Brain Burps About Books

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #228

• Find out the First Five Ways to Build Your Author Platform and be on the first to be notified when How to Create Your Author Platform opens again. CLICK HERE to get started.
• Join the fun in the Brain Burps About Book Podcast Group: www.katiedavis.com/podcastgroup. I'll be offering extras, and sharing resources to help you grow and learn best practices.

• Emily Wylie reviews Stacey Lee’s debut book Under a Painted Sky.

• Join me! I'm speaking at Podcast Boston on June 13th.
• I'm teaching Yale this summer on June 7th. (Yes, THAT Yale!) More information to come.

This week’s guest is Teresa Funke. Teresa embodies the modern artist/entrepreneur. She is the owner of Teresa Funke & Company and Victory House Press and the award-winning author of six novels for adults and children based on true stories from WWII. She is also a nationwide speaker offering keynotes and presentations and a popular writer’s coach and creativity coach.

Visit Teresa's You Tube channel to watch her popular writing videos or to check out her playlist, "Great Ideas Giveaway," in which Teresa shares business ideas for artists and creatives that they can take and use in their own models.

• Teresa's YouTube channel and she uses it go in depth teaching writing techniques.
• Coaching writers.
• Great Idea Giveaways.
• Dancing in Combat BootsDancing in Combat Boots.
• Kids skipping recess to hear Teresa talk.
• Her multicultural series for kids: Home Front Heroes
• The No-No Boys about Japanese Internment camps in WWII.
• V for Victory – Story of a Mexican American boy in WWII.
• Wave Me Goodbye - Jewish girl and an orphaned English boy become friends in WWII.
• Back matter included in Non-fiction makes it easier for teachers to use.
• Hired a retired teacher to develop lesson plans and curriculum guides
• Speaking at teacher conferences.
• Do you pay to attend the conference you want to speak at?
• How she was at the beginning of the self-publishing trend.
• Getting books in museum gift shops.
• Book covers and how to design them.
• Teresa's Burst of Brillance for a Creative Life.

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #227

• The launch of How to Create Your Author Platform (and Market Your Books without Being Pushy) went great, the students are awesome. The course is wait listed but you can CLICK HERE to be notified as soon as it opens sign up. Plus you'll get 5 things you can do today to start your platform before you even get in the class.
• Join the fun in the Brain Burps About Book Podcast Group: www.katiedavis.com/podcastgroup. I'll be offering extras, and sharing resources to help you grow and learn best practices.

• I'm speaking at Podcast Boston on June 13th.
• I'm teaching Yale this summer. (Yes, THAT Yale!) Date to be determined - I'll let you know as soon as I know!

This week’s guest is Laura Ruby. Laura is one of my BFF's and she also writes fiction for adults, teens and children. She is the author of the newly-released YA novel BONE GAP*, as well as the Edgar-nominated children's mystery LILY'S GHOSTS, the ALA Quick Pick for teens GOOD GIRLS (2006), a collection of interconnected short stories about blended families for adults, I'M NOT JULIA ROBERTS (2007), and the forthcoming middle-grade trilogy YORK. She is on the faculty of Hamline University's Masters in Writing for Children Program. She makes her home in the Chicago area.

• We talk about bees and their relationship to gender issues.
• Animals: magical and otherwise.
• The way we see the people we love.
• How Laura names her characters.
• How many words do you need for a novel?
• How does Laura edit?
• What is magical realism and what is Laura Ruby’s definition of it?
• Helen Oyeyemi, author of Boy, Snow, Bird: A Novel
• Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

* I did receive a free advanced copy of BONE GAP and I am happy to call Laura Ruby my friend.

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #226

• Tim McCanna and his awesome jingle. The original one, but also the new one he created and edited for me.
• Kellie Johnston, for the lovely thank you note she wrote to me on how I changed her career in three minutes!
• The peeps who have been showing up to my hangouts. Do you have any idea how awks it is to talk to your iMac, alone in your office? No one responding? But if you know there are viewers, especially ones who are entering questions, well, that’s something to be grateful for!
• The peeps who’ve been thanking me for my free training.
• My new students. Not only am I grateful, I’m impressed. You’ve taken a leap of faith in your own career. Nicely done.

• We have a brand spankin' new Facebook group just for YOU, my peeps! Let's take the podcast topics one step further and get down to the nitty gritty. Join here: www.katiedavis.com/podcastgroup
• Free training is only available until Sunday, May 3rd! New Flash Training included: www.katiedavis.com/freetraining
• The tables were turned. I was a guest on the Biz Chix Podcast! Check it out HERE.
• I'm teaching a picture book workshop at Yale this June! Join me during Session 2 HERE.

This week’s guest is Sandy Williams. Sandy is an illustrator and was one of my Crank It Up Implementation students this winter. She specializes in natural science illustration and design. Sandy also teaches courses in learning to paint with gouache, the medium she uses most for her illustration and design work.

• How creating a platform has helped her sell her book.
• How creating a platform has helped her create an email list.
• How Sandy went from flailing to goal setting.
• As a non-techy, how she’s creating her platform using video.
• What would happen if past-Sandy met present-Sandy!

• Where should you start building your platform? Let me show you with my FREE video training. Hurry! It's only available until May 3rd! Text 33444 and enter the code KATIED to get signed up for my free training!

• HOWEVER, if you want to check out the full course, the one I just launched TODAY, go here: How to Create Your Author Platform (and Market Your Books Without Being Pushy!)
• I express my gratitude to the reviewers of the free training videos.

This week’s guest is Paula Jean Burns. Recognized for her leadership as a highly skilled Project Team Manager within the Information Technology field, Paula Jean delivers powerful strategies to her clients leading them to attain significance and purpose which she describes as “Living Life All In." After 25 years of leading high profile teams and projects for a leading health care system, Paula Jean’s world was rocked when she experienced 2 major life events within the same year causing Paula Jean to pause and declare: “So, this is it? There must be more to life!” Paula Jean responded by taking her life off “auto-pilot” and regaining control as the driver of her life. It was in taking this bold move that led Paula Jean to discover her life’s true work, reconnect to her passion and for the first time to live her life All IN!

• Intuitive Mindful Leadership.
• Living All In.
• Fifty Shades of Greatness.
• What does “bespoke” mean.
• How to create the life you’ve been yearning for.
• What she thought of my beta test!
• How my platform tips helped her even though she's not exclusively a writer.
• Making these platform principles applicable to everyone.
• Learning lessons backwards!
• The benefits of narrowing down your audience.
• How to be specific and authentic at the same time.

• Where should you start building your platform? Let me show with my FREE video training. Hurry! It's only available until May 3rd! Text 33444 and enter the code KATIED to get signed up for my free training!
• Great listener question from Vicky in today's podcast: "How soon should someone wait after they start their blog to write their first book?" Do you have a question you'd like me answer on the podcast? Click here: www.speakpipe.com/KatieDavis

This week’s guest is Jackie Reynolds. Jackie finished up one of my Crank It Up with Katie coaching sessions. A multi-award winning performer, Jackie Reynolds, brings laughter to the Hudson Valley and beyond as Jackie the Magician, Bee Bee the Clown, Mrs. Santa Claus & the Fairy Godmother. Since 1992 her creative entertainment, quick wit and refreshing humor have delighted audiences at community events, company picnics, day care centers, libraries, schools, senior centers and 1000’s of parties. Jackie has now added children's book author to her extensive resume.

• Why Jackie wanted to build a platform online.
• How building email changed her business.
• Gaining control of your platform through an email list.
• Props to Harold Underdown, Jackie’s editor for her two books.
• Why she was told to take the wild animals out of her books
• How Jackie published her books through Hillcrest media and Mill City Press.
• Jackie’s direct results from having an email list.
• Don’t miss our P.S.!

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #223

• My free training on how to get started building your author platform will be ready next week – but you can’t get it unless you sign up here: http://www.katiedavis.com/freetraining.

• Julie Falatko reviews The Way to the Zoo by John Burningham

This week’s guest is Vivian Kirkfield. Vivian is one of my exceptional students! She got her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and was a kindergarten teacher in New York City for many years. Then she decided to stay at home and raise her children. As a daycare provider, she was able to do that. The program of activities she put in place for those children became the basis for her award-winning parent-teacher resource, SHOW ME HOW! BUILD YOUR CHILD’S SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH READING, CRAFTING AND COOKING.

• How Vivian started building her author platform.
• Don’t miss the #giveaway on Vivian’s blog!
• Julie Hedlund’s 12x12 membership.
• Why writers need to build their platform and where to start.
• Will Write for Cookies – her fabulous series.
• How Vivian adds people to her email list.
• How to get your free anti-bullying toolkit guide for kids.

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #222

An Interview with Author, Speaker & Social Media Pro Peg Fitzpatrick, co-author with Guy Kawasaki

• Coming soon! Free training on how to market your books. Get on the notification list right HERE right now!
• Listener Kim Trumbo asks a great question. Do you have a question about book marketing you'd like me answer on the podcast? Go to www.speakpipe.com/katiedavis and ask away!

This week’s guest is Peg Fitzpatrick. Peg is an author, a speaker and, social media marketing pro. Covering all the major social media platforms, she frequently hears “you’re everywhere!” She’s passionate about life, social media, and inspiring others to be their best. She co-authored The Art of Social Media with Guy Kawasaki.

• Easy ways to use Canva.
• Rules about selling on your personal Facebook profile.
• What you can do on your Facebook page.
• The 20% rule of Facebook ads.
• $5 a day ads.
• Why should never buy Likes.
• Should you sponsor your own content as an author?
• Authors who are doing it right: Elizabeth Gilbert and Hugh Howey.
• Why you need an author platform.
• Who should your identity be online if you’re writing for different genres?
• Hashtag strategy – Using Google plus for related hashtags
• How to grow your list through social media.
• How to check how you look to others…be anonymous.
• Best way to put a post on G+

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #221

An Interview with KeeKee’s Big Adventures Series Creator Shannon Jones

• Answer one questions and get my free marketing lessons! Ask them here and get my Book Promo Planner and Checklist PLUS 21 Ways to Promote Yourself on Amazon as a special bonus.
• I'd love to hear your reviews! You can review the podcast on iTunes here.

• Julie Falatko reviews I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty and Mike Boldt

This week’s guest is Shannon Jones. For Shannon, her love of travel began at a young age. It opened her eyes and ears to the world. As a grownup, living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with her husband Paul and kitty KeeKee, the idea for KeeKee’s Big Adventures was born. After twenty years in the marketing field, Shannon is launched on her new adventures, following her passion for writing and excited to be helping kids in their quest for learning and discovery.

Shannon's first book KeeKee's Big Adventures in Paris, France won the Independent Book Publishers Association Benjamin Franklin Awards Silver for Best First Children’s Book in April 2014 and Gold Mom’s Choice Award in Autumn 2013. KeeKee's Big Adventures in Rome, Italy received a Gold Mom's Choice Award in April 2013.

Her third book, KeeKee's Big Adventures in Athens, Greece, landed October 2014 and just received a Gold Mom's Choice Award.

• Why, even though Shannon got interest from traditional publishers, she decided to self-publish.
• The unusual process through which she found a great illustrator.
• Her editor is Lisa Pliscou.
• Her printer, Phoenix Color.
• The Bilingual pronunciation guide in her books.
• Getting geography lessons from a cat.
• The KeeKee Club.

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #220

An Interview with Kelly Light: How She Got Five Offers Before Ever Getting an Agent

• Want to hear about my Author Platform course when it comes out? Join here!
• Just for listeners of the podcast! Get a $25 discount and a free success guide from Pubslush HERE.

• Julie Hedlund bring us a gratitude segment.

This week’s guest is Kelly Light. Author Illustrator, Kelly Light was born in 1970 off exit 149 of the Garden State Parkway. She grew up down the shore surrounded by giant roadside dinosaurs, cotton candy colors and skee ball sounds. Schooled on Saturday morning cartoons and Sunday Funny pages, she picked up a pencil and started drawing and never stopped.

• The day Kelly got so many calls from editors she stopped answering the phone.
• How she got five offers before she ever got an agent.
• How Kelly got published.
• What BEA was like for her being treated like a debutante.
• Who is “the Willy Wonka of books?”
• Kelly’s top tips to getting and being traditionally published.

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #219

An Interview with Pubslush Vice President Amanda Barbara

• Free book marketing lessons here: www.katiedavis.com/vip
• Just for listeners of the podcast! Get a $25 discount and a free success guide from Pubslush HERE: www.katiedavis.com/pubslush

• Julie Hedlund bring us a gratitude segment.

This week’s guest is Amanda Barbara. Pubslush was founded by mother and daughter entrepreneurs, Hellen and Amanda Barbara. Pubslush is a global pre-publication platform that offers crowdfunding and pre-order options for authors and publishers. Amanda and her mother were inspired to create a more democratic publishing process after learning about the struggles of authors like J.K. Rowling, whose bestselling series was rejected by the 12 publishers to which it was initially sent. So many great authors have been dismissed to the infamous "slush pile." The Pubslush name is derived from their mission to give authors the opportunity to get out of the slush pile, prove their talent and market viability, and successfully publish quality books.

• What can Pubslush do for writers?
• How Pubslush can be a launch pad for your writing career.
• What do if you're looking for a spot to gain fans.
• How your fans get an email when your book is ready.
• Why Pubslush is not just another crowd funding platform.
• How is it completely risk free for the authors?
• How they monetize! (Great for writers!)
• Finding your reader data.
• Do writers need a contract?