Writing...Just because!

Today will be our first day back with The Author Journey after a summer break! Hope you had a wonderful summer. As usual, we'll be broadcasting live on Tuesday afternoons at 4 pm (Atlantic), 3 pm (Eastern) on my LinkedIn profile as well as on the OC Publishing Facebook page and YouTube channel . The line-up for September is phenomenal, beginning today with the ladies from Partridge Island Publishing , Amanda Evans and Shannon Dykens. They have set up such an amazing author publishing cooperative, along with a book shop at the beautiful Area 506 Waterfront Container Village , where they feature not only their own authors but other indie authors and small presses (including OC Pub authors). What they have accomplished is nothing short of incredible and we'll be talking with them all about the how's and why's and how the summer has gone for them. Check out the full line-up for September below! You may be wondering why I started The Author Journey... so I'll tell you!...

Getting recognition for your writing in the form of an award is not only a boost in confidence but it’s also a great marketing and PR opportunity. Having an industry stamp of approval from an unbiased judging process is a great endorsement of the quality of your writing and gives you fodder to help rise 2013 IPPY Awards in NY above the noise of the competition. One of the most highly regarded awards programs for indie authors is the IPPY Awards , which was started by Independent Publisher Magazine 20 years ago. My first novel, Mental Pause , was a bronze award-winner in the best adult fiction ebook category in 2013. I was both shocked and pleased, as it was the first awards program I had ever entered. The publicity alone was well worth it, not to mention a great party in New York! The point is, including awards programs in your book launch marketing plan is a solid strategy. It’s great exposure for both you as an author and for your books. Here are the awards program...

It gives me great pleasure today to interview my new favourite children's book author, Alison DeLory. I must admit, I'm a bit biased as Alison and I have known each other for years, both did public relations at Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax, NS (where she now teaches) and even shared an office during a PR co-op work term! Her first children's book was Lunar Lifter and she is now celebrating the recent launch of her second, Scotia Sinker. As Alison explores this new genre, she continues her work as a university professor, freelance writer, editor and communications consultant.   Here's a look into Alison's writing life:  Alison DeLory, author, editor, teacher Tell us a little bit about your new book, Scotia Sinker In Scotia Sinker, Cameron, 10, and Erin, 6, take a new adventure in their gigantic cardboard box —transforming it with their "magic" markers into a small submarine that plunges them into the Atlantic Ocean. They're pull...

As I sat down to start writing this blog about being persistent, I mentally stumbled because, well… persistence is tough. Especially during the lull that inevitably comes after the flurry of a book launch. Actually, it’s not a lull, it often feels like a crash and burn! How can I write about persistence when all I want to do is hide away and curl up with a good book? Love those Sugar Highs It’s like the crash after a sugar high. My new book, Deep Deceit , came out with a bang! It reached the Kindle Top 10 in mystery/suspense on Amazon.ca during launch week. Heady stuff. The problem is, there’s no way, other than huge sales or continuous free downloads, to keep it there. But, the idea ultimately is sales, right? My book is in a very popular genre so I’m competing with some heavy hitters, but I persevere. Helpful Resources I read self-publishing and marketing books voraciously. One I read a while back and pulled out again recently is called Let’s Get Visible by David Ga...