-
Podcast 15: Committing to Your Blog
* As authors, it’s important that we stay connected to our audiences. Blogging allows us to do just that. On a blog platform, we can connect with readers, showcase our work, and share other experiences that allow readers to get to know us. For all these reasons and more, it’s important to blog. Today’s podcast covers just that. I welcome comments, suggestions, and feedback on today’s topic. I don’t claim to know everything about blogging, but I do know that I’ve been keeping up with Steph’s Scribe since 2011, and it’s become a part of me. I’d like to share my thoughts with you in today’s podcast. Be well, all!…
-
Dear Fellow Writers
Dear Fellow Writers, Here’s a list of the things we do as independent authors: -write our books -edit our books -publish our books -promote our books -attend book signings -attend book talks -visit book clubs -blog -enter writing contests -support other indie authors -build an author platform -curate social media posts -network with others -create a podcast -join a writing group -learn photography -begin a new story -start all over In addition, we also read a lot. And some of us have full-time and/or part-time jobs. Fellow writers, what am I missing? There’s so much that we do. The list is long, and quite diverse, But I’m sure I forgot…
-
The Wonderful, Wacky World of Writers
I’m just gonna put this out there because it makes me sad: too many people are not reading. They are spending their time on other things, which is great, but I would like to see the average books people read a year climb (see a piece I wrote last year about average number of books people read each year by clicking here.) I am, however, encouraged on Instagram by all the READERS and WRITERS I’ve become connected with over the last six months. People post books, book art, and their favorite stories in beautiful pictures. It’s been a whirlwind of likes and follows, but the people I’m connected with are…
-
Book Marketing & An Infographic
One of the things we independent authors have to continually do is market ourselves, our books, and what we are working on presently. THIS IS THE HARDEST PART OF THIS PROCESS — TRUST ME. I am no pro at it, believe me, but I strive each day to work on it and learn something new. Therefore, this morning I told myself I would design a marketing piece—take a new tactic—and that piece is the infographic below that showcases each of my fiction novels with a brief description of what they are about. I’m posting it below for feedback and to hear from other indie authors about what you do. What…
-
Book Promotion Wrap Up Week One –Thanks for Entering To Win!
*** Week one of book promotion for Inn Significant has come to an end, and I wanted to thank all 594 people who entered to win on Amazon for doing so! We had three winners this week–Thelma, Kendra, and Jessica. I hope you all enjoy Inn Significant…I really do. I’ll be giving away some signed copies this week on my author Facebook page thanks to some good ideas from my savvy students in public relations class. So stay tuned… I also wanted to thank the Star-Democrat newspaper on Maryland’s Eastern Shore for featuring the story about the book this week. Hopefully, some folks who either live on the Eastern Shore…
-
Book Giveaways for Inn Significant
There’s a first time for everything, ladies and gentleman. I’m still learning all the ropes for succeeding as an independent author, and it’s a constant learning curve. That said, I’ve set up my first BOOK GIVEAWAY ON AMAZON. If you follow the link below, you can enter to win by the 28th of February; I’m giving away 3 copies of my newest novel entitled Inn Significant. Good luck, you guys! Follow the link below to enter to win a copy of Inn Significant! https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/aa533a36d37b846b *** Stephanie Verni is Professor of Business Communication at Stevenson University and is the author of Inn Significant, Baseball Girl, and Beneath the Mimosa Tree. Along…
-
The Game is Always On: The Truth About Being an Indie Author
I don’t know about you, fellow indie authors, but there are only so many hours in the day for us to write and promote our books. However, the game is always on, and you can’t afford to slack. For me, writing is the most pleasurable and most fun part of being an independent author, just because I love the creative process so much. The marketing is by far the most challenging, and so we rely on others to help us via word-of-mouth or shares on social media. I’m knee deep into writing my third novel, and it’s going well so far. I hope to complete this book by the end…
-
Preparing to Launch! A Personal Letter to Readers.
Dear Readers, I don’t often go on and on about all the different responsibilities an independent author has to tackle on a daily basis, but none is greater than getting your books ready for that “big release.” I can see the finish line. I am almost there. In addition to the release of my almost three-year project “Baseball Girl,” a novel about a woman’s experience with loss, love, and relationships while working in the baseball big leagues, which is (very) loosely based on my own experiences, I’ve also been writing and putting together a collection of short stories and poetry. I’m shooting to have both on the market in February.…
-
LL Cool J, Goals & Awards
I would by lying if I said I didn’t want to place in the National Indie Excellence Awards contest for authors. This morning’s butterflies told me so; I had received an email the day before letting me know the winners and finalists would be announced today. I have a bit of a competitive spirit about me and was hopeful that Beneath the Mimosa Tree would receive a positive reception from the judges. It did. I am a finalist for romance. The winner in the category is Bonnie Trachtenberg, a lovely lady I met in Miami in November when we accepted our medals at the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. I am…
-
Video Trailer #2 for Beneath the Mimosa Tree
Here’s the second video trailer for the book with the author’s overview of the novel. Also, friends in the Severna Park, Arnold, and Annapolis areas—”Beneath the Mimosa Tree” is now available at Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery in Park Plaza.
-
The Latest On My Novel (An Honest Update)
Dear Readers, I thought that since I had offered updates prior to the book’s publication, and you were kind enough to follow along, it was only right that I share what’s happened since the book’s publication. I try to stay positive about it, and continue to try new avenues to spread the word. What I’ve learned? It ain’t easy being a self-published, independent author. It’s been two months since “Beneath the Mimosa Tree” launched. Here’s what I can tell you about the challenges and rewards of self-publishing: The Big Challenge: Marketing & Spreading the Word—Being an independent author isn’t easy. I’m not backed by a publisher (though sometimes that doesn’t…
-
Talking “Broccoli” at My First Book Talk & Signing
To say I enjoyed every moment of my first book talk and signing last night would be an understatement. I am pretty certain I could make that a habit. It doesn’t get much better than that—talking about writing, reading, books, and broccoli while eating cannolis and biscotti and drinking a good cup of coffee amongst friends. My lovely colleagues in Business Communication at Stevenson University, Chip Rouse, Leeanne Bell, and Deric Greene, hosted my event (we missed our dear colleague Heather Harris who is on sabbatical). I got choked up listening to the kind words Chip said as she introduced me. It was incredibly heartwarming. And then, when I got…
