#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Pamela Webber

I’d like to welcome author, Pamela Webber to the blog today for #ThisorThatThursday.

Things you need for your writing sessions: My computer, a notepad, and pencil

Things that hamper your writing: Necessary housework

Things you love about writing: Creating characters that become friends, settings that are life-like, and storylines that resonate with readers.

Things you hate about writing: Jumping through the hoops of publishing and marketing
Words that describe you: Loyal. Ethical. Questioning.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Direct

Favorite music or song: All genres

Music that drives you crazy: Songs without a melody

Things you’d walk a mile for: A really good cup of coffee.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Fanaticism of any kind.

Things you always put in your books: Life lessons I want my children and grandchildren to know long after
I’m gone.

Things you never put in your books: Overt sex. Books can be sensual and deal with sex related issues in fascinating ways without being graphic.

Favorite places you’ve been: Just about anywhere in the US, Spain, Africa/Botswana, Europe, Bermuda
Places you never want to go to again: Africa/Namibia. Beautiful place, but we were there during protests against a corrupt government.

Favorite books (or genre): To Kill a Mockingbird
Books you wouldn’t buy: Fifty Shades of Gray

Things that make you happy: My family, all of them.
Things that drive you crazy:  Being told by anyone how I should feel and react.

Best thing you’ve ever done: Marrying my wonderful husband
Biggest mistake: Underestimating evil people.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: I spent a month in Peru at a deep Amazon research station and hiking the Inca trail to Machu Pichu.
Something you chickened out from doing: Skydiving.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: A reader compared my debut novel, The Wiregrass, to To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Sawyer, and Of Mice and Men.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: A PETA member took me to task that one of my characters put an out of control cat in a mailbox, even though the cat was fine.

About Pamela:

Pam Webber is author of the bestselling debut Southern novel, The Wiregrass, a Historical Novels Review
Editors’ Choice, and Read of the Month at Southern Literary Review. Her second novel, Moon Water, which was released in August garnered both of these honors as well. An invited panelist for Virginia Festival of the Book, Pam has also published extensively in nursing and is an award-winning educator and family nurse practitioner. She and her husband, Jeff, live in the Northern Shenandoah Valley.

Let’s Be Social:
Author website: https://pamwebber.com

Facebook: @authorpamwebber

Twitter: @pamwebber1

Instagram: @pbwebber1

BookBub: @pwebber1

YouTube: Pam Webber on YouTube

What I Learned from Jim Azevedo and Smashwords

This week, Jim Azevedo, Marketing Director for Smashwords, did a presentation to my writing group about epublishing. Here’s what I learned.

• ebooks rarely go out of print.

• The first step is to write a great book.

• Everyone needs an editor and a proofreader.

• ebooks are consumed differently than print books. They can be read on multiple devices and on screens that are different sizes.

• Formatting is crucial for ebooks.

• Smashwords offers some free style guides and other resources on their website.

• The cover design is critical for your book.

• If you purchase a cover design from an online artist, make sure that you have exclusive use of it. (You don’t want to see your cover with another title and author.)

• Spend your money on editing and cover design. Don’t look like an amateur.

• When readers look for ebooks, the cover is about the size of a stamp (thumbnail size). Your cover needs to be able to look good in a variety of sizes.

• Be fanatical about quality.

• When you price your ebooks, know your genre.

• You need to maximize your book’s availability to a lot of sellers. Make sure you use a distributor.

• When your cover is in draft form, compare it to the top books in your genre.

• Your email list/newsletter is valuable. You own and control it.

• Don’t blast your email list with too many newsletters.

• Most books don’t sell well. There is no magical, silver bullet. Authors need to follow best practices and create the best book they can.

Stuff I Learned during the Pandemic

This has been a crazy, sad, and trying time, and we’ve all be asked to do things differently. And there have been many disappointments and cancellations. I hope you and your family are safe and healthy!

I was reflecting on this and wondering if I should have started a journal. Life was so busy (my day gig is in IT), and we were working long hours getting ready for a massive work from home effort that I didn’t have time. We’ve settled into a routine now. My big days out are the ones where I’m manager on duty in the office or when I head off for groceries.

Here are some of my learnings or realizations…

1. Do not put on lipstick before you put on your face mask. (I’d never worn a mask before.)

2. Wood glue works great for making crafts with wine corks. I made a Christmas tree and a heart-shaped wreath.

3. I miss my stand-up desk that’s at the office. I have to figure out new ways to stand and stretch at home. My job and writing time are very sedentary.

4. I bought a pedal exerciser that fits under my home desk. I put long conference calls on mute and pedal. It helps me get moving.

5. I do like the extra writing time each day because I’m not commuting for two hours each day.

6. My fuzzy coworkers like to hang out in the office where I work. But sometimes, they snore loudlyTrying or pick the worse time to play with the loudest squeaky toy.

7. I am halfway through my Goodreads reading challenge already for the year. And I’ve made a huge dent in my TBR pile. Who’s on Goodreads?

8. We finished a large jigsaw puzzle (covers of the early Hardy Boys mysteries). I wanted to frame it to hang in my office next to my Nancy Drew one. My husband figured out a quick way to flip it to put the sticky backing on it. We slid it on a large piece of cardboard and sandwiched it with more cardboard. Then it was an easy peasy flip, and none of it came apart.

9. My two favorite social media updates are from Pluto Living (a schnauzer in Candaland who gives pandemic advice) and Moonpie Starbox (several doxies dubbed with kid conversations). These are the highlights of my adventures on the big wide web. Check them out. They are both good for lots of laughs.

Writing Advice Worth Its Weight in Gold

Over the years, I’ve received some invaluable advice from editors and other writers that has helped me along my writing journey.

• When you get to the point with your writing and revising where you think you’re done, you’re not. That’s just the beginning.

• Go through your manuscript and use your word processor’s search feature to find your overused words. You will be surprised how many times you use “just” and “that.”

• Everyone needs an editor.

• Everyone needs a proofreader.

• You need to print your document and reread it after every round of edits to ensure that you didn’t create other mistakes.

• Find beta readers or a critique group to help you work through story lines and plot holes.

• Don’t be afraid of reviews or critiques.

• Read the last sentence of each chapter. Make sure it’s strong. It should make the reader want to read past her bedtime.

• Eliminate unnecessary dialogue tags.

• Go through your manuscript and rewrite “be word” sentences.

• Look for passive sentences and rewrite them in active voice.

• If you read a paragraph and you’re bored, your reader will be, too.

• Read your manuscript aloud.

• Writing is a business.

• Guard your writing time.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Judy Snider

I’d like to welcome author Judy Snider to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Words that describe you: Loyal, kind, warm, funny....

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: interrupt others when chatting a little too much

Favorite foods:  Chocolate, crabcakes, donuts,...potato chips...wait, realized I did not put healthy things
I eat...lots, but ...

Things that make you want to gag: Tomatoes

Favorite music or song: All kinds depending on my mood, Motown, folk, Ed Sherin..... .....but favorite songs are
Remember When by Allen Jackson, and  the beautiful What More Can I Say a mother/son wedding dance song my husband and I had done with Pearl Snap studios (yes, no one wants us to sing..ha)

Music that drives you crazy: Punk...most of time....like Irish Punk for a holiday song...

Favorite beverage: Coffee

Something that gives you a sour face: Tomatoes

Favorite smell:  Smell of the ocean, smell of food in the oven on a cold day, and smell of the air after a
rain storm.

Something that makes you hold your nose: Too strong chemicals, scented candles,
etc.

Something you’re really good at: Walking into a room and enjoying chatting with anyone. I love to meet new people, see people I know, and just laugh with them.

Something you’re really bad at: Staying awake late.

Something you wish you could do: Get my books into tv/film....suspense, and get our children's book done by Hallmark

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: How to go about in a boot with a broken ankle....yikkes...

Last best thing you ate: lobster roll

Last thing you regret eating: too spicy a food....

The last thing you ordered online:  Shoes, baby item, and books

The last thing you regret buying: Shoes that didnt fit....

Things you’d walk a mile for: Good food.....family, friends....

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Certain smells, Pouporri, strong chemicals, perfume too strong, etc...

Things you always put in your books:  CATS, Suspense, and Strong Women
Things you never put in your books: Too much violence/blood, or gore.

Favorite places you’ve been:  Mackinaw Island, Michigan, Budapest, New Orleans, Quebec City....lots more too....love traveling....

Places you never want to go to again: Haven't found one like I feel strongly about avoiding, but too crowded cities....

Favorite books (or genre): An Angel Like Me, a wonderful holiday picture book, but I
read suspense and thrillers books. I also now get paperbacks as I like a
"book in hand".

Favorite things to do: Spend time with family and friends, travel, eat, write, watch
shows, and spend time with my cat.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Forms/paperwork

Things that make you happy: Being with family and friends

Things that drive you crazy: When I can't figure out something on the computer

Best thing you’ve ever done: Having two terrific kids (now grown) with my husband.
Biggest mistake: Made many in life, but no biggest....learned from them.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: I love that your books are not too long...suspenseful, but easy quick read

The craziest thing a reader said to you:  Add more murders.....not crazy, but interesting....

Let’s Be Social

Website:    www.judysnider.com    
Instagram: judyksnider_author

How to Keep Your Writing Life Moving during the Pandemic

We are experiencing a unique and scary time. It’s hard on everyone. There’s isolation, loneliness, and disappointment, not to mention fear, stress, and anxiety.

I’m hearing from a lot of writers that they’re having a hard time getting motivated.

I think it’s important during this crisis to keep to a schedule or a routine if you can. Last week, I put makeup and shoes on for two video conferences and a trip for groceries. (Who knew going to the grocery store would be a dress-up occasion!)

Here are some ideas of helping with routines and schedules. I do better when I have a deadline.

1. Write when you feel like it. Try to do some writing every day.

2. Research and revisions count as writing work.

3. Work on blog posts or marketing ideas.

4. Reading in your genre counts as research.

5. Find ways to catch up with others. Video conferencing, phone calls, group chats, and social media are great ways to stay in contact. My two critique groups and my marketing group have moved to Google Hangouts or Zoom. My critique groups give me a monthly deadline, so that helps keep me on schedule.

6. Look for volunteer opportunities and ways to help others. There are many things that you can do from home. My neighborhood Facebook group puts out daily calls for neighbors in need. My church also has a network for people to request assistance. You can use your social media platforms to connect with people and to share information. My alumni association put out a call last week for members to submit thoughts and wishes for the Class of 2020 who had their senior year and celebrations cut short. There are lots of ways you can help.

Let me know what other ideas you have. Best wishes for you and your family! Be safe!

#ThisofThatThursday Author Interview with Anne Moss Rogers

I’d like to welcome author, Anne Moss Rogers to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Quiet, uninterrupted space although I have written in chaotic situations

Things that hamper your writing: Distractions. So I put my computer on “do not disturb.” Best feature ever.

Things you love about writing: The page never taunts me, spits at me, or chastises me for writing how I feel.

Things you hate about writing: Interruptions that take me out of the moment

Hardest thing about being a writer: The time spent sitting alone 

Easiest thing about being a writer: Accessibility to our job and how mobile it is. There is always need for writers and writing

Things you never want to run out of: Toilet paper

Things you wish you’d never bought: A Disney timeshare

Words that describe you: Passionate, emotionally naked, bold, persistent.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Overbooked, tireless.

Favorite smell: Fresh cedar and coffee (although I don’t drink coffee)
Something that makes you hold your nose: Skunk. Worst smell ever

Something you’re really good at: Creative problem solving and ideas
Something you’re really bad at: The financial side of things (although I’m working on that)

Something you wish you could do: Perform on a trapeze. I love how they fly through the air flipping

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: I love learning, so I can’t fathom that anything I would learn wouldn’t have value of some kind. Even things I detest doing.

Favorite places you’ve been: Vienna. We had an unforgettable dinner in a palace with the best table of people I’ve ever sat with in my life.
Places you never want to go to again: Anywhere but an ocean cruise

Favorite books (or genre): I read from almost all genres. Bonfire of the Vanities and Man’s Search for
Meaning are two of my faves.
Books you wouldn’t buy: Anything Sci Fi

Favorite things to do: Public Speaking, getting together w/ friends/family, learning new things
Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing:Taxes (But I do them)

Best thing you’ve ever done: Starting my blog Emotionally Naked, and deciding to go public with my story and the topic of suicide.
Biggest mistake: Making a financial decision when I was stressed that turned out to be an elaborate scam.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Fought a man who attacked me at knifepoint for the purpose of rape and murder.

Something you chickened out from doing: I was sitting with some girls in a gym. They asked me to sit with them on the bleachers and I did, excited to be included since I was new. Someone I had been friends with at the new school walked in and all the girls sat there making fun of her eyebrows which she had overplucked. And there I sat shocked because they had planned this and wanted me sitting there to further her humiliation. My regret is that my shock and desire to be accepted prevented me from standing up for her. I’ve never ever been cruel but my lack of action here has been a regret.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: “I lost my own son to suicide 15 years ago, and although I have read so many books about this kind of loss, nothing has touched me as deeply as this.”

The craziest thing a reader said to you: “difficult to consider the pain for this family.” (I can’t figure out what it means but if that’s the worst review, then I’m lucky)

About Anne

Anne Moss Rogers is an emotionally naked® TEDx storyteller, the 2019 YWCA Pat Asch Fellow for social justice, and author of the book, Diary of a Broken Mind. Despite her family’s best efforts, Anne Moss’ 20-year-old son Charles died by suicide June 5, 2015 after many years of struggle with anxiety, depression, and
ultimately addiction.

Anne Moss chronicled her family’s tragedy in a newspaper article that went viral and her blog, Emotionally Naked, has been read over a million times.  After receiving a message from a young lady who wrote that one of her blog posts saved her life, she sold her digital marketing business and followed her purpose of preventing suicide, and helping people find life after loss.  

She has been interviewed by the New York Times and was the only non-clinician ever invited to speak
at the National Institute of Mental Health.

Originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in Journalism, she currently lives in Richmond, VA with her husband. Her surviving son, Richard,
works in LA as a editor and filmmaker.

Social Media Links

Website

IG: https://www.instagram.com/annemossrogers/

TW: https://twitter.com/AnneMossRogers

FB: https://facebook.com/EmotionallyNaked

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/digitalmarketingexpertise/

Free ebook downloads: https://annemoss.com/resources-2/free-ebooks/

Resource pages: https://annemoss.com/resources-2/

Book Links
Please buy from a local bookstore when you can. Available in ebook and soon audio book.

https://annemoss.com/diaryofabrokenmind/

Fountain Book Store: https://bit.ly/diarybrokenmind

Beach Glass Books: http://www.beachglassbooks.com/books/diaryofabrokenmind

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/diary-of-a-broken-mind-anne-moss-rogers/1133614432?

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2pw5id8

Waiting is the Hardest Part...

Tom Petty said it best, “Waiting is the Hardest Part.” I agree. I think it’s one of the toughest things about the writing process. I am soooo not a patient person, and this is often a struggle for me. Writers wait for everything from agent and editor responses, reviews, contracts, to award and contest nominations and announcements. The list goes on and on, and the clock hands move slowly.

Don’t waste your time worrying or agonizing during the wait. Here are some things you can do…

1. Write your next book. This is important. You should always be working on your next project.

2. Build or update your website. Take a really good look at it. Is it easy to navigate? Does a visitor see what you want them to see when they land on your page? Is it inviting?

3. Write your next newsletter or blog post. It’s nice to have content already created.

4. Make sure your author biography is current.

5. Check all of the bios on your social media sites.

6. Join a writers group.

7. Read a book in your genre. Reading is research.

What are some of your waiting horror stories? Drop me a line or a comment.