LiteraryScape

In this episode, Tiffanie, Mom, and Melissa discuss the first book in Sarah Sundin’s Sunrise at Normandy series, The Sea Before Us. We really enjoyed reading and discussing this book. It was a great kickoff to this series. There are spoilers, so if you have not read this book yet, you may hold off on listening to this episode.

Discussion Topics:

·      How God is the perfect father.

·      You cannot escape God.

·      When you lean on God, He won’t give way.

·      Changing yourself to please someone else.

·      All or nothing. No crumbs, the whole loaf.

·      Our loved ones are in God’s hands.

In this conversation, Melissa interviews Kent Sanders about ghostwriting. Kent shares his journey into ghostwriting and explains the process and purpose of ghostwriting. He discusses the differences between ghostwriting fiction and nonfiction and the level of collaboration involved. Kent also addresses the challenges and obstacles in ghostwriting, including clients who have a hard time letting go. He shares his perspective on the impact of AI on the ghostwriting industry and emphasizes the importance of human connection and understanding in the writing process. Kent offers advice on breaking into the ghostwriting business and pricing strategies. He also introduces his Profitable Writer Community, a membership for writers looking to increase their income and impact.

In this episode Tiffanie, Jamie, and Melissa discuss the third and final book of Sarah M. Eden’s Savage Wells series, Wyoming Wild. Hawk finally gets his love story and we get to revisit the many citizens of Savage Wells that we have grown to love.

Topics we discuss:

·      Living in fear.

·      Dealing with tyrants and their cronies.

·      The power of friendship.

·      The battle between your personal life and professional life.

In this conversation, Thomas shares valuable insights on building an author platform from scratch. He emphasizes the importance of starting with a website, which serves as a foundation for online presence. Thomas also highlights the significance of creating an email newsletter to grow a subscriber base. He suggests writing short stories as a means to improve writing skills and engage readers. Additionally, Thomas advises against relying on social media for platform building and instead recommends social media advertising. Finally, he emphasizes the importance of focusing on writing quality to create a buzz and generate word-of-mouth marketing.

Takeaways

·      Start by building a website to establish an online presence and secure your domain name.

·      Create an email newsletter to grow your subscriber base and engage with readers.

·      Write short stories to improve your writing skills and provide reader magnets.

·      Avoid relying on social media for platform building and focus on social media advertising instead.

·      Prioritize writing quality to create a buzz and generate word-of-mouth marketing.

In this episode Tiffanie, Jamie, and Melissa discuss Healing Hearts by Sarah M. Eden. We enjoyed the second book in Sarah’s Savage Wells series. Check out our topics of discussion below.

Topics:

·      Taking care of someone’s heart.

·      The laws of the time.

·      The unbelievable evil of some people.

·      What we love about Tansy and Andrew.

·      A tender love story.

LiteraryScape gives the following ratings to each of these story elements:

·      Action – Mocha

·      Romance – Mocha

·      Suspense – Mocha

·      Mystery – Mocha

·      Inspiration – Espresso

·      Drama – Mocha

LiteraryScape gives Healing Hearts by Sarah M. Eden 3 lassos. We are sur this love story will have you hooked and hog-tied!

In this episode Tiffanie, Jamie, and Melissa revisit Sarah M. Eden’s book Sheriffs of Savage Wells.

                  We read this book a year or two ago and we brought it back because the final book in the series released in 2023. This was the book the drew Jamie and I into the historical romance genre. We highly recommend it.

Topics we discuss:

·      This is not inspirational, but a clean historical romance.

·      Sarah writes both inspirational and clean romance.

·      We love how tough and flirtatious Cade is.

·      Paisley is tough and witty.

·      Paisley’s character arc is very enjoyable.

·      The enemy is closer than you think.

·      The ending is perfect for this dynamic couple.

LiteraryScape gives Sheriffs of Savage Wells by Sarah M. Eden 3 lassos. We are sure it will have you hooked and hog-tied.

In this conversation, Melissa interviews Hannah Linder, a cover design artist and author, about the importance of cover design for books. Hannah shares her background in writing and cover design and discusses the key elements of a cover design, including visual appeal, consistency with the genre, legible text, simplicity, and accurate depiction of the story or message. They also explore whether indie authors can make their own covers and the benefits of working with a cover designer. Hannah provides insights into finding stock photos for historical Christian romance and shares the services offered by Hannah Linder Designs.

Takeaways

·      A good cover design is visually appealing, consistent with the genre, has legible text, is not too busy, and accurately depicts the story or message.

·      While some authors may have the skills to make their own covers, it is generally recommended to work with a professional cover designer to ensure a professional and standout design.

·      When looking for stock photos for historical Christian romance, sources like Shutterstock, Period Image, and Archangel can be helpful.

·      Hannah Linder Designs offers a range of services, including pre-made and custom cover designs, ebook and print packages, promotional graphics, and formatting services.

·      Collaborating with an interior formatter can provide the final touches to a manuscript, ensuring a professional and polished book.

Announcements

Authors we are in our last week before our mini conference kicks off on May 7th with Crystal Caudill’s session on how to plot an attention grabbing magnet reader. Followed by my session on how to use Canva as on author on May 9th. Then ending with Misty M. Beller’s session on May 11th on how to build an email list full of avid readers.

The trainer follows each session with a one-hour work session. Ask questions and get feedback on your own writing project. These sessions have a limited number of slots. Currently, we have 7 seats left for each of these work sessions.

The training sessions are $17, and the work sessions are $47. Your $17 ticket will grant you access to the recording for 3 months after the training. So, even if you cannot join us live, you can access the valuable training information on your own time.

You can learn more and register at www.literaryscape.com/events.

Our next Coffee & Books event will be on June 8th from 9:00-10:00am EST. Join us for a live Q&A with authors Julie Lessman, Lynn Shannon, and Misty M. Beller. These events are always fun as we connect, share stories, and ask questions. I hope to see you on June 8th. Subscribers to our newsletter can click on the link included in this week’s newsletter or you can visit www.literaryscape.com/events to register today.

Episode Notes

Beth White discusses her inspiration for the Daughtry House series, which was a combination of personal experiences, publisher suggestions, and historical research. She wanted to explore the Reconstruction period and the complexities of racial and cultural interactions during that time. The series follows three sisters with different personalities and perspectives as they navigate the challenges of post-Civil War Mississippi. Beth based some of the characters on real historical figures and wove in elements of truth and history throughout the books. She also shares her favorite characters and her current project, a World War II series.

Takeaways

·      Beth White drew inspiration for the Daughtry House series from personal experiences, publisher suggestions, and historical research.

·      She wanted to explore the Reconstruction period and the complexities of racial and cultural interactions during that time.

·      The series follows three sisters with different personalities and perspectives as they navigate the challenges of post-Civil War Mississippi.

·      Beth based some of the characters on real historical figures and incorporated elements of truth and history throughout the books.

·      She is currently working on a World War II series.

In this episode Tiffanie and Melissa discuss Beth White’s novel A Reckless Love. This is the last book in her Daughtry House series. Mysteries that began in book one are wrapped up in an unexpected but satisfying way.

Topics we discuss:

·      Clothing choices for women.

·      Finding a man of God.

·      We have but one reputation.

·      Redemption

LiteraryScape gives the following rates for each story element.

(Espresso = an expression, Mocha = Medium amount, Latte = A lot)

·      Romance - Mocha

·      Suspense - Mocha

·      Action - Mocha

·      Mystery - Mocha

·      Drama - Espresso

·      Inspiration – Mocha

LiteraryScape gives A Reckless love by Beth White 3 lassos!

1 lasso = a throw and a miss, 2 lassos = hooked, 3 lassos = hooked and hog-tied)

Tune into our interview with Beth White next week!

Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of 90 novels and novellas with over five million copies in print. She’s known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. Her numerous awards include the RITA®, the Carol, the Christy, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice. Robin is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America®. When not writing, she enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. Robin makes her home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog and a persnickety tuxedo cat.

In this episode of the Literary Scape podcast, host Melissa interviews author Robin Lee Hatcher. She shares her marketing strategies, lessons learned in the writing industry, and top resources for writing. Finally, Robin offers advice for aspiring authors, emphasizing the importance of reading, writing consistently, and not rushing to publish.

Takeaways

·      Authors should aim to entertain and inspire readers with their books.

·      Building a connection with readers through social media and email newsletters is important for marketing.

·      Editing is crucial for producing high-quality books.

·      Aspiring authors should read widely, write consistently, and not rush to publish.

·      Research books, writing software like Scrivener, and emotion thesauruses are valuable resources for authors.