Building Your Writer’s Brand

Brilliant, all writers need to take a look at author E. Denise Billup’s take on what makes you you, and so special.

E. Denise Billups's avatarE. Denise Billups Books

Indie authors are jack-of-all-trades. Not only are they writers, but also promoters and marketers of their finished product. This for most writers is difficult and for some an afterthought. Before you finish your book, you should have a well-defined marketing plan established and the first step is to create a mission statement.

In simple terms, a mission statement is short, concise sentence or paragraph describing your business and purpose (who you are, what you do, and your purpose or goals). This single statement is your marketing message, disseminating your brand, and the writer’s guide to reaching his/her ultimate goals.

Most people believe a mission statement is for major corporations or nonprofit organizations but for anyone building a brand whether you’re a painter, architect or writer, a mission statement is a crucial piece to crafting your image. For indie or traditionally published authors, a mission statement conveys your passion, your expertise, and…

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Day 10: Getting Into The Groove! #nanowrimo #amwriting

Day 10 of nanowrimo.png

 

So here we are ten days into National Novel Writing month, and I’m getting into my groove I think. I did some research on the Jazz scene in the 1950s as that’s where I’m at with writing. You can see what my project is about here. Today I wrote less than I would have hoped. That said I did start late and it’s already just after 11:00 pm London time. And I was reading for research. But the good thing is as you can see, I still only need to write less than 1,000 words a day,  for my next addition to my romance series. When I look at it like that, life really does not seem that bad actually. 🙂  I can knock out under 1,000  a day no probs… all I need to do is be disciplined and do it! No You-Tube, or messing around. Just park my ass and write .

Tomorrow’s another day, I’ll try this theory of park it and write it tomorrow.

How are you doing fellow #nanowrimo writers?? Is the word count coming along? What’s your camp like online? Mine is really lively actually, I can’t keep up with all the conversation. Some lovely writers though, I seem to be the only one writing  romance… I can work with that it’s okay. Quite a few crime and fantasy writers in my camp.

Rejected? Five ways to overcome the sting

Ed Hoornaert's avatarEd Hoornaert (Mr. Valentine)

Today, I’m pleased as punch to hand my blog over to a very special  writer, my son, Chris Hoornaert, who investigates what science has to say about an issue of importance to all writers:

Rejection!

Whether its a curt note from an editor, agent, or simply a bad review, we’ve all felt its viperous sting. So how do we cope?

Let me turn it over now to Chris.

< === >

Five Ways to Overcome the Sting of Rejection

“You have no business being a writer and should give up.” Zane Grey ignores the advice. There are believed to be over 250 million copies of his books in print.

You’ve slaved for countless hours over your masterpiece, pondering every detail. This work has been your driving purpose. In your mind, the division between you and your work has blurred completely. And then the answer arrives. The editor responds to your…

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Out Now On Pre-Order: A Suspenseful, Romantic, Erotic, and Fast Paced Reading Experience This July! Release Date 28.7.17 @Didi_Oviatt #kdsuspense #amreading #newrelease

Volume One Out Now: 2 x bonus stories & Part #2 of

It Was The First Time I Killed A Man.

Release date 28th July 2017

Book Blurb:

 A suspenseful novel with a twist. Eight short stories, by two suspense authors, from diverse backgrounds. From opposite sides of the Atlantic these stories have been created. One author started the tale and the other ended it. No discussion, no pre-planning but yet their stories are seamless. With just creativity and the use of writing prompts, to craft one tale, with two different writers. This anthology of suspenseful, fast paced and engaging tales covers multiple genres. From heart felt romance, crime, fantasy, and steamy historical fiction. There is a story for everyone!

Steamy Historical Crime Fiction: It was The First Time I Killed A Man.

It’s 1972 and New York’s first female serial killer Lisa Vanacilli is in the hot seat again, ten years after her conviction of murder to the first degree and innocent plea. The ruthless but sexy reporter Tiffany Low cracks Lisa for a confession… at a price. Lisa is strong, courageous and says it how it is. This story has been extended due to reader’s demand. And is only for adult readers.

Psychological Fiction: Every Time I Hear That Voice From The Basement.

George appears to be harmless. The local neighbourhood geek on the outside, married to Jolene. In reality, he’s a very disturbed man. His path crosses with Dana, the local check out girl. This is a psychological suspense story with a twist.

Crime Fiction: The Entrance To The Tunnel Is His Only Way Out.

Juan is a wanted man, and an ex-gang member on the run from Atlanta to Mexico. With a hundred grand in cash stolen from his ex-boss, he meets an unlikely fate in Mexico. A fast-paced crime fiction story.

Contemporary Romance: When His Hands Run Up My Thighs I…

Love has no time limit, age limit or use by date. Sarah now in her fifties is reunited with her long-lost love Joshua. They last had contact in 1961. In the present day, thanks to the advancement of technology their paths cross. A heart-warming and modern tale, about long distance love, that will leave you warm inside.

Suspense: We Only Said Goodbye With Words, I Died A Hundred Times:

 In 1963 Russian Femme Fatale Mila Petrov is London’s top Madam. Her entertainment house is booming, she has a team of London’s strongest women behind her. Unfinished business from her past creeps up and haunts her. It’s nothing she can’t handle. A suspenseful historical tale, with a strong femme fatale.

Fantasy: The Ones Who Live At The Bottom Of The Ocean, Come To The Surface.

A beautiful coming of age story, featuring sixteen year old Zoe and her mother May-Li. Myth becomes reality, as Zoe finds out who and what she really is. Her mixed descent reveals more than what meets the eye. This fantasy story is set against the backdrop of a Greek island and Hong Kong, China.

Suspenseful Crime Fiction: Guilty As Charged, In Self-Defence (Bonus Story)

California’s sassy, tough, and likeable defence lawyer Catherine has taken on a case so high profile, if she wins she’ll become a partner of Martin Law Firm. Defending forty six year old Mrs. Chevelle. An ex Las Vegas show girl, now a Hollywood wife, on trial for the murder of her high-profile husband. She claims she’s innocent. Readers are taken on a fast -paced journey on a mission to seek the truth.

Contemporary Fiction: It’s A Man’s Man’s World: (Bonus Story)

A beautiful modern tale showing the love and appreciation of a woman. James Brown said it right when he said, “it’s a man’s man’s world, but it would mean nothing without a woman or a girl.”

Pre order just $3.50 Click The Links.

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Smashwords

Joint Author Bio:

Kim and Didi were thrilled when they crossed paths in 2017. As fellow suspense authors they read each other’s work. It became clear there’s a mutual author love between the two! This led them to become writing buddies, to entertain you and sharpen their craft as writers. From across the Atlantic Ocean, the two authors will respond to writing prompt challenges, voted by readers and/or themselves to respond to. The fun bit…. one author will start the story/challenge off and the other will finish it. Your challenge is working out who wrote what!

As well as suspense, the two authors will turn their hand to genres they have never dabbled in before, and have a lot of fun along the way.

Kim and Didi never discuss beforehand how a story should go or who writes what. It’s a surprise for each other to see how their story ends, or what lands in their inbox to finish off.

Kim and Didi's Suspenseful Collection

NaNoWriMo Update: Week One #amwriting #writerslife

nano3nanao

 

Jes … where did week one go? I was up to my eyebrows in words, but just not words for my NaNoWriMo project! Last week the race was on to meet the deadline Didi and I set ourselves, to wrap up our first anthology we’re publishing together. We plan to release it on the 28th. I seem to have bitten off more than I can chew! As I also have book #2 of my romance series out in just ten days!

As a result of all this exciting stuff, I’m only 2,000 words deep into my actual NaNoWriMo project, which is novella #3 of my romance series. The plan is to focus on  it this week, starting right now I have a few hours to write. How’s  your word count going?

Please tell me it’s doing better than mine?? Drop me an update comment.

Coming 28th July 2017: Volume One #amreading #amwriting #kdsuspense #newrelease

About two weeks ago, when Didi and I wrote our last story for Kim and Didi’s Suspenseful Collection weekly writing challenges, I said we’re taking a short break because it’s “the quiet before the storm.” I’ve  hardly blogged the last few weeks, now you know why .

Boom!

And yes at your request, New York’s first female serial killer Lisa Vanacilli is back! In part two of “It Was The First Time I Killed A  Man.” Plus we have two never seen bonus stories.

 

The Suspenseful Collection Volume One Ebook Cover.jpg

A suspenseful novel with a twist. Eight short stories, by two suspense authors, from diverse backgrounds. From opposite sides of the Atlantic these stories have been created. One author started the tale and the other ended it. No discussion, no pre-planning. Just creativity with the use of writing prompts, to craft one tale, with two different writers. This anthology of suspenseful, fast paced and engaging tales covers multiple genres. From heart felt romance, crime, fantasy, and steamy historical fiction.

Steamy Historical Crime Fiction: It was The First Time I Killed A Man.

It’s 1972 and New York’s first female serial killer Lisa Vanacilli is in the hot seat again, ten years after her conviction of murder to the first degree and innocent plea. The ruthless but sexy reporter Tiffany Low cracks Lisa for a confession… at a price. Lisa is strong, courageous and says it how it is. This story has been extended due to reader’s demand. And is only for adult readers.

Psychological Fiction: Every Time I Hear That Voice From The Basement.

George appears to be harmless. The local neighbourhood geek on the outside, married to Jolene. In reality, he’s a very disturbed man. His path crosses with Dana, the local check out girl. This is a psychological suspense story with a twist.

Crime Fiction: The Entrance To The Tunnel Is His Only Way Out.

Juan is a wanted man, and an ex-gang member on the run from Atlanta to Mexico. With hundred grand in cash stolen from his ex-boss, he meets an unlikely fate in Mexico. A fast-paced crime fiction story.

 Contemporary Romance: When His Hands Run Up My Thighs I…

Love has no time limit, age limit or use by date. Sarah now in her fifties is reunited with her long-lost love Joshua. They last had contact in 1961. In the present day, thanks to the advancement of technology their paths cross. A heart-warming and modern tale, about long distance love, that will leave you warm inside.

 Suspense: We Only Said Goodbye With Words, I Died A Hundred Times:

Russian Femme Fatale Mila Petrov is London’s top Madam. Her entertainment house is booming, she has a team of London’s strongest women behind her. Unfinished business from her past creeps up and haunts her. It’s nothing she can’t handle. A suspenseful historical tale, with a strong femme fatale.

 Fantasy: The Ones Who Live At The Bottom Of The Ocean, Come To The Surface.

A beautiful coming of age story, featuring sixteen year old Zoe and her mother May-Li. Myth becomes reality, as Zoe finds out who and what she really is. Her mixed descent reveals more than what meets the eye. This fantasy story is set against the backdrop of a Greek island and Hong Kong, China.

Suspenseful Crime Fiction: Guilty As Charged, In Self-Defence

California’s sassy, tough, and likeable defence lawyer Catherine has taken on a case so high profile, if she wins she’ll become a partner of Martin Law Firm. Defending forty six year old Mrs. Chevelle. An ex Las Vegas show girl, now a Hollywood wife, on trial for the murder of her high-profile husband. She claims she’s innocent. Readers are taken on a fast -paced journey on a mission to seek the truth.

Contemporary Fiction: It’s A Man’s Man’s World:

A beautiful modern tale showing the love and appreciation of a woman. James Brown said it right when he said, “it’s a man’s man’s world, but it would mean nothing without a woman or a girl.

 

Stay tuned for more details on pre-sale! This serial novel will be available in e-book and paperback on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, ibooks

And many more platforms this month!

Kim and Didi's Suspenseful Collection

My writing buddy challenges

My Day Three: NaNoWriMo Update #amwriting #writerslife #nanowrimo

 

Happy Monday!

I logged on this morning keen to read all the progress updates from my fellow NaNoWriMo buddies. You’re all looking good! I’ve found my new camp and writing mates. I’m in camp thirty six, anyone there? Do you like your camp? So far I’ve spoke to a writer over in the USA in Kentucky writing fan fiction. Here’s my nanowrimo progress.

Day One:

Well Saturday night I did make a start on my novella to write this month, but I never actually typed anything. I outlined the story. You guys remember I’m a plotter right? I can’t do this panster writer stuff very well. I’m kind of learning to fly by my knickers when writing, during with my weekly writing challenges, with my writing buddy Didi Oviatt slowly. Very slowly.

Day Two:

 On Sunday I did a bit of research. Book #3 of the Romance Set in Paradise series will have a little historical feel to it. Not a lot, but the characters are slightly more mature. Most of my characters are around my age mid thirties. This romance novella will feature a heroine in her fifties. I look forward to writing the POV of a more mature lady. Research is needed as I’m featuring the 1950s jazz scene. Woooo hooo! An era I love, and have referenced in previous stories I’ve wrote. However I’ve never actually taken it there in a full book and really made use of it. This story will move between the present and the past.  And the exotic paradise location is … Greece! Somewhere I have been and really liked. I won’t say too much in case I change my mind lost moment. I knocked out five hundred words last night.

Today I have a few hours to write, I plan to write like no one is looking, knock out some serious word count. I’ll be up to my eyebrows in words for a few hours.

 

Have a great day!

100 FREE E-BOOK DOWNLOADS ! UP FOR GRABS. #amreading #romance #suspense #giveaway

Call me crazy, I also entered A Stranger in France into the same writing competition as Havana Heat. That means as part of it there are one hundred e-book downloads up grabs.

Blurb:

 

In A Stranger in France readers are taken on a fast paced, modern day romantic journey, that spans across the city of London, the glitz and glam of France, and the beautiful English coast. There’s enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat turning pages.

Career driven and successful thirty two year old Kate Brown travels to southern France to visit her best friend Tanya Adams, for a well deserved short break, and to forget her worries in London. Her path crosses with tall, dark, devilishly handsome and wealthy Nicholas D’Coix. As a young man, Nicholas turned himself around and built an empire of wealth, he’s now one of Paris’ top three entrepreneurs. In a whirlwind of steamy romance Nicholas and Kate fall in love.

Kate returns to London leaving Nicholas behind and the two are still very much in love. Kate faces a few surprises of her own on her return to London. She makes a bold life changing move, to make the most of her life changing dilemma. Touching on real life issues these two strong characters battle it out, against all the odds in the name of love for a beautiful happy ever after.

 

Grab a free down load by clicking here.

 

 

ASIF paperback giveaway