WOW Blog Tour Review Love My Friend Nina Amir's New Book for Authors

Title: Authorpreneur: How to Build a Business Around Your

Book

Author: Nina Amir

Web site: www.ninaamir.com

Genre: Writing Craft

Publisher: Pure Spirit Creations

Publication Date: October 22, 2014

E-Book: 85 pages

AISN: B00OT67PPO

Buy the book at Amazon 

Or at Smashwords 

 

BOOK REVIEW: AUTHORPRENEUR

Reviewed by Jodi Webb originally for The Muffin

I am good with words. I am not good with numbers, money, business plans. I suspect in that way I am similar to many writers. Nina Amir's book Authorpreneur: How to Build a Business Around Your Book addresses that shortcoming in many writers by providing a step by step map to transforming a book into a business that provides an author many opportunities to earn.

When I say "step by step" I am not exaggerating. Amir will provide an idea such as webinar. From there she will provide you with the names of several platforms you can use to set up webinars along with the positives and negatives of each platform. Then she provides both creative and technical directions on how to produce a webinar: how to transform your book/knowledge into a webinar and tips on technical issues such as when to hold a webinar, producing online registration pages, etc. I was amazed by just how much information was in this 85 page ebook! Even if you just adopt one of the ideas Amir provides you will be getting your money's worth. But don't think this book is all about online opportunities. Amir provides the same detailed attention to things just as speaking engagements and creating mini-books.

On the surface, this book lends itself more to nonfiction writing but with some adaption fiction or memoir writers will find information they can use. It will definitely have you evaluating your book in a new way. I recommend that all writers read Authorpreneur: How to Build a Business Around Your Book and see where Amir's ideas will lead them.

 

More about the Author: 

Nina Amir, the bestselling author of How to Blog a Book and The Author Training Manual, is a speaker, a blogger, and an author, book, and blog-to-book coach. Known as the Inspiration to Creation Coach, she helps creative people combine their passion and purpose so they move from idea to inspired action and positively and meaningfully impact the world as writers, bloggers, authorpreneurs, and blogpreneurs. Some of Nina's clients have sold 300,000+ copies of their books, landed deals with major publishing houses and created thriving businesses around their books. She is the founder of National Nonfiction Writing Month, aka the Write Nonfiction in November Challenge, and the Nonfiction Writers' University.

More about WOW Mini-Review Blog Tours:

 

WOW-Women on Writing organizes WOW Blog Tours of all lengths and types: everything from blog tours featuring interviews, guest posts, review and giveaways to social media reviews to tweet tours. We're also always open to new creations if you have something special in mind to promote your book. Nina is on one of our latest offerings, the WOW Mini Review Tour. The WOW Mini Review Tour launches with a review and giveaway on WOW's blog The Muffin http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2015/02/authorpreneur-how-to-build-business.html then moves on to at least six other blogs that feature a review as well as reposts of the review on spots such as Amazon, Goodreads, Pinterest, B&N and Powell's. To learn more about WOW Blog Tours contact us at blogtour@wow-womenonwriting.com.

 

 

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Invitation to Upper Michigan for Writers' Conference and a Review...

...of the flagship book in my #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books now in its third edition and published by Modern History Press.  In time, I hope for you to make reservations for the conference in June.  If you won't be there but have other writers' conference plans--and I hope you do--this review will remind you to learn more about making writers' conferences more successful in #TheFrugalBookPromoter.  Just use the index to find plan-ahead suggestions, conference possibilities you may not know about and a whole lot more!

Please scroll down for details on the writers' conference and here is the review from MyShelf.com with many thanks to reviewer Leslie C. Halpern:

The Frugal Book Promoter, 3rd editionHow To Get Nearly Free Publicity On Your Own Or By Partnering With Your Publisherby Carolyn Howard-Johnson Modern History Press / Reader’s Digest September 2019/ ISBN 978-1615994694 Nonfiction / Writing / Publishing Reviewed by Leslie C. Halpern

From the author’s popular “How to Do It Frugally Series,” comes this third edition of The Frugal Book Promoter, a nonfiction guide to getting no-and-low-cost publicity. As the publishing industry has changed over the years—primarily because of the internet—each new edition provides updates accordingly. This latest version of the first book in the series has been reorganized to help readers better understand promotion, and provides up-to-the minute advice on producing effective media releases, query letters, and media kits. Divided into seven sections (along with helpful appendixes with writing samples and an index), the book focuses on getting started, using publicity basics, working independently or with a publicity partner, promoting a book through writing other material, understanding the media, standard promotions that still work, and tips for rejuvenating earlier publications. Sections are broken down into chapters, and chapters are further broken down into subheadings and bulleted points. These methods of dividing material into smaller chunks of information should keep the abundance of advice from overwhelming readers. Some of the updated internet information is contained in Chapter 21 “Game Changers.” Howard-Johnson, an award-winning author and former publicist, encourages writers to consider blogging as a social network where they can establish their personal brand, promote their work, build name recognition, and network with others in the publishing world. The chapter provides specific ways to begin a blog, find content for posting, and nearly a dozen ways to promote it. “We use our blogs to promote, obviously. What isn’t so obvious is that the blog itself must be promoted. One of the most important ways to do both things is to integrate it with all the other entities you use for networking on the web.” Whether authors are first-timers or adding the next book to their series, this book offers helpful suggestions for authors of fiction and nonfiction (and all genres within these categories). The book also provides links, publication titles, and other helpful resources for additional information. All authors who want to spread the word about their publications should have a copy of The Frugal Book Promoter on their bookshelf.

MORE ABOUT THE REVIEWER Leslie C. Halpern is the author of four nonfiction books, including 200 Love Lessons from the Movies and four children's books, including Silly Sleepytime Poems. MORE ABOUT UPPER PENINSULA PUBLISHES WRITERS' CONFERENCE  The 21st annual Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association (UPPAA) Spring Conference will be held June 6th 2020 at the Olson Library on the campus of Northern Michigan University, Marquette Michigan.  Attendance is free for UPPAA members and $50 for non-members.  The Spring Conference will be preceded by a pre-conference Fiction Writing Workshop hosted by Red Ore Writers. Authors who attend will learn best practices for writing, marketing, and selling their work from a broad selection of industry professionals.  This year's special topics include: romance writing, children's picture books, social media marketing, and writing/researching your historical fiction/non-fiction books. Our keynote speaker is Carolyn Howard-Johnson who will present "Your Frugal Book Launch:  The first 100 days to success".  Updates will be posted at www.UPPAA.org

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

#TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing #writersconferences

Interview: Wife of Submarine Vet Shares Experiences

Hi! I am Carolyn Howard Johnson, your trusty New Book Review blogger and author of the multi award-winning HowTo Do It Frugally Series of books for writers. This blog has heretofore been exclusive for reviews but I thought I’d do a special series of interviews after I chatted with Jeanie Loiacono, President of Loiacono Literary Agency – Where ‘can’t’ is not in our vocabulary!  I thought sharing the interviews would help the many subscribers and visitors to this New Book Review blog, including authors, reviewers, and, of course, readers who just might find a new favorite author among the featured books and authors.

So, today welcome Mary Nida Smith.

As the wife of a submariner, she lived through many troubled day. Her husband, Melvin T, Smith, was one of these honorable men. He is a lifetime member of the USS Submarine Veterans Inc., (Holland Club) and the Vice Commander of the USS Submarine Veterans Base, Mountain Home, Arkansas and also former member of the Idaho Spuds-USS Submarine Veterans of WWII and the Northwest Regions/Idaho/Montana/Oregon/Washington. Through it all, she stuck by him—and wrote.

Mary Nida Smith, author, freelance writer, poet and photographer has lived in several states, submitting and publishing in local magazines and newspapers. Magazines: The Ozarks Mountaineer, Ozarks, Arkansas Living, Good Old Days, Polaris (WWII), Grit, Northwest Living (Field Editor), Storyteller (photographed cover), Salute, Journal of the Ozarks and contributed to the anthologies Echoes of the Ozarks and Women in Nature. Newspapers: Magic Valley Farm Lines (South Idaho Press-Clark newspapers), Port Orchard Independent (Washington- weekly column), Ozark Mountain News (Mountain Home, AR), and Oregon Journal (Portland - book reviews). Newsletters: U.S. Submarine of Veterans of WWII (Arkansas Diamond Chapter), Salute, Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI- Australia), SCBWI-Missouri, SCBWI-Arkansas, Ozarks Writers League (OWL), and Missouri Writers Guild.

1. What is your genre? Is it fiction or nonfiction? Nonfiction, but I do write other genres.
2. What made you want to be a writer? My first/second grade teacher said she liked my stories. I had lots of sisters and brothers I use to tell stories to, since we had no books in the house.
3. Of all the authors out there, who inspired you most? Jesus. Most were songs since we were a singing family.
4. What is your writing style? Do you outline? Linearly? By scene? Why?  I outline in my head and then put it on paper. That’s what storytellers do.
5. Do you write every day? How much? How long? I don’t write every day. I put words down every day. Sometimes they find themselves in a story or book.
6. Do you think reading is as important to writing for an author? Why? Yes, that helps you learn.
7. What are some of the things you would like to share with budding authors? Write, be yourself, don’t listen to naysayers and never give up.
8. Do you have any marketing and promotional advice, referrals, tips you would like to share? Be the best sales person you can be; if you’ve ever worked in retail stores you would have had to, or you may lose your job. Be kind to everyone.
9. Do you think conferences are beneficial? If so, what have you learned? Which ones do you frequent? Yes! Weekend retreats, workshops and conferences are great for making contacts, and learning from each other and speakers. Most of all, for me was to build confidence and to know I wasn’t dumb or silly to reach for my dream of being a writer.
10. Where can we find you, your books and when is your next event? Just Google me and my books and blogs all come up. My latest nonfiction is, Heroes Beneath the Waves: Submarine Stories of the Twentieth Century, which I dedicated to my loving husband, Melvin, who went on “eternal patrol” November 2015. http://submarinestories.blogspot.com  Mary Nida Smith Events  Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency, Jeanie Loiacono http://www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com/authors/mary-nida-smith

MORE ABOUT THE SPONSORING AGENT

Jeanie Loiacono, President, Loiacono Literary Agency

A facilitator of dreams, Jeanie Loiacono represents over eighty authors. Her forte is mystery, romance, thrillers, historical/military/southern fiction, and all quality fiction/nonfiction. Her passion is to see her authors succeed.

“There is nothing more rewarding than to hold one of my author’s books and know I helped bring it to fruition. I am so blessed and privileged to be able to work with some of the most talented writers in the world.” Jeanie.L@llallc.net  www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INTERVIEWS--TO FIND GREAT READING OR TO NETWORK WITH AUTHORS--PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG. YOU ARE A WELCOME ADDITION TO THIS FAMILY WHO LOVES BOOKS! YOU'LL FIND A WINDOW TO DO THIS AT THE TOP OF THIS BLOG PAGE.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Movie Critic Writes Book on Gangsters in Trend-Setting Films

Hi! I am Carolyn Howard Johnson, your trusty New Book Review blogger and author of the multi award-winning HowTo Do It Frugally Series of books for writers. This blog has heretofore been exclusive for reviews but I thought I’d do a special series of interviews after I chatted with Jeanie Loiacono, President of Loiacono Literary Agency – Where ‘can’t’ is not in our vocabulary!  I thought sharing the interviews would help the many subscribers and visitors to this New Book Review blog, including authors, reviewers, and, of course, readers who just might find a new favorite author among the featured books and authors.

So, today welcome Dr. Bob Blackwood.

Dr. Bob Blackwood earned a Ph.D. in English Literature from Loyola University in 1972 with a dissertation on Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus.” He taught English, Literature, Film Study and Photography at Wilbur Wright College in Chicago until 2000, when he took an early retirement. For over forty years, he has continued to review books on film criticism and film history for Choice, the magazine of the American Library Association.

His nonfiction, From the Silent Era to “The Sopranos”: Italian American Gangsters in Trend-Setting Films and Television Shows (Publish America, 2006), contains critical commentary on the major Italian-American gangster films and TV shows and biographical data on the actors from The Black Hand (1906) to The Sopranos (1999-2005). Early 1930s sound films include Little Caesar, Scarface; from the 1940s—Kiss of Death, Key Largo; from the 1950s—Guys and Dolls and Some Like It Hot; and from the1960s—The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, and The Brotherhood…among many others. Special chapters were needed for Martin Scorsese’s films (Mean Streets, Goodfellas, Casino) and Francis Ford Coppola’s films (The Godfather trilogy, The Cotton Club). The analysis includes seventy-seven contemporary films, such as: Thief, Prizzi’s Honor, Miller’s Crossing,Married to the Mob, True Romance, Bugsy, Out for Justice, Bullets Over Broadway, Get Shorty, Gotti, Donnie Brasco, Analyze This, and A History of Violence. Mentioned television shows include The Untouchables, Crime Story, Wise Guy and The Sopranos with an episode guide.

Since 1965, Blackwood has been writing film reviews for various publications, such as The Chicago Seed, Kosmozodiac, La Parola del Popolo, The Leader Newspapers, The Near North News from 1995-2002, and The Columbia River Reader (Oregon/Washington) from 2008-today. At Wilbur Wright College, he created the Literature and Film course.  In addition, he has worked as a photojournalist and correspondent for Fra Noi (Chicagoland’s Italian American Voice) from 1989-2004. Blackwood served as President of the International Press Club of Chicago for 2006 & 2007. He was also the editor of the College Union Voice, the newspaper of the Cook County College Teachers Union, AFT Local 1600, and the union’s webmaster and head writer/editor & photojournalist 2001-2012. In the last fifteen years, he has attended, moderated and participated in panels on film and/or literature at various SF and fantasy conventions throughout North America. Bob began reading the James Bond novels in the 1950s and is a life-long devotee of Ian Fleming. He has also co-authored two books with Dr. John Flynn: Everything I Know About Life I Learned From James Bond and Future Prime: Top Ten Science Fiction Films (Library Tales Publishing, 2015).

1.    What is your genre? Is it fiction or nonfiction? Nonfiction

2.    What made you want to be a writer? I’ve worked as a reporter and public relations person.

3.    Of all the authors out there, who inspired you most? Hemingway, Hunter S. Thompson.

4.    What is your writing style? Do you outline? Linearly? By scene? Why? I outline.

5.    Do you write every day? How much? How long? No.

6.    Do you think reading is as important to writing for an author? Why? You need inspiration when your own fails you.

7.    What are some of the things you would like to share with budding authors? The need to stay with a project.

8.    Do you have any marketing and promotional advice, referrals, tips you would like to share? Get a good agent; I’m lucky.

9.    Do you think conferences are beneficial? If so, what have you learned? Which ones do you frequent? They are an opportunity to strut your stuff.

10. Where can we find you, your books and when is your next event? Online on my website bob@blackwood.org. Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency, Jeanie Loiacono http://www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com/authors/bob-blackwood/  Everything I Know About Life I Learned from James Bond & Future Prime: The Top Ten Science Fiction Films co-authored with Dr. John L. Flynn.

MORE ABOUT THE SPONSORING AGENT

Jeanie Loiacono, President, Loiacono Literary Agency

A facilitator of dreams, Jeanie Loiacono represents over eighty authors. Her forte is mystery, romance, thrillers, historical/military/southern fiction, and all quality fiction/nonfiction. Her passion is to see her authors succeed.
“There is nothing more rewarding than to hold one of my author’s books and know I helped bring it to fruition. I am so blessed and privileged to be able to work with some of the most talented writers in the world.” Jeanie.L@llallc.net  www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INTERVIEWS--TO FIND GREAT READING OR TO NETWORK WITH AUTHORS--PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG. YOU ARE A WELCOME ADDITION TO THIS FAMILY WHO LOVES BOOKS! YOU'LL FIND A WINDOW TO DO THIS AT THE TOP OF THIS BLOG PAGE.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Interview: Wordworth Inspires True Crime Writer

Hi! I am Carolyn Howard Johnson, your trusty New Book Review blogger and author of the multi award-winning HowTo Do It Frugally Series of books for writers. This blog has heretofore been exclusive for reviews but I thought I’d do a special series of interviews after I chatted with Jeanie Loiacono, President of Loiacono Literary Agency – Where ‘can’t’ is not in our vocabulary!  I thought sharing the interviews would help the many subscribers and visitors to this New Book Review blog, including authors, reviewers, and, of course, readers who just might find a new favorite author among the featured books and authors.

So, today welcome Linda Case.

Linda L. Case is the former President/Owner of Case Accounting and Tax Service. She was featured in “A Salute to Women in Business” published by The Columbus Dispatch newspaper. Linda is a graduate of Ohio State University and life member of the Ohio State Alumni Association. While attending Ohio State, Linda was featured in the school newspaper, promoting the benefits of education.  She is a member of the Atlanta Writers Club and continues to promote her new career as a writer by participating in creative writing programs.  She is a past treasurer of the Public Accountants Society of Ohio, a past member of the International Toastmistress Club and has experience presenting seminars and workshops. Linda was born in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

1. What is your genre? Is it fiction or nonfiction? True Crime - Nonfiction

2. What made you want to be a writer? I put my grief into words by writing about it. I am hopeful my true story will inspire and encourage others to do the same.

3. Of all the authors out there, who inspired you most? William Wordsworth

4.  What is your writing style? Do you outline? Linearly? By scene? Why? Therapeutic? Therapeutical? While serving my sentence of house arrest and probation, I was seeing a professional counselor, compliments of the Federal Government. Encouraged by my counselor to do so, once a week for almost two years, I took my written words to my counseling sessions. I cried the entire hour but felt a huge sense of relief following each visit. By the end of my story, the counselor was crying, too.

5.  Do you write every day? How much? How long? Since my book was just published October 31, 2015, I am not currently writing. I am actively promoting my book.

6.  Do you think reading is as important to writing for an author? Why?  Absolutely. Like peanut butter goes with jelly. Avid readers know what makes a good story really great.

7. What are some of the things you would like to share with budding authors? Never give up!! "A published author is an unpublished author who never gave up." (I don't know who said that first)

8. Do you have any marketing and promotional advice, referrals, tips you would like to share? Reach out...contact every person you've ever known...talk about your writing...socialize...take classes...join writers groups.

9.  Do you think conferences are beneficial? If so, what have you learned? Which ones do you frequent? Conferences are great resources for workshops and for community with other writers, agents and publishers. I am a member of the Atlanta Writers Club and attend their conferences twice yearly. I also attended the first publishers conference in Georgia, Publish15, last June, where I was referred to LLA. In less than two months, my fabulous agent, Johnnie Bernhard, had a publisher for my story.

10. Where can we find you, your books and when is your next event? You can find me:

Website: www.TheFugitivesSister.com For Signed copies: linda.loophole@gmail.com

Amazon  Half Priced Books Market Place  Hudson Book Sellers  B&N  BAM  IndieBound  Shelfari

The Book Depository  Waterstones  GoodReads  Facebook

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency, Johnnie Bernhard

MORE ABOUT THE SPONSORING AGENTS

Agent and Training Officer – Johnnie Bernhard

A former English teacher and journalist, Johnnie Bernhard life’s work has been writing and reading.  A published writer, her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines, both nationally and internationally.  Johnnie believes that good writing has the ability to transform and transport the reader.

            Her novel, A Good Girl, a second finalist in the 2015 William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition, is available for acquisition.

Bernhard Events  Featured Writer for Gulf Coast Writer’s Association

Genres:  Literary Fiction, Women’s Literature, Faith-Based Literature, Southern Literature, Historic Fiction, Memoir, and Nonfiction.

Jeanie Loiacono, President, Loiacono Literary Agency

A facilitator of dreams, Jeanie Loiacono represents over eighty authors. Her forte is mystery, romance, thrillers, historical/military/southern fiction, and all quality fiction/nonfiction. Her passion is to see her authors succeed.

“There is nothing more rewarding than to hold one of my author’s books and know I helped bring it to fruition. I am so blessed and privileged to be able to work with some of the most talented writers in the world.” Jeanie.L@llallc.net  www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INTERVIEWS--TO FIND GREAT READING OR TO NETWORK WITH AUTHORS--PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG. YOU ARE A WELCOME ADDITION TO THIS FAMILY WHO LOVES BOOKS! YOU'LL FIND A WINDOW TO DO THIS AT THE TOP OF THIS BLOG PAGE.

----- 
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Interview: Jim Garrison Pens Novel Set in Mekong Delta

Hi! I am Carolyn Howard-Johnson, your trusty New Book Review blogger and author of the multi award-winning HowTo Do It Frugally Series of books for writers. This blog has heretofore been exclusive for reviews but I thought I’d do a special series of interviews after I chatted with Jeanie Loiacono, President of Loiacono Literary Agency – Where ‘can’t’ is not in our vocabulary!  I thought sharing the interviews would help the many subscribers and visitors to this New Book Review blog, including authors, reviewers, and, of course, readers who just might find a new favorite author among the featured books and authors.

So, today welcome Jim Garrison. 

• What is your genre? Is it fiction or nonfiction?
  • I mostly write fiction, typically a cross between genre and literary fiction. My first novel, QL 4, is both historical fiction and a literary crime novel set in the Mekong Delta in 1970 during the Vietnam War. 
• What made you want to be a writer? As long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated with books and the doors they open, both in the mind and in life.  So I thought, Why not create my own literary canvas drawn from my experiences and observations and render these tales in a way that entertains and informs?
• Of all the authors out there, who inspired you most? There were many writers of all stripes who inspired me, but Ernest Hemingway is probably the one who gave me the writing bug in my teens, especially A Farewell to Arms.
• What is your writing style? Do you outline? Linearly? By scene? Why? Going back to when I practiced law, I start with a lump of clay: ideas jotted down on sticky notes and scratch paper, then in a notebook dedicated to the novel.  The first part of the notebook may be ruminations about characters or even a story arc.  As the concept develops, I begin a list of characters with their descriptions and back story, a timeline, and a chapter outline (based on different scenes).  To start writing, I “outline” in a way that usually ends up getting every scene and character down on paper.  Next I flesh out the story (description, characters, and dialogue) in long hand until I have a complete novel that may be hundreds of pages. I try to be flexible; writing chapters out of order, revising, deleting, changing course.  From those handwritten pages, I type a manuscript, which I deem my first real draft.  
• Do you write every day? How much? How long? When I’m not travelling, I usually write or edit, every day, but I have no set schedule (and my writing may take other forms than fiction, from poetry to legal documents).  When I’m working on a novel, I usually spend no more than two or three hours a day unless I have a deadline.
• Do you think reading is as important to writing for an author? Why? How can you write without reading: fiction, nonfiction, current events, poetry, comics?The wider your range of knowledge, the deeper your insights into people, the human condition, everything.  Also, knowing what the reading public reads helps the author write for his or her chosen audience.
• What are some of the things you would like to share with budding authors? Get something on the page, no matter how rough, inelegant, or incomplete.  Keep a journal, write a description of a place or person or event.  Observe everything and everyone around you.  Listen, eavesdrop.  Cancel cable television.
• Do you have any marketing and promotional advice, referrals, tips you would like to share? From my scant experience, you must have a platform, including a good website that shows you know your subject.
• Do you think conferences are beneficial? If so, what have you learned? Which ones do you frequent? Certainly conferences can be beneficial.  Here and there, I’ve picked up some writing tips, but most valuable has been the interaction with other writers and a few agents and editors. I’ve been to the Pike’s Peak Writers Conference several times, as well as to conferences sponsored by the Houston Writers Guild and the Writers’ League of Texas.  I also attended the Maui Writers Conference once in its heyday.
• Where can we find you, your books and when is your next event? https://jamesdgarrison.wordpress.com/ Johnnie Bernhard with Loiacono Literary Agency represents my novel QL4 (available for acquisition), a brutally honest, unflinchingly poetic, final test for a disillusioned American GI as he searches for an honorable way out of his predicament during the Vietnam War.  http://www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com/authors/jim-garrison/

MORE ABOUT THE SPONSORING AGENTS

Agent Johnnie Bernhard is a former English teacher and journalist whose life’s work has been writing and reading.  A published author, her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines, both nationally and internationally.  Johnnie believes that good writing has the ability to transform and transport the reader.

            Her novel, A Good Girl, a second finalist in the 2015 William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition, is available for acquisition.

Bernhard Events  Featured Writer for Gulf Coast Writer’s Association

Genres:  Literary Fiction, Women’s Literature, Faith-Based Literature, Southern Literature, Historic Fiction, Memoir, and Nonfiction.

Jeanie Loiacono, President, Loiacono Literary Agency

A facilitator of dreams, Jeanie Loiacono represents over eighty authors. Her forte is mystery, romance, thrillers, historical/military/southern fiction, and all quality fiction/nonfiction. Her passion is to see her authors succeed.
“There is nothing more rewarding than to hold one of my author’s books and know I helped bring it to fruition. I am so blessed and privileged to be able to work with some of the most talented writers in the world.” Jeanie.L@llallc.net  www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INTERVIEWS--TO FIND GREAT READING OR TO NETWORK WITH AUTHORS--PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG. YOU ARE A WELCOME ADDITION TO THIS FAMILY WHO LOVES BOOKS! YOU'LL FIND A WINDOW TO DO THIS AT THE TOP OF THIS BLOG PAGE.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Horror Writer Admits She Likes Her "Inner Demons" to Squeal with Delight

Hi! I am Carolyn Howard Johnson, your trusty New Book Review blogger and author of the multi award-winning HowTo Do It Frugally Series of books for writers. This blog has heretofore been exclusive for reviews but I thought I’d do a special series of interviews after I chatted with Jeanie Loiacono, President of Loiacono Literary Agency – Where ‘can’t’ is not in our vocabulary!  I thought sharing the interviews would help the many subscribers and visitors to this New Book Review blog, including authors, reviewers, and, of course, readers who just might find a new favorite author among the featured books and authors.  We've been partnering on these reviews for over a month now, so have some fun checking old posts!

So, today welcome Rebecca Besser. 

    

Rebecca Besser resides in Ohio with her wonderful husband and amazing son. They’ve come to accept her quirks as normal while she writes anything and everything that makes her inner demons squeal with delight. She’s best known for her work in adult horror, but has published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for a variety of age groups and genres. She’s entirely too cute to be scary in person, so she turns to the page to instill fear into the hearts of the masses. She is

1. What is your genre? Is it fiction or nonfiction? Horror, mostly.  I have written for a variety of genres and age groups. Mostly fiction, although I do write nonfiction from time to time.
2. What made you want to be a writer? I’ve always had a natural way with words and an overactive imagination. Writing was always a good fit for me!
3. Of all the authors out there, who inspired you most? Wow! That’s a hard one. My favorite authors are Jean M. Auel and Linda Rios Brook…but I’ve had some fellow authors who write horror inspire and encourage me quite a bit. Just to mention a few: David Moody, Joe McKinney, and Gregory Norris.
4. What is your writing style? Do you outline? Linearly? By scene? Why? My writing style is easy-to-read flow, I guess. I strive to write relatable characters that use natural dialogue, while at the same time, help the reader not to be taken out of the story by awkward wording. I outline long projects (novellas or novels) by chapter, but usually as a loose outline so I know where I’m going and what I want to happen.
5. Do you write every day? How much? How long? I wish! I’m a busy woman (wife, mother, and self-employed). I take writing time when I can get it. I tend to write more, and am happier with my progress, when I have big chunks of time to write.
6. Do you think reading is as important to writing for an author? Why? Yes! Reading is a great way to study other styles of writing. Reading can also inspire new stories ideas. Also, if you don’t have the urge to write for whatever reason, reading will usually bring you out of that funk.
7. What are some of the things you would like to share with budding authors? Writing is rough. It’s going to take time, energy, and a lot of emotional highs and lows, but don’t give up. Also…learn as much about spelling and punctuation as you can! Well-written and edited works have a higher chance of publication.
8. Do you have any marketing and promotional advice, referrals, tips you would like to share? Make friends with other writers in your genre and coordinate blog tours and signings together. You will then be cross-exposed to each other’s fans and you’ll have moral support for the hard times.
9. Do you think conferences are beneficial? If so, what have you learned? Which ones do you frequent? I have yet to actually attend a conference, but hope to this coming year. But I have coordinated events online with other authors in my area and we’ve had signings together as well.
10. Where can we find you, your books and when is your next event? I’m on Facebook under Author/Editor Rebecca Besser, on Twitter @BeccaBesser, and you can visit my blog or website www.rebeccabesser.wordpress.com www.rebeccabesser.com        Amazon Author Page  Besser Events My books are available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

As far as events…I was just on the #WinterofZombie tour with over forty authors (Nov. 2015). Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency, Melissa Carrigee http://www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com/authors/rebecca-besser/

MORE ABOUT THE SPONSORING AGENTS

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency, Melissa Carrigee Melissa.C@llallc.net  Agent, Marketing and Publicity – Melissa Carrigee

Facebook  Melissa Carrigee Covers  Melissa Carrigee Book Trailers

Carrigee Graphic Art Contract Template

Reading and writing is a way of life for Melissa Carrigee.  As a literary agent and award winning graphic artist, she combines her two passions of business and writing.  She has published works in newspapers and magazines as well as a published novel. Featured Columnist for The Family Forum, Parents and Kids Magazine – Mississippi Gulf Coast.

I want a horror book to read all night long while I check behind the doors for the boogey man.  I’m looking for a thriller that keeps me reading and guessing (and just when I think I’ve figured it out, I’m wrong).  I’m looking for children’s books that engage the parent and the child.  I’m looking for young adult novels – but NOT Twilight and not wizards.  That’s been done.  I’m looking for any story with a great plot.  Something I can sit and read in a few days with characters that make me think about them long after I’ve finished the book.

Genres: horror, science fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction, mysteries, thrillers, dramas, historical romance, children’s (picture and mid-grade)—any book that has a great story with unforgettable characters.

Jeanie Loiacono, President, Loiacono Literary Agency - A facilitator of dreams, Jeanie Loiacono represents over eighty authors. Her forte is mystery, romance, thrillers, historical/military/southern fiction, and all quality fiction/nonfiction. Her passion is to see her authors succeed.

“There is nothing more rewarding than to hold one of my author’s books and know I helped bring it to fruition. I am so blessed and privileged to be able to work with some of the most talented writers in the world.” Jeanie.L@llallc.net  www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INTERVIEWS--TO FIND GREAT READING OR TO NETWORK WITH AUTHORS--PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG. YOU ARE A WELCOME ADDITION TO THIS FAMILY WHO LOVES BOOKS! YOU'LL FIND A WINDOW TO DO THIS AT THE TOP OF THIS BLOG PAGE.

----- 
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Carolyn Raffensberger Reviews Sharon Heath's Book of Eco-Fiction

TITLE: The Mysterious Composition of Tears

SUBTITLE: The Further Adventures of Fleur, Book 1

SERIES TITLE: The Further Adventures of Fleur

AUTHOR: Sharon Heath

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE: https://sharonheath.com 

GENRE: Literary Fiction, Eco-fiction with a touch of fantasy and sci-fi

AGE / INTEREST LEVEL: Adult, New Adult

PAGE #: 307

PUBLISHER: Thomas-Jacob Publishing, LLC 

WHERE THE BOOK MAY BE PURCHASED: https://smile.amazon.com/Mysterious-Composition-Tears-Sharon-Heath-ebook/dp/B0B722DS4Z/

Reviewed by Carolyn Raffensperger

Here’s the review, excerpted from Carolyn Raffensperger’s “Anchoring Ourselves in Storied History:”

This summer I searched for stories that would help make sense of the upheaval we are facing. I read three books that were wildly different, Lydia Yuknavitch’s novel Thrust, Sharon Heath’s novel, The Mysterious Composition of Tears, and Dick Sclove’s nonfiction book, Escaping Maya’s Palace—an analysis of the madness of modern civilization based on a close read of the Mahabharata. What they had in common was to take seriously what Ursula Le Guin calls the “carrier bag of fiction” (and I would add of nonfiction stories). Le Guin says, “I would go so far as to say that the natural, proper, fitting shape of the novel might be that of a sack, a bag. A book holds words. Words hold things. They bear meanings. A novel is a medicine bundle, holding things in a particular, powerful relation to one another and to us.” Nonfiction stories can also be carrier bags of essential medicines…

Sharon Heath’s Mysterious Composition of Tears is a sci-fi/magical realism story set in the future that has physicists grappling with climate change. Heath incorporated…work on the precautionary principle in this fictional setting by describing scientists taking seriously the possible negative consequences of extremely novel technologies. I wonder when some future scientist might read her novel and change her approach to incorporate precaution. Medicine! 

More About the Author

A BIO OR CREDIT LINE FOR THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK: Sharon Heath, a Los Angeles native, is a Jungian analyst who’s passionate about writing fiction and non-fiction exploring the interplay of science and spirit, politics and pop culture. Her books are available at bookstores and online including Amazon and B&N. Find her on Twitter #TheFleurTrilogy. 

More About the Reviewer'

 Carolyn Raffensperger is a renowned environmental lawyer and Executive Director of the Science and Environmental Heath Network who speaks widely on ecological healing and has delivered an inspiring TEDx talk as a leading expert on the Precautionary Principle. You can read about her work here: https://www.sehn.org/ecological-medicine/. 

More About #TheNewBookReview Blog

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 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines in a tab at the top of this blog's home page or go directly to the submission guidelines at http://bit.ly/ThePlacetoRecycleBookReviews or to the guideline tab at the top of the home page of this blog. Authors and publishers who do not yet have reviews or want more may use Lois W. Stern's #AuthorsHelpingAuthors service for requesting reviews. Find her guidelines in a tab at the top of the home page, too. 

 Carolyn Wilhelm is our IT expert, an award-winning author, a veteran educator and also contributes reviews and posts on other topics related to books. Reviews, interviews, and articles on this blog are indexed by genre, reviewers' names, and review sites so #TheNewBookReview may be used as a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. As an example, writers will find this blog's search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. 

Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing