from scratch. The great part was that I was able to begin promoting Dead Game before it was released in order to generate interest as well as anticipation from readers of Compulsion. I also have a book trailer for Dead Game that I didn’t have with Compulsion, which is a valuable and fun marketing tool.

As for some different promotion techniques, I will be generating new readers through guest blogger spots and articles in the crime and forensic areas that I didn’t do the first time around.

SARAH: I know that Dead Game was just released, but can you let us know what we might expect next?

JENNIFER CHASE: I’m currently in the process of writing a suspense/thriller with a working title, Silent Partner, from a screenplay I wrote about a K-9 cop that becomes involved with an agoraphobic woman accused of murdering her sister. He finds himself caught in a web of lies and deception that leaves him wondering if he can protect her from her fears, both real and imagined, before it’s too late.

In addition, I’m outlining the third Emily Stone novel that I will begin writing by summer. She will be tracking down a serial killer on the beautiful garden island of Kauai. The story will answer the question of how Emily will stop a diabolical serial killer on the island paradise.

SARAH: Where is your book available? Do you have a Web site or blog where we can learn more about you or your book?

JENNIFER CHASE: Dead Game is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and most other Internet and retail bookstores. You can also purchase a signed copy from my blog or website. If you’ve missed Compulsion, I have a great combo deal for both books on my blog as well.
http://authorjenniferchase.blogspot.com/
http://jenniferchase.vpweb.com/

SARAH: Any other comments you would like to share about your new novel, Dead Game?

JENNIFER CHASE: I really want thank everyone who has supported me and read Dead Game. I appreciate all the comments and reviews. This book was a satisfying project for me and I enjoyed creating a serial killer with a voyeuristic style for thriller lovers.

SARAH: Thank you for giving us the opportunity to have another discussion with you and learn more about Emily Stone and Dead Game.

JENNIFER CHASE: Thank you.