I was trying to keep everything posted in some kind of nice order, but with the way things went and have been this last week, nope.
I’ve been snowed under, depressed, and just focussed on one job on my list at a time.
Our drive looks amazing now, it took the guys 4 weeks in total, but the job is just brill, and so so much better for us for winter.
Today’s Author Interview is with Ash Litton. And I love that there’s a unicorn on the cover!
Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?
Ash: I’m always an advocate for all things in moderation, but the reality of marketing is that you need to A: have a planned schedule, and B: prepare in advanced. Don’t be afraid to have a script – I’ve always written up a rotation of advertising blurbs and run the same blurbs across multiple platforms across multiple days, weeks, or months. I’ve included pictures, too – the cover art by itself, or sometimes a “promo card”, as I call it – to help give a visual incentive for potential buyers to follow the vendor links.
Did you make any marketing mistakes or is there anything you would avoid in future?
Ash: Starting out, I didn’t do any marketing, and I felt the results of that. I think I had the gratuitous buys from friends and family during the first month or two, but after that, I didn’t sell a single copy for at least six months. I switched up my behaviour, started marketing my work through Twitter, and saw the spike in sales. I’ve since found dedicated genre groups on Facebook and have extended my promotions there, and have seen an added increase in sales. It also helps that I’m putting out more material each year. The more you have to sell, the greater the chance you have of making sales.
Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?
Ash: To a degree, yes. There are groups dedicated to the analytics of covert art and sales projections, but in my own opinion: so long as the cover doesn’t look like a Hollywood “ransom note” with pieces cut and pasted together, I don’t think many buyers are going to care whether the author spent $5 or $500 for cover art services.
Did you do a press release, Goodreads book launch, or anything else to promote your work, and did it work?
Ash: Outside of a pre-sale promotion by my regular methods of advertising, I haven’t done anything so formal, no. I will be considering it with my larger works, though, but until I hammer out release dates for those, then I won’t be able to set up a formal game plan outside of “shop around, see what my options are, and put together a tentative outline of execution”.
Which writers inspire you?
Ash: Quite a few. I was first introduced to Neil Gaiman through the Illustrated Film Script of MirrorMask, when I got a copy of the book to read from the library. Through Neil Gaiman, I found my way to the late Sir Terry Pratchett. I started reading books by Laurell K. Hamilton back in high school, and the same with JK Rowling. I don’t remember how it was that I discovered Jim Butcher, but I was so glad I did.
***
Ash Litton is a writer and lover of sci-fi, fantasy, and all things fictional. She is the author of No Signal, Thoroughbred, Evening Hallow, and Comeuppance, and works on other Appalachian Dream Tales between her ongoing novel projects.
When she’s not writing, she’s drawing, and when she’s not doing either of those, she’s dreaming up new projects to work on. Born and raised in rural West Virginia, Ash has always wondered what things lay hidden in the hills around her. She attended West Virginia University, where she studied the English language before returning home to her family in rural West Virginia.
You can follow her on her website, as well as Facebook and Twitter.
Well. I’m not much of a chocolate lover anyway. We had French Toast instead. That was my eggs.
Yesterday I had a pretty good day. Pottering around, reading, writing, enjoying myself.
I read a lot of blogs. But I actually read one with a new site review on it. From http://changeitupediting.com/ on a site I’d not heard off. The first two people to email the reviewer got an upgraded membership to this crit site.
http://www.scribophile.com sorry not too great when I link things… ‘edit’
I thought no way I’ll never be the first. Well I was. Lol… so I’ve now somewhere else to procrastinate. Oh dear…
I waited for the other half to come home. And then we went up for a wonderful home cooked meal at my dad’s (his wife Liz is an amazing cook) we stayed up chatting till late and then slept there. Coming home a little too early still. I can never sleep properly in another bed. Even if I’ve had a few drinks.
Today’s about relaxing. And chilling out some more. Spent a little time nosing around the new site. Scribophile. It’s not bad. 🙂 Although there are a lot of genre’s there that I won’t participate in reading. Strict sci fi, fantasy gal when it comes to reading…. I can read a script of any genre. But a story or novel. I really struggle to get into.
Happy, happy Easter to all. And hope it’s a great day for everyone.
Hi everyone.
I was nominated for this award on the 12th of Feb I just have been so snowed under and hadn’t the brain to compute an answer and post this back. But here it is 🙂
The Liebster Award is no exception!
Thanks to Catherine at http://nowrittenwords.wordpress.com/ for the nomination. I really was so pleased.
The rules for the Liebster are to thank the person who nominated you, answer the 11 question they have asked you, nominate 11 other people and ask them 11 questions in return. According to the guidelines the Liebster award should be sent to bloggers with less than 200 followers so that new bloggers can see how awesome they are!
These are my questions and answers.
So, now for 11 questions for any nominees:
1. What’s your most significant childhood memory?
This is a tough one for me. As there are so many…
However, one of the strongest memories I have is not a good one. It was the day I first contemplated suicide at the age of 15. I’d been baby sitting for a local family. Where the ‘ladies’ going out frantically weighed themselves. A weekly ritual. I just remember one of them saying ‘they’d lost weight’ and how excited they were.
I looked down at my stubby fat fingers. And decided when they had gone out to weigh myself. I did.
As the scale spun around. Almost to the end. Something inside me flipped. I knew I was big but I hadn’t thought I was that big.
That night I cried and cried and cried. When I got home. I took a knife to my wrist.
I did not however want to die, nor did I hurt myself badly.
The next morning I went to my mum and asked to go to see the doctor. There started a two year journey which led to severe weight loss. (under supervision) then not under supervision. And eventually led to anorexia. I lost over 140lbs. Half my body weight.
The rest is history but you did ask. 🙂 I never said it would be short and sweet.
2. What is the one thing you want to do most before you die?
I want to see my TV series on the Sy Fy channel. One day…. soon I hope.
3. Do you have a favourite magazine?
I love reading anything about Koi. But my fav mag went into administration last year. 😦
4. What do you think is the best thing about having children?
Is there one? (don’t have any kids nor a desire to bring them into a world that is heading downhill fast)
5. What’s the worst thing about having children?
You can’t give them back to their real parents as they are yours…
6. What do you do in order to relax?
I sit with my koi. Outside in the garden by their pond.
7. Is there someone you really hate – and why?
Hate is a very harsh word. But, yes, there is someone I hate. ED (Eating Disorder) hate him with a vengeance.
8. If you could live anywhere else, where would this be?
Just anywhere with the man that I love. Paul.
9. Is there a particular job that you wish you could excel at?
I wish my concentration levels were stronger. Not really a job.
10. Are you a cat or dog person?
Cat.
11. How would you define love?
That fluttering in your heart when you see the person you care for the most. Morning, noon, or night, it feels like home.
And finally, my nominees are:
1. http://authormaeganprovan.wordpress.com/
2. http://harmony77uk.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/confidence/
3. http://thelifeofathinker.wordpress.com/
4. http://twdittmer.wordpress.com/
5. http://michelleproulx.wordpress.com/
6. http://firstnovelblog.wordpress.com/
7. http://meritaking.wordpress.com/
8. http://rainfalldeficittheory.wordpress.com/
9. http://petedenton.wordpress.com/
10. http://theofenraven.wordpress.com/
11. http://changeitupediting.wordpress.com/
And my 11 questions for them
1. There is always something that has really hurt you. I’ve shared one of my worst moments above. Can you share one of yours?
2. Share one of your greatest too.
3. Has someone influenced your life in a way you’ll never forget. Someone who isn’t family?
4. Where was your favourite home?
5. Do you prefer a specific genre in writing or watching films?
6. Have you ever had a koi pond?
7. What is your most prized possession?
8. Are you eco friendly?
9. Do you actively save for retirement?
10. Have you ever lived with anyone other than family?
11. What was the worst lie you ever told someone you loved?
Again sorry to Catherine that it took me so long to get too. I am in vast need of a holiday me thinks. Exhausted is not the word for me at the moment.
Happy blogging all.
Dawn
Kanundra's Blog 