Authors Talking Bookish

In this episode, we explore the essentials of building a successful author website, covering key elements like design and content, as well as practical tools and tips to enhance your online presence. Tune in to learn how to establish your credibility, connect with readers, and effectively market your books through a professional and engaging website.

SHOWNOTES:

Importance of an Author Website

Domain Name

Design your own website or hire someone?

Author Website

Key Elements of a Successful Author Website

Remember:

Use High-resolution photos

Choose a color scheme and font that you can carry throughout all of your marketing materials–stay on-brand.

Keep it consistent

LINKS & SOURCES:

Hope’s Website: https://www.authorhopegibbs.com

Donna’s Website: https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

Go Daddy

Wordpress

Wix

Best Web Hosting of 2024: Forbes Advisor

Hague Consulting

“Unpublished Writers Websites,” Jane Friedman

“Step-by-step Guide to Build an Author Website” Writer’s Digest

DO NOW:

Google some of your favorite author websites for inspiration.

Think of design ideas that work with your author brand.

Create a domain name.

Weigh the pros and cons of designing a website yourself or should you hire a web designer.

Leslie A. Rasmussen is the award-winning author of the novel, After Happily Ever After and The Stories We Cannot Tell. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from UCLA. She went on to write television comedies for Gerald McRaney, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm McDonald, Drew Carey, as well as The Wild Thornberrys and Sweet Valley High. After leaving the business to raise her boys, she obtained a master’s degree in nutrition and ran her own business for ten years. Recently, she’s written over twenty essays for Huffington Post, and Maria Shriver, and spoken on panels discussing empowering women in midlife and other women's issues. You can also hear her on NPR talking about her latest book.

Leslie is a member of The Writers Guild of America, as well as Women In Film and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. In her free time, Leslie loves to read, exercise, and hang out with friends. She lives in Southern California and is married and has two sons. Leslie is hard at work on her next novel.

SHOW NOTES:

Can you tell us about your novel?

Can you describe your Writing Process?

What advice do you have for writers?

Can you describe your television writing experience and talk about how similar or different it is to writing a novel?

What are you working on next?

What have you learned the hard way in terms of publishing and writing a book(s)?

LINKS:

Website: https://www.lesliearasmussen.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslierauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesliearasmussenauthor

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

You’ve heard it said that a first draft anyone writes is a story they tell themselves. Seldom, if ever, is the first draft ready for any reader’s eyes, especially not an agent or publisher. So, how do you get a draft ready to be read by anyone besides the writer? This is where editing and revision comes in. This episode addresses various stages and techniques for piecing your manuscript into a cohesive whole.

SHOW NOTES:

“The difference between a published writer and an unpublished one might be their ability to revise.” Courtney Maum

Stages of editing:

Development/Content

Copy/Line edit

Proofreading

Put distance between yourself & your manuscript before beginning the revision process.

Methods of revision:

Notecards

Creating a beat sheet

The Backwards Outline (nod to Jeni Chapelle, editor)

Backwards vs. forward editing/outlining

Storyboarding

Color-coding problem scenes: showing, telling, dialogue (for example)

Nuts and bolts:

Structure (3 or 5)

Word count

Cutting

Crutch words & echoes

Cliches

Passive Voice

Showing vs. telling

Every scene must have a purpose

Working with a Critique Partner:

Develop a list of questions (focusing on problem points)

SOURCES & LINKS:

“Getting it Right: Learning to Revise,” Before and After the Book Deal, Courtney Maum (process and methods, such as writing groups and critique partners)

Save the Cat Writes A Novel, Jessica Brody (structure)

Story Genius and Wired for Story, Lisa Cron (structure and character development)

The Thesaurus Collection by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi (showing vs. telling)

The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression

The Conflict Thesaurus, The Emotional Wound Thesaurus…

Launch Pad: The Countdown to Writing Your Book, Emma Dhesi, Grace Sammon

(finishing touches)

On Writing, Stephen King (2nd half: on making writing concise)

DO NOW:

TRY at least one of the revision methods you learned today; see if that helps your story come together more fluidly.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

Join us as we interview Jill Hannah Anderson, author of four novels:A Life Unraveled, Crazy Little Town Called Love, and The To-Hell-And-Back Club and, her most recent, Closer to Home released in March. Jill shares her journey to publication, discusses the differences between writing and publishing each of her novels, research and her experience as a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA).

SOURCES & LINKS:

https://jillhannahanderson.com

FB: Jill Hannah Anderson

IG: @jillh.anderson

For complete Show Notes, visit our website

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

When your manuscript is polished and your beta readers have given you the green light, the next step in the process is the query letter which is essentially a cover letter to agents and publishers in order to land a publishing contract. What should it include and where do you begin? This episode will share our best advice for attracting the right agent and/or publisher for your book.

For Show Notes, Links, Sources and FREE Downloads, please visit our website

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

Join us as we interview Lainey Cameron, author of multi award-winning & best selling The Exit Strategy, creator and host of The Best of Women’s Fiction Podcast, book marketing coach, member of WFWA and nomad author exploring the world.

SHOW NOTES:

Welcome

How did you get into the business of writing?

You are so well-traveled, living as a nomad, having been to 50+ countries, yet you say writing is the scariest thing you’ve ever done. Can you speak to that?

In your novel, The Exit Strategy, you write about a character working against all odds in a venture capitalist environment. Why that setting and that topic?

In everything you do, you seek to empower women? How does that drive your business endeavors?

• WFWA
• WF Marketing Co-op
• Podcast
• Marketing Coaching

How do you choose where you will travel? Is it based out of pure curiosity or something connected with your writing?

What’s one  piece of advice would you give an aspiring author?

What’s next for you?

Sources:

Website: https://www.laineycameron.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lainey_cameron/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laineycameronauthor

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laineycameronauthor

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comHope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

This episode addresses the importance of book marketing beyond the launch. In it, Hope and Donna will share various methods through diverse platforms to market your book and tips to make them successful.

SHOW NOTES:

Traditional Book Signings

• Major retailers
• Indie Bookstores

Local Events 

• Businesses
• Organizations
• Libraries
• Schools
• Newspapers and magazines

Collaborations

• With other authors
• Bloggers
• Podcasts (Episode 014)

Book Festivals and Fairs

• Use Google and your local newspapers
• References from local authors and/or chapters of writer’s organizations
• Make a “tickler” list for next year

Book Awards and Recognition

• Use Google
• Get references from other authors

SOURCES:

American Fiction Awards, Firebird Awards, Literary Global Awards, Chanticleer Awards, BookFest Awards, Best Book Award…

DO NOW:

Make a well-rounded plan. Take your budget into consideration. Download a FREE copy of an EVENT SPREADSHEET. Make a copy of it in your own folder. And start executing your plan.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comHope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

What is Character Development?

 Characters are at the core of every story. This episode dives deep into how to create characters that will jump off the page. From types of characters to creating backstory, conflict and arc, you’ll learn how to create dynamic characters to anchor the plot of your next story.

The 3 Ms of Character Setup by C.S. Lakin

Mindset

Motivation

Mood

“Everything we do is goal directed, and our biggest goal is figuring out everyone else’s agenda, the better to achieve our own.” Lisa Cron

Internal & external goals

Understanding Your Characters

Tips on creating detailed character profiles, including background, personality, and motivations.

Types of Characters

Character Arcs

SOURCES:           

Creating Character Arcs Workbook: The Writer's Reference to Exceptional Character Development and Creative Writing (Helping Writers Become Authors) by K.M. Weiland

Writers Helping Writers Series Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi

“Finding the Core of Your Character,” Launch Pad: Countdown to Writing Your Book, Emma Dhesi & Grace Sammon

“What Does your Protagonist Really Want?” & “Digging up Your Protagonist’s Inner Issue,” Wired for Story, Lisa Cron

Story Genius, Lisa Cron

The 3 Ms of Character Setup by C.S. Lakin

https://janefriedman.com/the-3-ms-of-character-setup/

Examples of Character Development – Writer’s Edit

https://writersedit.com/fiction-writing/what-are-some-good-examples-of-character-development-in-literature/

15 Top Character Traits with Definition and Examples by Jennifer Herrity

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/character-traits-definition-and-examples

DO NOW: Download Create A Character Dosser. Start by building your character’s backstory, then choose which features, traits, experiences will be integral to the arc of your character in this story. Identify the 3 M’s. 

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred https://www.donnanormancarbone.com/

SUMMARY:

Join us as we interview Grace Sammon, accomplished author, editor and radio show host. We talk about the many hats she wears in the publishing industry and the lessons she learned the hard way.

SHOW NOTES:

Welcome

What is the one question you think writers should ask themselves when embarking on the writer’s journey?

How does one prepare for the success of a book?

What advice would you give an author about creating a brand and sharing it on social media?

With the many hats you wear, can you offer some advice about time management?

You have mentioned your strategy for throwing “spaghetti against the wall” to see what sticks. What caused you to establish that strategy and how has it worked for you?

Which has been both the most difficult and the most beneficial lesson you learned the hard way?

Your tagline is “When our stories are told, everything changes” what has been the most significant thing that’s changed for you?

Sources:

Website: https://www.gracesammon.net/

Facebook: @gracesammon

Instagram: @gracesammonwrites

The Eves, Launch Pad: Countdown to Writing Your Book, Launch Pad: Countdown to Publishing Your Book, Launch Pad: Countdown to Marketing Your Book

NEXT EPISODE: Character Development: How to Make Your Characters Jump Off the Page

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comHope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

SUMMARY:

We listen to them, we appear on them, and some of us create them: Podcasts, 2024. How can your writing career benefit from them? In this episode, we’ll explore some of our favorite writing podcasts, how to become a guest on them and a behind-the-scenes look at our own podcast creation journey.

SHOW NOTES:

Some of our favorite podcasts to listen to, as writers:

The Storytellers, host Grace Sammon

TufFish, host Jen Milius

Write the Damn Book Already, host Elizabeth Lyons

The Shit No one Tells You about Writing, hosts Bianca Marais, Carly Watters, CeCe Lyra

The Best of Women’s Fiction, Lainey Cameron & Ashley Hasty

How to become a guest on a podcast?

Follow them if you don’t already

Listen to their episodes to see if their podcast would be a good fit for you and your book

Check their websites for forms or email them (create a query-type email to send)

Write up a list of topics you’d like to cover

Follow their guidelines

Be professional

Promote to highlight not only you and your book but the podcast too

A behind-the-scenes look at our own journey into podcasting:

The inspiration

Brainstorming and establishing a mission

The nuts and bolts of starting a podcast

Establishing roles

Creating content and keeping it fresh

SOURCES:

“11 Simple Rules of Podcast Guest Etiquette” https://double-forte.com/11-simple-rules-of-podcast-guest-etiquette/

Mary Helen Sheriff https://maryhelensheriff.com/marketing/

DO NOW:

Start listening to podcasts. Make a list of the features you enjoy about the various shows. Keep a list of podcasts you’d like to appear on. And, remember to take a nugget or more away from the shows you listen to that will enhance your own writing.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comHope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred https://www.donnanormancarbone.com