Uniting readers, writers, and authors to build better books.
With a pandemic, social distancing, and a current state of fear for the future it can be hard to find the right vibes to put you in the mood to write. So here are my five favorite ways to get in the mood to write. Music: All the joy of beautiful sounds and poems being... Continue Reading →
We could all use more book sales, and finding new and inventive ways can be hard, but hashtags will live on for a while. Its an untapped resource, and underestimated. So today I give you the best of the best hashtags for book sales. These hashtags will work across all your social media, so never... Continue Reading →
*Firstly, I can't express how my heart breaks for the current situation of our nation. IABE and all of it representatives stand with the black community against this, and all, injustices to come on the road to ending racism and finally reach equality for all. We can't change the past, but together, we can make... Continue Reading →
What drew you into the life of wordsmithing? I’ve always had an active imagination since childhood. The ideas and stories floating in my head, needing to be written down. As if they were haunting me, though in a good way. Once they’re put to paper, or digitally, the haunting ceases. Until the next idea and... Continue Reading →
When did you know you had a story to share? I’ve always had stories to tell. But it wasn’t until around ten that I realized storytelling was what I wanted to do with my life, and it was a few more years until I realized I wanted to tell stories of the scary variety... Continue Reading →
Getting your book out there is the first challenge. Now you need to entice those readers to post their thoughts, thus helping you gain more readers. This is even more important for the indie author, since we don't have a publishing house to back us up, and word of mouth is our best selling tool.... Continue Reading →
Part of writing is telling a story of current events that will become timeless. And nonfiction is no joke; its very personal, and technical. With this virus rampaging through our globe, I can see a lot of survivor stories coming to life, and I felt now was the time to prep. Memoirs should tell your... Continue Reading →
WARNING! YOU COULD DIE READING THIS BOOK! When's the last time you had an intimate heart to heart chat with your death? Have you ever? Now is your chance. Hi, I am your Death and I am here for you. No wait, don’t go! Aside from the fact that you can’t get away, I’m not... Continue Reading →
As I sit in my house writing up a storm, I realized how much music influences the scenes in my books, and if I'm pushed by songs, maybe writers and readers can share those feelings through music. So here's my "Writer's Playlist", and recommended listening for readers. Don't worry, I'll explain why I chose each... Continue Reading →
Here we are (better late then never), in the middle of a lock down/pandemic, and everyone seems restless already. But writer's have been preparing for this since birth! By Stigma: We're hermits anyway. Or at least that's what most readers assume authors/writers are. We do admire our time alone to get the words out of... Continue Reading →
Today's advice comes from a new, but dear friend of mine Diane J. Windsor, owner of Motina Books. Find the link at the bottom. Here we go. Planning Your Book Launch A book launch can take place anywhere from 30 to 90 days before your book is released. This is the perfect time to... Continue Reading →
1) How long have you been a writer? 5 + years 2) How has art helped your writing? It’s more like “How has writing helped my art?” 3) Would you say its more difficult to write for children? No, and I love writing for children. 4) How often to you find yourself talking about your... Continue Reading →
With Cera declared dead, Nicholas Grafton must come to terms with his loss and move on with the next case without her. He must put aside his feelings about a one time friend, to put together his clue, and avert the biggest disaster to face Central City yet. Cera, alive and well, has her own... Continue Reading →
Writing contests are a great way to highlight your career as a writer, and beef up your resume. So I went through all the contests of 2020 with deadlines after February, that you SHOULD look into! The Jeff Sharlet Memorial Award for Veterans This contests boast $1000 grand prize and publishing in The Iowa Review.... Continue Reading →
One sunny Saturday morning I went to my favorite local writers group. Our topic of discussion: our audience. Who was I really writing for? While I thought I knew; I write for myself first and foremost. It feeds my soul. And while its not wrong to write for yourself; I learned I should be more... Continue Reading →
As an IABE Veteran, how does it feel to be doing your second Q&A with us? I’m very honored! I feel like I’ve learned a lot over the past year since publishing The Purple Door District and working with IABE. And I must say, I can’t wait for all of the upcoming signings. Can you... Continue Reading →
Time was but a moment. Past, present, future: it mattered not. The mirror was supposed to give the viewer a look into these moments and prolonged use could lead to insanity. Many had succumbed to the mirror's effects, but Tisiphone, the heir to the Valkyrie throne, had promised herself not to let it get that... Continue Reading →
So you've been at this a while, and found your 'comfy' spot in your genre, have you ever considered you're too comfortable? Even after 13 years in this wordy gig, I get bored only writing young adult novels. But what can you do? Here's how I ended up finding a new genre. This all started... Continue Reading →
NO! This is not really a test! So slow down, before you freak out. In the new year, I wanted to explore MORE books on writing, and found something that I really think would help the chaotic writer, like me. Getting yourself to write daily can be a bit of a chore, but if you... Continue Reading →
When did the writing bug hit you? I was a teenager when the urge to write first hit me. I started out writing and drawing comic books. From there, I did some short stories, some newspaper and yearbook writing, and then more short stories. How long did it take you to publish your first work?... Continue Reading →
Paul Wiseman, orphan and runaway, was looking for a family. He found one—and got a little more than he bargained for in the process. Being an orphan is no fun. Having no friends isn’t much fun, either. When Paul Wiseman, seventeen, runs away from an orphanage to try his luck on the mean streets of... Continue Reading →
As the year comes to an end, our manuscripts must end too. With so many gut wrenching twists and turns it can be a struggle to find the ending that fits your book! Let's explore some things to consider. The first thing I would think about is the novel, is it a stand alone novel,... Continue Reading →
While the world may see us hard to handle hermits, its time to let the world know, that writers want and deserve better gifts! So this holiday season IABE is here to help you get it right! We asked authors what they thought were the best gifts to give writers, and here are the results.... Continue Reading →
When did the writing bug bite you? I started writing stories as a teenager in high school. I was typically a lazy high school student. I was trying to turn over a new leaf. I even turned in my homework. Unfortunately, the lazy bug was rampant in my class. I was one of the few... Continue Reading →
Sometimes you can’t tell the end of a story by the color of hat someone wears and sometimes, second chances change everything…Clay Denton is living on borrowed time. The only thing keeping him from a dance for the hangman is a promise he made to find a US Marshal’s niece. Clay doesn’t care if it’s... Continue Reading →
I am a "panters", through and through, but even I hit barricades during the busiest month for writers. NANOWriMo is a lot of pressure, which can put the wall up fast, and by the time you smack into it, NANO's over and you never met your goal. It's ok, it happens to the best of... Continue Reading →
When did you know you had to be a writer? Almost before I can remember. Since first or second grade, I believe, when a teacher told my parents I was a born storyteller. And the teacher was right, because I’ve been weaving yarns ever since, whether out loud or in writing. How many books have... Continue Reading →
Greg Allenby, almost seventeen, is in line to inherit his family’s cheese-making business. He wants nothing to do with it. Bored with his life in Ames, Iowa, he thinks of nothing else except getting out of his hometown and going somewhere with his girlfriend, Jenny Gillis. Anywhere will do. Everything changes with the arrival of... Continue Reading →
Shackles clang against the steel floor as I walk to my doom. Never, in a million years, did I ever think I would be living on Jupiter, let alone dying here. Our crew was the second to move in, but when we watched Earth blow up, and watch limbs fall like rain as the gravity... Continue Reading →
No matter how you write your novel, we all start with a deadline in mind. Realizing the reality of reaching that deadline can cause anyone to panic, procrastinate, and feel hopeless. We even spend days pulling all nighters at the last minute to make sure the first draft published is perfect. At some point we... Continue Reading →
What first sparked your desire to write? My first real desire to write stemmed from dissatisfaction! I had read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and hated the ending. I just knew that Jo and Laurie were meant for each other, so, 9-year-old me decided I would rewrite the ending I wanted. Of course it... Continue Reading →
The year is 1962 and this small west Tennessee town has been turned upside down by a labor strike at its main manufacturing plant. It seems that, as result of the strike, some very serious underworld crime problems have surfaced in Humboldt. A small town sheriff and small town Chief of Police have their hands... Continue Reading →
Lights flashing and snapping apertures sounded in the darkness. Her body was a beautiful mess of punctures and blood, dress tore from hooking on the tree limbs that tried to save her, but it was all futile. The vessel that was her body let her soul escape through the gaping holes blood had once used... Continue Reading →
I know your jumping at the bit to know what readers actually want as freebies and memorabilia, but as always, before we share this list, there are a few things you should know. Cheap is bad. Not that shopping for a good price isn't a great idea, but if it seems to good to be... Continue Reading →
I think this is the 4th marketing article I've composed in my 5 years of blogging, this tells me its a severe struggle for indie authors. The hardest part is keeping up with the ever changing world and the needs of our readers. So today, let's talk about marketing and how you can keep up... Continue Reading →
Tell us a little about yourself please. Wow…that’s kinda tough. Hmmm…I’m 59, been married, been divorced. I have 3 kids, all grown. 1 grandkid in California. My son (who’s 25) has Down Syndrome and other issues. He’s fully dependent and lives with me at home, so he’s pretty much the center of everything I do.... Continue Reading →
Awesome indie books to rock your world!!! Stories, drabbles and sample chapters; the Dreamtime dragon authors are a collective of storytellers brought together by their love of Fantasy in all it's guises. Travel the Wyrde Wood with a giant wyrm or defend a pod of humpback whales with a dragon, explore the deepest goblin caverns,... Continue Reading →
The Scriptease Writing Workshop: In an expansion of its popular and exciting Scriptease play reading series, and as an initiative to nurture state and regional playwrights and screenwriters, Iowa Stage is launching the Scriptease Writing Workshop. This workshop will offer a series of courses to area writers to help hone their skills and bring their... Continue Reading →
At what point did you decide to start writing? I really don’t know. I don’t remember a kid, but I was already writing stories (fanfic, mostly) by the time I do have a clear recollection of anything. In a box in the attic, my mom has a flashfic story I wrote when I was 7... Continue Reading →
As Marai makes plans to return to Ineb Hedj, he knows not all is settled. Old and new foes position themselves, each seeking control of the Children of Stone. New allies find strength and wisdom from beyond the stars, while older foes emerge from that which is hidden. Each destiny interacts and becomes a lotus... Continue Reading →
With the 4th annual IABE just a few weeks behind us now, I feel the need to talk manners once again. We had an author steal a purse on camera from a shop owner at the mall. Now the cops have settled everything, and I know I said I was over it, but fact is... Continue Reading →
It's not just an autograph It's your name, and with it is usually some well wishes. But what do you write, if you choose to write the reader a message? Do you add a little message at all? Why does this even matter? Well, your readers come to your signing because they want to meet... Continue Reading →
Here are your must reads for July! Celebrate with indie authors and the USA! “This is what we’re here for, this is what Fate made us to be – a force to stand between the enemy and the innocent.” The first battle is over and the people of the realms grieve for the fallen. Meanwhile,... Continue Reading →
LGBTQA Characters: Tips for doing it well. LGBTQA books are a big right now, so writing you character correctly is a must! Getting it wrong could not only insult someone, but poor research make an author look extremely unprofessional. So know your stuff when writing, especially in the LGBTQA community. As authors we tell stories,... Continue Reading →
When did you know you had the writing bug? I'm a bit of a late bloomer. I was a huge reader when I was younger, but not a writer. However, I've always been interested in stories, themes, mechanics, what makes an interesting character or villain. When I was in college I started collaboratively writing some... Continue Reading →
