Day 4! Enlightened: My Personal Journey with Christ Through Scripture Journaling FREE

 Do you like to journal? 

See how journaling and scripture reading can bring you closer to God.

FREE today!

At Amazon

DAY 2 - Have you entered to win yet?

Here we are on day 2! 

For anyone who writes historical fiction, especially those who write Christian historical fiction, this blog post is for you!

Get a sneak peek of chapter one - the Rabbi - and find out how you can submit multiple entries for a chance to win my paperback of I Walked With Jesus and a $25 gift card from Amazon.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Darrell Case

     Tell me about yourself. What got you started in writing?

I began writing in 1994 at age 49 after returning from a successful mission trip to the Ukraine. I received a postcard from a literary agent who turned out to be a fraud. For x number of dollars, he would represent me. Of course, all he wanted was my money. Thank God I did some research and found out he was a con artist. Undaunted, I set out to write my book. 2 years later I finished the book only to find no one wanted it. I self-published with one of the first eBooks companies and sold six copies. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. That same year I began writing devotionals for a daily devotional named Call to Glory, which I continue today. I sent out queries and accumulated many rejections over the next few years.

 How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write?

Early in the morning while the day is fresh and my mind is uncluttered with the things of the day.

     How and where do you write? Do you prefer a laptop or some other method of getting your words down?

When I started writing, I wrote longhand on tablets. I’m a terrible speller and my wife would have to decipher my misspelled words. I now use a desktop. I do most of my writing in my office 200 feet from the house. The office is on the edge of the woods overlooking a creek. My visitors consist of squirrels, deer, turkeys and an occasional raccoon.

  

     What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?

If the story is good I lose track of time. In other words, I become lost in the story. I feel what the characters feel. I read the book out loud to see if it sounds right, writing and rewriting until the writing is smooth and the book sings. The least favorite part is marketing. I love for people to read to enjoy each book and I love to give books away. As of this writing, we are approaching 16,000 giveaways in 28 months. I’m hoping to reach 21,000 in 36 months, which will be May of 2018. However, I never force people to read my books. To make them feel guilty if they don’t even post a review if they loved my books is not in my nature. I want them to read and enjoy my writing, no matter how they obtained the books.

     

      How did you come up with your book idea? How long did it take you to write your book?

Get the Book at
Amazon

Ideas for a book can come from anywhere. A news story, a stretch of conversation. Many times, it is the thoughts of my own mind. I may think of a story for months or years before writing down a few pages. Such was the case with Deadly Justice. For the most part, it takes at least 12 months, sometimes longer for me to complete a book.

     What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing?

All types Facebook, twitter youtube and others. I give away books through Smashwords Draft2digtal, Amazon and others. I may have 2 advertisements going on Amazon at the same time. However, I have found the greatest advertisement is word of mouth.

      

     What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out?

Tales from My Back Porch came out in May this year. I’m working on another thriller and hope to have it ready for release by May of 2018

     Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.

I always have something rumbling around in my mind. Sometime my thoughts will end up on paper sometimes not. My wife’s favorite book is Never Ending Spring. She would like me to write a sequel. My most popular book is a small one entitled River of Fire. Some have urged me to write a sequel to it. I don’t know if I will or not. I really have to be engaged with a book to spend a year writing it

     What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish, but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent?

Read good writing. Writers are readers. Write, write, write. You will never learn without practice. Great painters threw away many paintings others thought good enough. Never settle for good enough, you want the best. This doesn’t come from the first draft or even the second. Also, don’t believe those who try to discourage you. Some of them are jealous, others can’t see your talent. Possibly they are too close to you. Just think John Gresham is Johnny at home. The best piece of advice I can give to the beginning writer is: don’t give up. Look on the internet and you’ll find famous authors who were rejected time and time again. Remember Herman Melville only sold 50 copies of Moby Dick during his lifetime.

A Question for Kathryn:

     The question I believe every writer, whether traditionally or self-published is how to increase your readers. You may have many five star reviews, however, your readership lags. Traditional publishers expect the author to do most of the marketing so it comes down to point of how do you get more eyes for your writing?

Great question! 

You more than likely know that reviews are your best bet, but second to that is everything else. Because it takes a reader about 7 'looks' to consider buying your book, you really have to put the book out there in different ways. Reviews are tough to get, but the other things may help you along to the reviews you need. 

One of my favorite things to do is to give away FREE copies of my eBooks. I have discovered that two-day promotions are best, but not always guaranteed to produce the greatest sales. I recently did a one-day promotion on a book and got more interest than I typically get for a two day. I use Ask David for much of my promotion as well as The Fussy Librarian. They each have a huge readership. Both options, especially done together, have brought me the greatest number of new readers. 

I also love to put together book trailers. People love video more than reading - imagine that - and I have found a great place to assist me in putting together my own professional book trailers. You might just want to try Animoto.com.

For those who are interested, I also put out a marketing book every January with updated listings and new places to market your book. I use this book every year as I go through my own book marketing, and add to it for the next year. This book has helped me to become pretty organized when it comes to marketing. I know it will help you, too. It can be found here.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Lisa Thornton Stillwell

Tell me about yourself. What got you started in writing? 

I would have to say my sister sparked my interest when it came to writing. When I was little, I used to read poems that she would write. Then, when I got older, I began to write.  It wasn’t until about five years ago when I became a full-fledged writer.

How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write? 

I try to squeeze in my writing time on the weekends and other various times throughout the week. Some nights my husband and I will watch a movie, and I will type while lying on the sofa. Other times I try to write on Sunday afternoon. Most of the time my husband will nap on Sunday, and I will then get on my computer. I figure as long as he is napping then it isn’t taking away from any precious quality time that we could be having together. I don’t like writing to take precedence over family time. However; sometimes you can’t help it. Especially if you have deadlines to meet.

How and where do you write? Do you prefer a laptop or some other method of getting your words down? 

I prefer to write from my laptop. Where I write just depends on where I feel comfortable for the moment. Some days I will sit in my office, and some days I will go to the bedroom to close the door. I get on my bed, lay back on my pillow, and just type away. And again, other times I will lay on the sofa while watching a movie.

What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing? 

My favorite part about writing is that I get to help others. The next favorite is that I get to meet a lot of different people and make new friends. My least favorite part of writing would have to selling my books to my family and friends! I feel like since they have been so supportive that I should be able to give them free copies. But it doesn’t work that way. If you do that, then you can wind up losing a lot more than you could be making. It will certainly cost you!

How did you come up with your book idea? How long did it take you to write your book? 

I came up with my book idea through much prayer. I don’t write any books without praying about it first. The very first book I ever wrote was I Asked, God Spoke: True Stories of Devotion. This book probably took me over a year to write. This book is based on my personal experiences.

What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing? 

I try to market my books through social media. I also try to market them by attending regular book signings. Most of the time local bookstores love to have you! Any way at all possible that I can market my book, I try!

What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out? 

I have several other books out. I just finished a prayer journal for moms and dads. Parents are supposed to jot down prayers that they pray for their children throughout their life and then leave the journal to them as a legacy to them one day. I also finished another booked named Christian Film Stars: Interviews with the Best! I interviewed many Christians within the film industry just to see what they had to say. I wanted to see what brought them into the ministry and what exactly led them to the Lord. That is a must have book for your home. It is certainly one of my favorites. Most of the people in the book helped me write it. They wrote out their testimony and sent it back. It was such a blessing!

Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it. 

The project I have on the back burner would be my first novel. Every time I try to write that novel God always places a new idea in my heart. I know that I will finish it when the time is right. I would say more about it, but I don’t want to spoil it! I just know when I finish it that it is going to be great! I pray it also helps a lot of people and that many will be able to relate to it.

What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent?

I would tell them not to listen to that. If you have something inside of you that wants to be a writer, then you should follow your dreams. You don’t need to give up! And there are so many ways these days that you can publish your book. The hardest part isn’t getting it published! The absolute hardest part about being a writer is finding time to write. I would say DON’T QUIT!

A Question for Kathryn:

How successful have you been when it comes to being an author?

This is an interesting question, especially when you consider what I was asked last Wednesday. (Check out my author interview with Tammy Lash if you haven't already).

How you define success is important here. Is it lives touched, or money made? Is it both? Can it be both?

I'd like to think that if you follow your heart, that you will be shown the way - you will know what to write, and that, in time, the money might just be there too. 

But, even if the money doesn't make it like you want, what will you have left over?

In my book, :) if I manage to change the life or heart of just one reader, I have been a success. So, yes, I have been a success.

***

amazon.com/author/lisastillwell

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Brenda S. Anderson

1        Tell me a about yourself. What got you started in writing?

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I even have stories I wrote back in grade school. But it wasn’t until twelve years ago that began writing my first novel. Thankfully, I have a husband who is 100% supportive!

How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write?

I write during the day when I have complete silence and no interruptions.

     How and where do you write? Do you prefer a lap top or some other method of getting your words down?

I usually write in our library / office, and usually at my desktop. I’m definitely old-school in that I need to sit and type how I was trained back in high school, way back when we used typewriters. 😊

     

What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?

My favorite part is creating new people and discovering their personalities. Like many writers, my least favorite part is marketing.

How did you come up with your book idea? How long did it take you to write your book?

My recent release, Capturing Beauty, was inspired by a secondary character in the series’ first book, Risking Love. When writing his character, I discovered a deep wound that he needed to heal, and he needed his own story. The first draft took me about four months to write. The subsequent several drafts takes a lot longer!

    What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing?

My first line of marketing is a book booster team who helps get the word out in whatever ways they can. I do some social media sharing, but I’ve found it isn’t terribly effective. What helps sales the most for me are ebook-marketing sites such as BookBub and Ereader News Today (ENT). Through them I reach a much broader audience.

     What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out?

I’m currently working on Planting Hope, book three in my Where the Heart Is series. The heroine is a model and the hero is a candy store owner.

Capturing Beauty is my latest release—it came out on February 7. It’s about a photographer who falls for a camera-leery woman.

     Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.

Yes, I do! Once Planting Hope (the third and final book in my Where the Heart Is series) is written, I’m going back to the family drama stories I love to tell. The book that’s burning in my head is temporarily titled Innocence Restored, and it’s about a woman who fights to free her husband from prison, claiming he’s wrongly incarcerated, and when he is freed, they have to learn to not only love, but to like each other again as each as changed dramatically over the years.

 What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent?

That’s about every writer out there, I think! I would tell them a) they’re not alone. b) Learn! Go to conferences. Take classes. The talent will blossom as they learn. c) Pray! When God gives you a gift, He wants you to use it, and He will open the doors He knows are best.

***

Website: http://brendaandersonbooks.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrendaSAnders_n

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/brendabanderson/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/BrendaSAnderson

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/M0ZZr

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: T. I. Lowe

1     Tell me a about yourself. What got you started in writing?

I’m just a southern gal from coastal SC. Reading has always been my escape. My desire to write began all the way back to middle school. I’d create stories in spiral-bound notebooks, but sadly, I never had enough confidence in myself or my writing ability. Those books were secretly kept to myself and eventually thrown away… 

Almost twenty years after those early teen years, my mom’s diagnosis of cancer and sadly her death that followed had me looking at life and dreams a bit differently. My first novel, Lulu’s Café was written during the time of her treatments. It was a creative outlet for me. Momma encouraged me to share the story and I made a promise I would eventually. Four months after her passing, I honored the promise I made to her.

**Advice Moment – FOLLOW your DREAMS** You’re good enough, so don’t let yourself down by cowering out!! 

How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write?

I write around my family. My husband and I sacrificed so that I could stay home with my children. I wouldn’t take anything for that gift of time. My daughter began school around the same time my mom was diagnosed, so God saw fit that I was able to take care of her. So my writing career began by writing in the early hours of the morning before the sun rose or in the car rider line at school… Just whenever I could squeeze it in. Now that life has settled down, I try to commit to writing after school drop off and before school pick up with some laundry and cooking sprinkled in.

     How and where do you write? Do you prefer a lap top or some other method of getting your words down?

I’m a bit old school. I love to write longhand. I’ll journal a book and its characters lots of time before sitting down at the computer. I like to truly get to know my characters before I try telling their story. A notebook is always in reach to capture a scene when it presents itself to me.

  

What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?

I’m absolutely in love with creating fictional worlds! I absolutely hate editing! LOL! I type fast and so typos will sneak in. When I reread, my focus is on editing the story and not the grammar. It’s tough for me, but I’m learning! Thank goodness for editors and proofreaders, but I feel it’s my responsibility to present the cleanest manuscript possible. No room for lazy!

     How did you come up with your book idea? How long did it take you to write your book?

Lulu’s Café came from me wanting to understand why women stay trapped in abusive relationships. Honestly, I couldn’t understand why they put up with it. So through prayer and research, Leah told me why she stayed and how she finally escaped. This book took the longest due to my mother’s illness, around a year. I’ve written 13 books total now. Some may take a few months. I wrote one within a month, though. That story consumed me until I got it out!

     What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing?

Mainly social media. I have also used Bookbub and ENT ads.

     What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out?

My latest book is Life Unwritten. It is about a young lady battling addiction in different forms. The book’s focus is on self-worth and body image.

I’m currently writing Before This Day and After This Day. Both are Women’s Inspirational Fiction.

     Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.

I have several books I am journaling. They are patiently waiting for their turn with the computer!

     What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent?

Write what inspires YOU and not what you think readers want you to write. Stay true to yourself.

***

What is your advice on building your author platform?

Start small and ahead of the game. By that I mean, start with a website/blog at least 6 months before your first book comes out and add marketing stategies along the way. After the blog/website I focused on social media, including author interviews, character interviews, free promotion sites and book trailers that I learned to create myself. I didn't have the funds to hire someone, so I learned as I went along what worked for me and what didn't. Eventually I put out a book, "Marketing Your Book on a Budget," and by 'budget' I mean, 'how to market your book with little to no money.' This book is my top seller and highest rated book on Amazon.

***

Learn more about T. I. Lowe:

Author website

T. I. Lowe 

Amazon Author Page

https://www.amazon.com/T.I.-Lowe/e/B00I4Z5GV6

Author Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/T.I.Lowe

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: . J. E. Grace

Tell me a about yourself. What got you started in writing? 

I would have to say that reading at a young age, and getting lost in the stories, inspired me to write.  I started out writing poetry and then expanded into fiction. My mother, who also loves to write, was always there with words of encouragement.

How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write? 

I’m retired now from Real Estate so I can pretty much write at any time, but prefer late evening. That is when my writing juices seem to flow onto the pages. Sometimes I know where I’m going and other times my characters seem to lead me where they want me to go.

How and where do you write? Do you prefer a lap top or some other method of getting your words down?  

I write using Microsoft Word on my desktop.  I have files set up for all work in progress and ideas for other projects. I have a home office that is away from the main part of the house. 

What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?

My favorite part of writing is seeing my characters come to life on the written page and being able to share them with others.  My least favorite part would have to be rewriting.  It takes a lot of work and you have to be able create a non-attachment to your words and be able to cut when you need to.

How did you come up with your book idea? How long did it take you to write your book?  

The idea came from a ranch I lived on in Northern California in the 60’s.  I decided it would be a good backdrop for my story.  The book took me about 6 months to complete.  I originally had planned the Pacific Cove books to be one book, but realized I was actually writing two separate stories.

What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing? 

I have an author’s website and a blog.  I also use Twitter and Facebook.  My work is listed on Goodreads, Authorsdb, Booklife, Author’s Den and various other book sites.

What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out? 

I’m currently working on Book 3 in the Pacific Cove books. I’m also about 75 pages into a Christian Fantasy novel entitled, “A Walk with Heavenly Spirits.” It’s about a girl who has fallen away from her walk with God and is visited by Heavenly Spirits that remind her that the Lord hasn’t abandoned her.  I show her journey back to God and how her life is dramatically changed.  It’s a work of inspiration, enveloped in promises from God’s word. 

Get the Book at Amazon

Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.  

I have a lot of possible projects planned.  I have an outline almost completed for a mystery novel and I would also like to write a Christian children’s book.

What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent?   

Self-doubt is one of the problems every writer faces. You have a message, don’t be afraid to put it out there, but make sure it is the best it can be.  Learn to expand your knowledge of writing by learning from people who are successful. Remember, all authors started at the same place you are now and have experienced the same issues.  Keep writing, there will be readers out there that like what you write.

***

A Question for Me:

The question I seem to hear more often about writing is: How do I get readers to leave reviews?

Great question, one in which I am still working through myself. The best ways I have found to get folks to leave reviews is to ask those who typically review books first. In my book, Marketing Your Book on a Budget, I have a fine list of websites to check out with listings of book reviewers. Second, I ask those who I've connected with in social media groups such as Facebook and Linkedin. As you get to know readers as well as authors, you discover who loves to read and write reviews.

***

Julie's website: http://jegrace.webs.com (all books listed with links to Amazon)

Amazon link Testament of Faith:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LRN71N2

Book Trailer Testament of Faith :  https://youtu.be/wGpky4gEzEs

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/jegrace2016

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/bizwings