Author: K.S. Brooks

K.S. Brooks is an award-winning novelist, photographer, and photo-journalist, author of over 30 titles, and executive director and administrator of Indies Unlimited. Brooks is currently a photo-journalist and chief copy editor for two NE Washington newspapers.  She teaches self-publishing and writing topics for the Community Colleges of Spokane, and served on the Indie Author Day advisory board. For more about K.S. Brooks, visit her website and her Amazon author page.

Tuesday Tutorial – Get Exposure with YouTube

Movie Clapper BoardNo, not THAT kind of exposure. Everyone knows if you’re an author with a published book, you’re supposed to have a video trailer. It’s become virtually mandatory. But many Indie Authors can’t afford to pay to have one done, nor do some of us have the knack for doing that kind of thing ourselves. But all is not lost.

If you have a YouTube channel, and if you have videos on that channel, there is still something you can do to help steer people towards your book(s).  It’s extremely simple but most of us don’t do it. (Yes, you can even do it on your book’s video trailer if you’re fortunate enough to have one.) Continue reading “Tuesday Tutorial – Get Exposure with YouTube”

How I Choose to Write Does NOT Make Me a Lemming

Who are you calling a lemming?In this world of myriad people, personalities and tastes, it is anyone’s right to be offended by anything they read or see at any time.

Therefore, it is my choice to write in such a way that I am able to express myself without offending anyone. I’m told that means I’m dead as a writer. I think that just makes me smart. There is a time and a place for everything. Why does that make me dead? Frankly, that remark offends ME. What gives someone else the right to tell me how I write is wrong? Continue reading “How I Choose to Write Does NOT Make Me a Lemming”

Collaboration and Cooperation

Cooperative, Award-winning and Multi-published Author K. S. Brooks
Cooperative, Award-winning and Multi-published Author K. S. Brooks

As you may have heard, I’ve been accused of participating in a recent book collaboration with two other Indies Unlimited authors: Stephen Hise and JD Mader. I’m not prepared to confirm or deny that at this time. What I will say, though, is that one would think collaborating would be a natural thing for writers to do. In my case, when I was twelve-years-old, I received an award for cooperation in summer camp. It was a shiny green ribbon with gold letters on it. I still have it. Okay, perhaps I have issues. I’m a writer, so what did you expect?

Cooperative? Yeah, that’s me. But, I’m also highly opinionated. And impatient. And stubborn. But enough about me. Let’s talk about me some more. Because really, this collaboration thing was my idea. You’re welcome. Continue reading “Collaboration and Cooperation”

Inspiration? Phooey.

Author K.S. Brooks at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics
Author K.S. Brooks at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics

As an author, one of the questions I’m asked quite often is: “where does your inspiration come from?” Frankly, I find that perplexing, even more so when it comes from another writer. I was speaking with a talented graphic artist the other day. She asked me, “don’t you hate it when people want to know where your inspiration comes from? That’s so ridiculous. It would be more appropriate to ask where doesn’t your inspiration come from?”

I’d always dismissed the question: scoffed at it, then indignantly deleted it whenever I saw it come up in writers’ discussion group emails. It wasn’t until this graphic artist rephrased the question to me that I realized that it’s not about being a writer – it’s about being creative. Continue reading “Inspiration? Phooey.”