Back Porch Writer

There's no doubt that writing for the YA crowd can be lucrative, but if it's not a genre that you read - ever - then it's probably not the best choice for your writing. That said, here's some great info via Ebookfriendly detailing and linking to several awesome charts and infographics all about YA.

That first comment might be reason #1 for you to write YA, but what are some others?

It's still selling well. There was a dip in the YA market in 2015, according to a report in The Bookseller, but now it's diversifying and opening up to more debut authors. Check out Author Earnings for more info about what indie authors are earning.It's becoming more inclusive. What do I mean? The "We Need More Diverse Books" organization is having a positive impact. Agents are seeing and reading more books by authors of color. So, if going the agent route is your plan, you might have an "in" is you're a POC or your characters are, AND you're story is compelling.YA is all about exploration. Remember when you were a teen? A writer can have a lot of fun dreaming upYA situations that hook readers.You can sell the movie rights. You could turn your book into a stage production.

My guest is debut author Kyle Hiller and he has much to say about indie publishig and writing YA!

Summer is the perfect time to get engrossed in a crime novel! AW Rock's debut novel, set in the SoHo district of London, is described as gritty and fast-paced. The author spent years in the entertainment industry before transitioning to novelist. Chances are, some of his experiences found their way into his new series. Mr. Rock also is an accomplished film maker and professional photographer. You can learn more about him at Soho Honey.

About Soho Honey:

This contemporary crime story takes place over three weeks in November and unfolds against the multi-cultural backdrop of Soho, London. Branen had to leave the UK six years before to escape his complex clandestine history and the consequences of a crime that achieved worldwide notoriety. When his daughter is brutally murdered in Soho he believes that he could be the reason. He returns to his old hunting grounds to find the killer. His search brings him into conflict with the British Secret Service and Soho's underworld. He is forced to flee Soho again after a tragic meeting with his ex-wife. His past has caught up with him and the hunter becomes the hunted. Now forty years old Branen wants to stop running and to remove forever the continuing threat to his life. In an effort to get rid of his pursuers he is faced with the prospect that his only chance of survival could lead to his death.

Most of us know that authors tend to lead a life of isolation, especially while writing a manuscript, but there comes a time when every author, introverted or extroverted, shy or not, must engage readers. Extroverts tend to have it easy in this department with their need to chat people up. Introverts aren't so inclined. Talking with groups of people is exhausting!

Today's show is all about real-world, non-terrifying strategies introverts can use to make stronger, lasting connections with potential readers.

Honorée Corder is a bestselling author and executive business coach. She combines her business acumen and 12 years of self-publishing experience to provide structure, strategy, and accountability to individuals who want to elevate their platform and create multiple streams of income from publishing their own books.

Her best-selling books include Prosperity for Writers, and Vision to Reality: How Short Term Massive Action Equals Long Term Maximum Results, as well as The Divorced Phoenix, If Divorce is a Game, These are the Rules, The Successful Single Mombook series, The Successful Single Dad, Play2Pay, Paying4College, and Tall Order!

Her mission is to inspire and motivate people to turn their vision and dreams into their real-life reality, sharing a leading-edge process she created for her executive coaching clients. Honorée’s coaching and books provide real-world, time-tested strategies.

Today's show is all about men who write romance. Is it different than how a female writes romance? If so, why and how? If not, then why is it so rare to find male romance authors? Is there a stigma attached to men who write romance? 

Author Jin Okubo has something to say about all of this! He's been writing romance for a few years, and shares his insights into this female-dominated genre. You can fnd his first two novels, "Love," and "Kaoru: In Loves Shadow" on Amazon.

A word about reviews: Indie authors need your review love. And I do mean, love. If you read an author's book, be sure to let other readers know how much you enjoyed it! I know, I know, if it sucked you might be tempted to write a brutally honest review thinking that you're doing the author, and everyone else a service (favor?), and you certainly can, but I've found that what I put out into the universe has a habit of coming back to me. Good and bad. Just a little food for thought.

Author, Poet, and On-Air Radio Personality, Tracie Christian is from Detroit, MI. Her books are The Black College Sabbatical trilogy fiction series and the newly released "Toast to the Fool" reflective fiction novel. "Toast to the Fool" follows five friends all playing the fool as they battle through the biggest missteps of their lives. On the surface, they each seem happy, but secretly some have heavy regrets. Redemption is the goal, but getting it is another story.

Words of Wisdom:

Patience is most important. Rushing through your artistry leaves you open to harsh mistakes. Attention to detail pays off.Creating eclectic, entertaining events/engagements to release, promote & sell your books can be as beneficial, if not more beneficial than, attending traditiona book fairs and trade shows.

Tony Wilkins is the host of the Internet sensation Small Business Forum Radio www.blogtalkradio.com/tonywilkins with nearly 200,000 listeners worldwide and broadcasting live every Friday at 3:30 PM Pacific from the historic Payne Mansion in San Francisco.

The Career Whisperer: Behind the podium - A step by step guide to booking speaking engagements. This book is designed to help both new and seasoned speakers find more speaking engagements, book more media appearances and generate more revenue than ever before.

TOP TIPS:

1. Partner with others to help get the word out about your product,service,event.

2. Make sure any marketing materials are clear. In other words,what will others get by attending your workshop?

We're diving into what it takes for a debut author to market her first book. Claire Everward and her sister, Kate, are doing exactly that. A month ago, I spoke with them via a Blab.im interview when they'd just released Claire's novel, THE FIRST. Now, we're assessing what they've done, what's worked, what hasn't, and what they've learned.

A. Claire Everward takes the world far too seriously. She is passionate and sensitive to her surroundings, and tends to fight for what she believes in. She is direct, although she tries not to be, at least not always. She leads a quiet life and prefers to spend time with her characters, and for her escaping into writing is always the best refuge. She would say it maintains her sanity but her sister Kate says that sanity tends to be overrated.

If there's one aspect of being an author that many authors moan and groan about, it's marketing. Some hate doing it because they feel like they're forcing their work on people. They feel "spammy." 

Today, we're getting some tips from Gail Olmsted. Who's she? Glad you asked! Gail happens to be an author AND a marketing professor. If anyone can offer marketing words of wisdom, it's her

Gail has authored two contemporary romances: Jeep Tour & Guessing at Normal, published by Booktrope. Her third novel, set to release this summer, is Driving on the Left.

Guessing at Normal is the rock and roll love story of a dreamy poet and a hard partying rockstar. Jeep Tour follows the rocky romance trail of a recently divorced college professor in search of her happy ever after. Both books are available on Amazon.

Have you ever thought, "I should write my memoir?" What's stopping you? It can be a daunting task. What do you include? Do you focus on a specific period in your life? Do you choose a few meaningful areas that led to who you are now? What parts of your story will captivate readers? Are you sharing a broad lesson or moral through your experiences?

This is our focus for today's show. Charlene Jones has led an impossible life. I know this because I've already had several conversations with her, and her story captivated me. I was drawn to her energetic, honest, and approachable personality, and I'm betting you will be, too!

Charlene Diane Jones M.Ed/M.A is a Psychotherapist in private practice. She teaches meditation based on her 45 years experience and practice with Tibetan Buddhism and her long explorations in Western mysteries. Charlene has authored three books: The Stain; Medicine Buddha, Medicine Mind; and her forthcoming memoir, My Impossible Life.  Visit Charlene's website www.soulsciences.net where you can find her books and podcast information.

Larry Luikart is an Ohio native who holds bachelors and masters degrees in History and Political Science from Concordia University. He previously worked for over twenty-five years as a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Luikart lives in the Westcliffe, Colorado, area with his wife and their two dogs, where he also writes for the weekly newspaper, The Sentinel. This is his first book. 

Throw Salt on the Water is a heartfelt tale of lasting friendship explores the lives of ordinary soldiers through the eyes of two best friends who must decide their ultimate loyalties when they find themselves on opposing sides of the Civil War