Category: Guest Posts

Worldbuilding – by Steve Umstead

Author Steve Umstead

I’ve been asked several times what the most fun part of being an author is. Is it the vast riches? The adoring fans? The private jets? The high class parties?

Well, no. But if you see any of those, please steer them my way.

After thinking about it, I realized the most fun part of being an author is being able to create worlds. In my case, writing in the science fiction genre, I believe it’s even more fun, as I get to play with today’s technologies and settings, and naturally extrapolate them into the future. Continue reading “Worldbuilding – by Steve Umstead”

A Letter for Posterity – Hettie Ashwin

Author Hettie Ashwin

Letter writing has always figured in my portfolio of life. I write for the joy of fine paper, crisp envelopes and the walk to the post box. There is a certain satisfaction in writing a good 5 pages in one’s own hand. The rules are simple. Chatty, don’t give too much away. Stay away from the weather, unless it pertains to your circumstances, and ask questions.

Recently I have been reading biographies and it seems the research for these interesting tomes is gleaned from letters. This began a train on thought that could only end in one word; narcissism. If I were to become a famous author one day, or should I say, when I become a famous author and someone will want to write my biography, then my emails will be of no use in the trash, my twitters just memories, my facebook just a dull reminder of what I did and didn’t like, but my letters will be a treasure trove. Continue reading “A Letter for Posterity – Hettie Ashwin”

Growing Your Author Platform One Library at a Time by Peggy DeKay

Peggy DeKay
Author, Speaker and Book Coach Peggy DeKay

For most of us the local library is a place to go and relax, take a class, or spend a quiet afternoon. But something else is going on at your local library—book promotion!

As a new author, the first thing I had to do was begin building my list…my mailing list. I began by taking a sign-up sheet to every event that I attended as a guest speaker or presenter. It didn’t matter what the event was, a book fair, a signing in a book store or retail store, or a presentation at the local library.

Most new authors think that to be successful you have to have a huge platform (mailing list), when truly; you can build a successful following with only a few-hundred-name seed list. It’s not hard, but you must be diligent in asking people to sign-up. Continue reading “Growing Your Author Platform One Library at a Time by Peggy DeKay”

Sex Scenes Must Serve the Story – Richard C. Hale

Let’s talk about sex. Not the gender kind, or the orientation kind, or even ‘the lack of’ kind, I’m talking about the sex that an author decides to put in their novel. I, for one, have tried and it, I have to say, I liked it. Does that mean I feel every one of my stories needs some soft porn or graphic gratuitous gratification? No. Is erotica a necessary way to keep the story going? I don’t think so. Does it have its place? Oh definitely. I’m just not sure what that place is yet. Continue reading “Sex Scenes Must Serve the Story – Richard C. Hale”