Book Previews, Websites, and Building A Platform

Good Mid-Morning Folks,

Today the sun is out, it's only slightly cloudy and the sun and shining and it's around 53-55 degrees out (Hello, Fall, where have you been?) Cooler weather has come back to my neck of Texas (or rather Southwest Texas, rather than a neck...probably more like the calf or something). Anyway, it's lovely and it's freezing in my house (guess it's not cold enough for the heater, but not hot enough for the air conditioner!) Hope the weather hangs around a bit (despite my allergies).

So...let's talk platforms. No, I'm not talking politics or Miss American Pageants, I'm talking writing platforms.

Writing platforms are talked about all over the place. By agents, by other writers, by readers (even though they might not call it a platform, they might call it a website or a book signing or something). In whatever case, it's a writer's reputation, it's information regarding the writer and his or her books/screenplay/poetry/et cetera.

Currently my platform mostly consists of what I put up on my blog--which is generally a combination of what I'm writing, advice, and books I've read. I kind of like to cover the myriad that's out there. (I do plan on having a website, soon, that's still in the planning stages).

Now there are writers out there with websites already (even some unpublished ones).

Published author of mysteries, Laura Childs, has a website up (with a great Mysterious/Halloween type feel)

There's Kerrelyn Sparks who has some book previews up (little videos talking about a book that's coming out or is out to give you a "taste" of what she's written/is writing).

There's also an aspiring author (and member of NWHRWA), Jennifer Bray-Weber who has book previews on her site as well.

Author Elizabeth Pina has an inspirational coming out next month (release date is on her website). The book, Learning To Let Go looks good. (P.S. I sat next to her at the Todd Stone Workshop. She's an awesome person and really nice. She's working on a Romantic Suspense that sounds really good, too--she's also a member of the NWHRWA).

And I can't mention members of NWHRWA's websites without mentioning a follower of this blog who has a website and is a member of NWHRWA, Ciara Gold.

There's other members of the NWHRWA who have websites (Kim Lenox being one, as well). But the point is, all these authors are working to build up their platform.

So, what are you doing to build up your platform? Do you have any advice for others in doing this?

Have A Wonderful Wednesday!

It's Worth A Fortune

Happy Tuesday Everyone, Does anyone remember the song If I Had A Million Dollars by Barenaked Ladies ? I can't remember when or how I was first introduced to this song, but it's a fun song. So, how about if you had a million dollars? What would you do with it? Of course there's the responsible things to do with a million dollars--pay off debts, and such like that. Then there's the question of whether or not you give to charities, and how much. But, suppose you answered all those questions and you still had quite a lot left; what would you do with it? Maybe I'd go to Disney World. I've wanted to go, and I've never been able to. Or, perhaps I'd go to Germany and England, and Belgium (three of the countries my ancestors are from). Travel around seeing family and friends I don't see often. There's all kinds of possibilities. So, what about you? What would you do with a million dollars? Have A Tremendous Tuesday!

Spotlight On Author: Loretta Wheeler

Happy Tuesday Everyone, There's a gem of an author I've had the privilege of coming across...I'm talking about my friend, Loretta Wheeler. She's a sweetheart and very talented author. I enjoyed her YA Paranormal novella, The Pan Man immensely. And, she also writes Romance. So without further ado, come into my parlor and meet Loretta Wheeler: Me: In your YA novelette, The Pan Man , you mention Pan's looking for his long lost soul mate. What made you choose Pan out of all the Greek/Roman gods and goddesses? Loretta: I chose the Greek god Pan, because of the connection with the music. I found later on in the story, (my stories take over and write themselves usually) it applied even more than I realized because of the band's name. I won't mention the name of the band in here, because it's part of the surprise ending. Me: You're mostly known for your Romance stories. How would you describe your writing style? Hot, suspenseful, sensual, sw...

Myths About Writers

Afternoon Folks, I thought we'd do a post to dispel some of the myths people seem to have about writers. I'll put the ones that first come to mind then y'all can chime in. Myth: Writing is a great way to make a lot of money. I'm not sure exactly how this one matriculated. Probably in the wake of some of the big best sellers (i.e. Stephen King, Anne Rice, Stephenie Meyer, JK Rowling, and the like) but most of the time writers put in more money for their writing than they do get out of it. Generally a writer doesn't make a ton of money unless somehow his/her book is a blockbuster hit and blasts through what the author owes in the advance (which is paid back to publishers through royalties). Most writers I've met and talked to are not millionaires. I'm not saying it can't happen, I'm saying it's not one of those things that's automatic. Myth: Writing Is Easy Anybody Can Do It. Okay, granted this isn't entirely a myth, but it's not ent...

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