New website offers Free promotion for Authors and Businesses

Bloggerdise is a new social networking website that helps promote numerous types of businesses, including literature.  The New York Post published an article about this website that was launched two months ago, bloggerdise.com connects businesses searching for free publicity with bloggers searching for something to write about. The site is the brainchild of a pretty savvy team that includes Jesse Cohen, Omar Padron, Jin Park and Eric Rogow. Jesse Cohen, talked about how he and the other co-founders figured out there was a need and filled it. “In this cash-strapped economy we just wanted to be able to help an artist, charity, or small business be heard through the unique voices of our bloggers,” he said.

For Authors and Businesses Bloggerdise helps you reach thousands of potential customers without a huge ad budget. Essentially you team up with bloggers to create a customized giveaway that is focused on your precise target market. This blogger connection offers your company: 

*  Increased awareness of your goods or services (for zero dollars)
*  New web-outlets for future giveaways or announcements 

For Bloggers Bloggerdise helps you attract more viewers by offering giveaways with premium prizes, as well as the ability to generate rich, unique product/service content. 

The site offers several tools for members to easily engage and interact with each other. Members can also engage social media directly. They can Facebook “like” and use Facebook to comment on the Bloggerdise boxes and posts; or they can reach out via their personal Twitter and YouTube accounts.

In a challenging economic environment, now small businesses and artists have a place to promote themselves for next to nothing. It is a win win for all. For more information or to become a member, visit: www.Bloggerdise.com

As an author I find this concept very interesting as a new way to promote my book/s.  This is also another way to promote the non-profit I administer: Writers Unite to Fight Cancer. I recommend trying it out to my friends and colleagues.

I invite any Mommy Authors and others that would like to sign up for Bloggerdise to sign up under the WUFC Banner. When we can gain enough participants we will be given spots on Bloggerdise TV.  

Author Interview: Lisa Nowak

I love Halloween. Besides the chance to pretend to be someone (something) else for an evening, and indulging in all the candy I can eat (and then some), I love Halloween reading.
There is something about the return of Oregon's gray skies and cold drizzle that makes curling up with a creepy book feel like just the right thing to do.
On this Halloween week, I'm happy to interview Lisa Nowak, whose recent YA release, Dead Heat, is a perfect spooky read.

Alex is a machine whisperer. He can tell what’s wrong with a broken-down car with a touch. But his gift can’t save him from the brutality of his meth-addict father. For two years, Alex experienced kindness through Cole, his mentor. Now Cole’s dead, and the violence in Alex’s life is escalating.

When Cole reappears as a ghost, Alex clings to the tenuous link. Then he learns Cole might’ve sacrificed his chance to cross over. Jade, the first girl to look beyond Alex’s past, assures him Cole can reach the Other Side—if Alex escapes from his dad. But a previous terrifying attempt has convinced Alex it’s impossible. Unless he can find the courage to try, his friend may be earthbound forever.

 Hi Lisa. Congratulations on the release of Dead Heat. I saw on your blog that you are more proud of this than any other project. Can you tell us more about why that is?

I'm excited about this book for several reasons. For one thing, it deals with issues like child abuse and that controversial topic of what to do when you think reporting it might result in more harm to the child than letting it continue. I know this isn't a popular subject, but I think it's realistic. Secondly, Dead Heat features a protagonist with a learning disability, and the story is told in first person through his slang and limited vocabulary. This is just Alex's voice (imagine a modern day Huck Finn) and I didn't think much about it until my editor told me how glad she was to see someone up-ending the stereotype about kids like Alex.

Dead Heat is a bit of a departure from your other books. It's darker and has a distinct edge. How did this come about?

Dead Heat never would’ve come to be had it not been for an agent rejecting my book Driven because it “wasn’t edgy enough.” Teens, according to him, won’t buy a book unless it’s edgy. I reacted with an “I’ll show you edgy, buster,” and Dead Heat was born. I still think his opinion was bogus, but I owe him one for shoving me in a direction I never would’ve taken on my own.

Alex faces some very real struggles in his life, from dealing with a learning disability to suffering abuse from his meth-addicted father. Was is difficult for you to write about such heavy topics? 

Actually, it wasn't. I find it harder to read books like this than to write them. When I'm inside a character's head, I feel like I'm living his or her reality. And Alex doesn't feel sorry for himself. He doesn't know anything different from what he's always lived, so as bad as it might seem to you and me, to him it's just normal.

Most of your books have male protagonists. Can you offer any tips for getting inside a teenage boy's head? For getting his voice right?

Honestly, I have no clue how I'm able to write from a teenage boy's perspective. It might be because I grew up as a tomboy and always wanted to be climbing trees, building forts, and getting into pinecone fights. It might be because when I was racing stock cars, I hung out so much with guys that I became very familiar with their behavior. Actually, up until a few years ago, most of my closest friends were guys. I suppose the only tip I can offer is to watch boys and pay attention to how they speak and act. If you don't have access to real live boys, watch TV shows and movies about them. One thing to remember about guys is that they don't come right out and admit to their feelings the way girls do. You have to convey what they're feeling through behavior and subtext. Which is what makes it so fun to write from their perspective, and also what makes it so rewarding to the reader.

I attended your summer workshop on different publishing models, and learned quite a lot. Thanks. Any advice for someone just starting to consider their publishing options?

Definitely. Your choice of publishing route shouldn't be about what anyone else thinks or what's going on in the industry. It should be about your personal strengths and what you want out of your publishing career. The simplest way I can put it is, if you have the skills and temperament to run a small business, you'll probably do well self-publishing. Otherwise, you'll be happier pursuing a traditional route. But there are some in-between options. I wrote a guest post about it on Literary Rambles a few weeks ago that provides a checklist to help you decide which path is best for you: 

Literary Rambles: Lisa Nowak Guest Post


Thank you for that link, Lisa. (Readers, seriously - go check it out.)
Do you mind sharing a little bit about your writing process? What is a typical day like for you?

That depends on the season, since I'm a landscaper nine months out of the year. But to keep things simple, I'll describe a winter day when I'm a full-time writer. If I'm being smart, the first thing I do after I get up is write. If I'm being stupid, I answer my email. :P I have no problem with making myself sit at the computer, so I can spend 8-15 hours there, but it wouldn't necessarily be productive (even if I could avoid the email/social networking trap). My best writing time is between 7 a.m. and noon, and between 4 and 9 p.m. Every once in awhile I'll get a second wind late at night and stay up until 2:00, but that's unusual. I've found that if I try to write during my down times, I don't get much accomplished, so I try to plan my social networking, emailing, marketing, etc. during those times. I'm an outliner, and I also tend to edit as I write. I know a lot of people advise against the latter, but it works for me. I only manage 500-1200 words per day, but I turn out very clean, tight first drafts, so it all averages out. My best tool for first drafts is taking a walk. I can spend all day at the computer and not squeeze out 200 words, then after dinner I'll go out with my digital recorder in hand and dictate 500-1000 words in a two-mile walk. If I'm on a roll, I'll walk an additional 1-2 miles. Sometimes I think I should spend the entire day walking around with my digital recorder. The bonus would  be that my pants would fit better. :P

One last question: Do you believe in ghosts?

I don't know. I don't disbelieve, but I've never seen one. After writing Dead Heat, I hope they exist.

Find Dead Heat on Amazon, Smashwords, and Barns & Noble.

In addition to being a YA author, Lisa is a retired amateur stock car racer, an accomplished cat whisperer, and a professional smartass. She writes coming-of-age books about kids in hard luck situations who learn to appreciate their own value after finding mentors who love them for who they are.


Connect with her here:

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Author Interview with Writer-Mom, Lisa Ard

Lisa Ard leads a dream life in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and two children. Her first book, Fright Flight, Dream Seekers Book One received the FlamingNet Top Choice award.

In addition to writing, she loves visiting schools and hearing from readers.

For school visits, book information, contests, games, puzzles, or just to chat, you may contact Lisa via her website: www.authorlisaard.com or email: lisaard2002@yahoo.com.

Follow Lisa on her blog: Adventures in Writing & Publishing

Find her, like her, follow what she reads on:
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Shelfari
Goodreads

Q: Fright Flight, the first in your Dream Seekers series fills needs of children who are looking for something a bit more fanciful than Jack and Annie's Magic Tree House adventures. In it, we read about Patrick, a Dream Seeker - someone whose dreams can have real consequences. Dreaming about eating too much ice-cream would give him a real stomachache, too much sun could result in a real sunburn. It's a fun concept. What inspired you to write Patrick's story? Where did the idea come from?

 A: During a writing class I was brainstorming ideas for a story. My own kids read Magic Tree House, Geronimo Stilton, Secrets of Droon and many other early reader series. I thought about the trigger by which kids in these series have adventures -- a magical tree house, a secret door..., and came up with the idea of dreams as a vehicle to fantastical adventure.

Q: Dream Seekers is a series. Care to give us any hints about what kind of further adventures are in store for Patrick and his family?

A: Perhaps by the time this interview posts, I'll have released Dream Team, Dream Seekers Book Two. In Dream Team, Patrick plays a magical baseball game with some of the greatest players of all time, in a rather unusual setting. I'm working on book three, which delves into more of the history of dream seeking within Patrick's family. I already have some rough idea of the following book; a friend and reader in Australia suggested one about lava.

(Note from Heidi: Book Two is out now! Click link above to purchase from Amazon, or see Lisa's blog to find out how you can get a free copy.)



Q: In addition to the second Dream Seekers, you have a completely new story, Saving Halloween, releasing soon. Can you tell us more about your new book?

A: Saving Halloween is a spellbinding tale of a girl who finds the true meaning of friendship and family amongst characters who are not always what they seem. It's my tribute to Roald Dahl, who was a master writer of bad parents. Think Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach - most of the family figures are horrible! My main character Anne has some awful parents -- awful in a very modern way. There is also a lot of deception in this book - in how the characters appear, what they say, how they are named..., well, I can't say anymore or I'll give it away. Suffice it to say, I'm very excited to share this book with readers and hoping for a successful launch this September.

Q: For Dream Seekers, you published with a with a small press publisher. Saving Halloween will be self-published. What factors went into making that decision? What new skills have you had to develop?

A: Puddletown Publishing released my first book, Fright Flight, Dream Seekers Book One. They handled all the editing, ebook set up, illustrations, cover design, isbn, distribution, etc., which was great. Those were all things I was not prepared to do. But now, I feel a little more savvy and more importantly, very opinionated about this project. For Saving Halloween, I have a vision of what the illustrations should look like, how they will appear in the book, what the cover should convey. By self publishing I retain control of all of that. Plus I can bring it to market quickly, in time for the Halloween season.

Q: Can you share a little bit about your writing process?

A: I'd like to say I have a regular schedule, but I don't. I snatch hours here and there. However, I am motivated to submit every two weeks to my critique group. That's probably the number one instigator to write..., and that's a good thing.

Q: Do you also work outside the home or are you a stay-at-home mom? How do you balance your writing life with your other responsibilities?

A: I am a stay-at-home mom. I have quite a few volunteer commitments - the library, schools, and church. Now that my kids are 10 and almost 12, I have more school hours and some weekend hours to squeeze in my author tasks.

Q: You have done several school author visits. Any advice for someone considering doing the same?

A: Do it! Author visits are a blast. It's so much fun to connect with young readers. My advice would be to think about the content of the presentation and make sure that it's a value add for the class (and teacher) that you plan to visit. For example, last year I visited a lot of 4th graders, who were learning about editing. My workshop reinforced the teacher's efforts by discussing what is editing, why we do it and how we do it. It included an exercise so that my visit would be interactive. I talked to the teacher (thru e-mail) to confirm the language used around the topic (i.e. review, revise, edit).

Secondly, getting in to see classes is not as easy as I thought, even when the visits are offered for free (like mine are). Try to get personal introductions through friends. Remember that teachers are busy. They may not be able to squeeze in an author visit.

Q: What was your favorite childhood book?

A: Gosh, that's a hard one. It would be something by Roald Dahl. I'll say Danny the Champion of the World. It's a sweet adventure story with a strong relationship between father and son.

Q: If you could have tea and cookies with any fictional character, who would you choose? What would be on the menu?

A: Professor McGonagall and we would definitely drink some pumpkin juice.

Thanks so much for being here with us today, Lisa, and good luck with your new releases!

Guest Mommy Author: Josi S. Kilpack

When I first saw that my interview would post on Friday the 13th, I immediately began brainstorming authors appropriate to the day. Lots of choices ran through my head, but one stuck out right away, Josi S. Kilpack, author of several cozy culinary mysteries. As a mystery writer, she's the perfect choice for an interview on Friday the 13th. As a mom of four, she's the perfect choice for this blog. 

About Josi: Josi S. Kilpack hated to read until her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and accredits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began writing her first novel in 1998 and never stopped. Her novel, Sheep’s Clothing won the Whitney Award 2007 for Mystery/Suspense. Lemon Tart, the first book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series was a finalist in 2009.  Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah with her husband, children, dog, and varying number of chickens.

Josi's latest culinary mystery,  Banana Split.

Me: First off, as a teen I read every Marry Higgins Clark my small-town library had and once thought I, too, could write mysteries. Alas, such is NOT the case. How did you get into writing mysteries and what made you choose cozy, culinary mysteries?

my story was fitting into the "cozy" spere of things, and it was actually my publisher who suggested I put recipes in it. Sadie talked about food and made food throughout the book, so it wasn't hard, but I'd never actually read one before.

Me: Have you ever used incidences from real life for scenes in your novels? Or have any real people inspired characters?

Josi: I had never written a mystery when I started Lemon Tart, and I started it as a contest entry--Jeff Savage did a contest for the first chapter of a mystery novel that involved food. I only wrote that one chapter at first, but had a good time and kept going. In the process, I had to read up on the formula for a mystery and learn a lot of craft-skills that I hadn't had to use with my other books. I was about half-way through when I realized

Me: Where do you get your inspirations for your culinary mysteries? How do you research for them?

Josi: Each book has either started with a recipe or a region. The region parts take a lot of research but I tend to 'spot-research' which means I'll write based on my best guess and when I get to a part where I need a factual thing, I look it up. I get myself in trouble sometimes when I later find out I was 'guessing' wrong, but for the most part it works. I'm not a really great researcher so I never recommend that people do it my way. The story comes together through trial and error and error and error. I'm a sloppy writer and tend to poke around until a plot takes off. I don't recommend doing that either.

Josi: Most of my character start with a real person, but then they always morph into someone completely different. I do use real scenes in my books, but they are always highly fictionalized by the time I finish with them. 

Me: You have four non-culinary mystery books, one book out for the Newport Ladies Book Club and another in the works, seven in the Sadie Hoffmiller culinary mysteries series and another in the works, and any other projects you don't mention on twitter ;) PLUS four kids. So the question is: how?

Josi: I'm neurotic and always stressed. I'm thrilled to be where I am, but it keeps me running. It certainly helps that I love what I'm doing, therefore it's easier to make it a priority, but I'm always unbalanced somewhere in my life and trying to keep up. For now, it's working and it's worth the sacrifices. I've learned to do everything fast and I don't have a lot of down time.

Me: You wrote your first book with two young children and while on bed rest during your third pregnancy, right? How did you hold down the fort at home while writing? 

Josi: With that first book, I had two sisters who were working hard to keep my life going and a wonderful husband who took on a lot of extra responsibility. It was a very hard and frustrating time, for all of us I'm sure, and yet I think it was to distract myself from the hard stuff that I began that first story. I needed to think of something else, and it has grown into something fabulous. A friend said to me once "Thank goodness for bedrest" and it took me a minute to realize what a blessing that was. I've wondered if I'd have taken the time and uncovered the passion for writing if I hadn't truly had nothing else to do. It was a lesson to me that sometimes our trials end up being the door to something unexpected.

Me: How big of a role does your husband play in your ability to pursue a writing career?

I could not do this without Lee. From the very start he encouraged me to pursue it and he's always behind the scenes encouraging me to keep going, letting me vent about hard things, and yet keeping me grounded as well. It's easy for me to get completely lost in my fictional worlds, and he's there to pull me back and remind me of reality and my responsibility here. His confidence in me has been the most important aspect of my writing, without his support I can't imagine my ever seeking this in the first place, let alone sticking to it on the really hard days. He's priceless for me.

Me: What system works in your house for just getting it all done -- kids, writing, housework, etc. etc. etc.!

Josi: My kids have chore days where once a week they are in charge of almost everything--dishes, bathrooms, pets, straightening, etc. It's about an hour of work, but I only have one kid I have to hound and if they all keep up with it then we stay on top of things. I get up early (5:00 most days) in order to exercise and do some home maintenance before they go to school or, since it's summer time, before they wake up. My kids start doing their own laundry at 11, so I only have one that I have to wash clothes for and this helps a great deal as well. I try to write in blocks of time, rather than in small snippets so I'm usually trying to get everything done so I can sit down for a couple of hours. Some days it works, some days it doesn't. For the last year and a half I have gone to our office once a week in the evening and written until midnight with some other writer friends. It's been a very effective thing for me, since getting away from the distractions at home helps me to focus. AND, just a couple of months ago I hired a housekeeper to come in twice a month and do floors and bathrooms. I just couldn't keep up and my kids didn't do a good enough job and it was worth the $200/month to not have to stress out about it. I felt guilty about it for the first hour :-)

Me: The Newport Ladies Book Club series is centered around, well, women and books! Daisy is a mother. How much of your parenting style went into creating her character?

Josi: Daisy is very different from me, but she was reflective more of my 'place' as a mom as my style. My oldest daughter just started college, living on campus, and as her departure got closer I found myself panicking. I have struggled with motherhood, I don't feel like I'm very good at it and it hasn't been as satisfying as I thought it would be when I started it out. For many, many years I was counting the days until my kids grew up and left, and yet now as they are doing that, I'm overwhelmed by it and realizing things I missed or things that will never be the same again. Daisy was an extreme example of someone realizing those things too and through writing it I worked out some of my own demons.

Me: What can you tell us about SHANNON's character for your next NLBC book?

Josi: Shannon is a pharmacist with a good family and good career. She has a step-daughter who has struggled with drugs and alcohol and who comes to Shannon for help. Shannon sees so much potential and wants her success so much that she hides things from her husband and son, and justifies her actions because of her goals, but finds out that in the process she's gone against her own values. I'm only about half way done with it so far and it's been another important journey for me personally. I'm eager to see how it turns out :-) 

Me: Finally, and most importantly, what ice cream flavor is an absolute necessity in your freezer?

Josi: Vanilla. I'm a very exciting person. :-) 

Thanks, Josi for taking time to answer my stimulating questions. ;) You can find out more about Josi by stopping by her web page and blog or following her on twitter.

Author Interview: Jennifer Shaw Wolf

I can't tell you all how excited I am to have debut author Jennifer Shaw Wolf here on Mommy Authors today! About a year ago I was perusing the client list of my dream agency (Nelson Literary Agency, for those of you who are curious) and there I found Jennifer.  She's from Idaho - like me - attended both BYU-I and BYU - like me - and is now living in the rainy northwest - like me. When I found out she is also a Young Adult writer I just had to contact her.

Since then we've emailed a few times and I've come to think of her as a mentor. I try not to be too needy as a protege, but she has always been super nice about encouraging me and answering any questions I have. Basically, not only is she a fantastic writer, but she's nice to boot!

*Be sure to stop by my site,  http://rachellarow.blogspot.com, to read my review of BREAKING BEAUTIFUL, and leave a comment there for a chance to win an electronic copy of the book!* 

          

 

Breaking Beautiful

Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship. When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? 

RL:  Was BREAKING BEAUTIFUL the first manuscript you ever wrote?  Was it the first manuscript you ever queried?

JSW:  BREAKING BEAUTIFUL was my third completed manuscript, but only the second manuscript I had queried. (The first two were part of a series.)

RL:  If you're willing to share this, how many rejections did you get before you found your agent?

JSW:  I didn’t keep track with my first manuscript because I queried, revised, queried for about six months. With BREAKING BEAUTIFUL I kept a log. I queried 15 agents. I received 11 rejections and was fortunate enough to receive for offers of representation. I know how unusual this is and how blessed I was.

RL:  Can you pinpoint the creation of your story idea to one particular moment/event, or was it such a gradual process that there is no real point of origin? 

JSW:  The story idea came from a writing prompt for an on-line class I was taking. I had to describe an object using all of the senses, except for sight. I wrote about a girl clutching a bloody T-shirt in a dark room. That was the start of the idea. I found myself thinking about where the shirt came from and what it meant to her. The idea evolved into a story. However, I ended up dropping that scene from the manuscript in an early draft.

RL:  How long did it take you to write the book?  (From conception to the manuscript you began shopping around to agents) 

JSW:  My first three manuscripts (including BREAKING BEAUTIFUL) took between 8 and 12 weeks to finish. Successive manuscripts have taken longer, months instead of weeks.

RL:  Knowing how busy your life is (not only is she a mother who is actively involved in her community, but she recently helped organize and host a group of exchange students), how did you find time to write?  Do you have any secrets or strategies you're willing to share?

JSW:  Late nights, early mornings. Lack of sleep. I’m not a good example of how to balance writing and life. I write whenever I have down time. My laptop has gone with me to many sports practices and music lessons. I wrote a lot of BREAKING BEAUTIFUL on the way up to the ski hill.

RL:  On the contrary, I think that makes a lot of us feel better.  For my part I'm glad to know I'm not the only one suffering sleep deprivation.  

I know you originally wanted your story to be named Tigereye, for reasons made obvious throughout the book, but how did it come to be named BREAKING BEAUTIFUL and what is the meaning/significance of the title?

JSW:  I got the news that my publisher wanted the title changed in my first edit letter. After that my editor and I passed title names back and forth. She came up with BREAKING BEAUTIFUL and I loved it. The title is significant because a lot of Allie’s identity and the way she sees herself comes from how she looks. Not only was she mentally “broken” by Trip, but she was physically scarred from the accident. She lost her long hair and her beautiful face was marred. She has to break through her own idea of what is beautiful if she is ever to become what she can be.

RL:  Assuming you've never had to live through any relationship like Allie's, how were you able to give such a clear, believable picture of the emotions associated with being abused? 

JSW:  It was hard. I wanted to make it authentic, but not too brutal. I think everyone has felt powerless or hopeless at some point in their life. I drew on that kind of experience and added to it. I [also] read a lot about emotional and physical abuse, and grieving, especially as it pertained to teens.

RL:  Now being a published author, has your writing process changed at all?

JSW:  I tried to make writing more of a job and found it drove me crazy. I outlined the heck out of the manuscript I sold on proposal and found it blocked me. I have returned to the outline-as-I-go, seat-of-my-pants, writing-because-I-love-it method. It works much better for me. I do take it more seriously, but I am grateful every day for the opportunity I have been given to share my writing.

RL:  What do you know about writing and/or publishing now that you wish you had known when you first started the journey to becoming a writer?

JSW:  Nothing. I was blissfully oblivious and I’m glad I was. I wrote my first manuscript because I wanted to see if I could do it. Yes, having a published novel has always been a dream of mine, but I wrote my first story just for fun. I didn’t know anything about looking for an agent, finding a publisher, or anything else about the publishing process. I’m glad I did it that way. I was able to enjoy and celebrate that first finished draft without any pressure. It was just for me. I wouldn’t change that now, but I also wouldn’t change the experience I’ve gained throughout the process. I think too many people start writing in order to be published. The pressure can block you like nothing else. Give yourself a “starter novel” that is just for you. ENJOY IT.

RL:  When can we expect your next book?  :)

My second book is tentatively called SHARDS OF GLASS and it is tentatively scheduled to come out in September of 2013. I say tentatively because these things can and do change.

Thank you so much for interviewing with us today Jennifer!   For more information about Jennifer visit her official site www.jennifershawwolf.com or her blog www.wolftalez.blogspot.com.  Click here to purchase your own copy of BREAKING BEAUTIFUL.


Readers, don't forget to check out my review of BREAKING BEAUTIFUL on my website: http://rachellarow.blogspot.com  and leave a comment there for a chance to win an electronic copy of BREAKING BEAUTIFUL.