The World of Audio Books

Audio books are the newest phenomenon in the publishing industry. At least to me. Every event where I sell my books, I am guaranteed at least one visitor who asks whether my books are on audio. Unfortunately, I say, “Not yet.” Many years ago, I rented a studio and recorded “A Beautiful Girl” only to experience the theft of the recording and no apology in sight. I’m pretty sure I’m a bit jaded, but I understand the importance of expanding my audience to those who only have time to listen to a book. So, this is yet another item on my Todo list. Stay tuned for my journey regarding this part of my adventure.

The Necessity of Marketing

Creating stories is one thing and full of joy. Editing stories is another and full of determination. Publishing books is the distant finish line. But marketing? Now, that’s just a beast I’d rather skirt around. However, marketing is what helps me to be discovered by you and the many others who I’m sure would enjoy reading the stories I write.

There are so many challenges: the time it takes to do the research (and this is on top of the research I do to write my stories), the discernment required when dealing with marketing specialists, and the stamina needed to keep talking up my books on social media.

This is soooo hard!

But without marketing, there are little to no sales. Reviews are anemic. Readers miss out on another great story. So, although I’d rather focus my attention solely on my craft, I am beginning to dip my toe in the wide ocean of marketing. Who knows? Someday, I may even have a few tips to share.

Until then, good luck, fellow authors!

Doing Nation Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) Differently

For years, writers all over the world stood, or rather wrote, in solidarity with each other as we pursued penciling, penning, typing, or dictating 50,000 words in 30 days during the month of November. The mad dash started on November 1^st, and we were crawling across the finish line with bloodied fingers or hoarse throats on the 30^th day of November. Nevertheless, those of us who do this insane activity yearly participate because our brains have grown weary holding back the words that just want to get written and shared. Every day, we pursued that lofty count of 1,667 words. Some days we made it or exceeded the goal. Other days, we fell short, but we didn’t give up. Why? We figured anything written was more than what we had on October 31^st. Then, we spent the next eleven months editing that work just to have the mad dash start all over again.

However, last year, our beloved NaNoWriMo site retired, leaving us to figure out what to do next. Where would we log our counts? Regardless of what each individual chose to do, we made the commitment to continue the tradition of locking ourselves away for hours with snacks, soft tunes (or not), and our vast imagination. That, my friends, is how we do NaNo. We encourage each other, smile at our successes, and relish in the competition to spur each other on so we all win this battle against discouragement, weariness, or hopelessness. This event helps develop the practice of writing every day. I’m amazed how much I’ve learned about myself during the month of November. My least favorite part is slogging through the story around the middle of November. But I write on.

Why the Elevator Pitch is Necessary When Selling at Book Events

I remember when I first learned about the “elevator pitch” at a writers’ group meeting. Over the years in speech class and on the job, I’ve learned how to speak in front of a crowd. However, an elevator pitch is a different beast on its own.

First, this conversation tends to be one-on-one verses to a crowd of people. This means I must win over the individual within thirty seconds, or I may never see them again, much less encourage them to buy a copy or two of my books. I have to say just enough to hook them, but not too much where I’m giving the entire story away for free. This takes practice and lots of it.

I currently have thirteen paperbacks in my collection plus four anthologies in which I have one story each. It takes me about a minute and a half to give a short spiel about all of them. Friends who accompany me behind the table are often amazed at how I remember to say the same thing over and over again to each customer who walks up to my table. I laugh and tell them that’s why I have water handy.

So, how did I do it? One book at a time.

When I started out as a book vendor at events, I only had one book. I made up a blurb, but over time that blurb morphed into a statement that mostly seems to result in a raised eyebrow or a dropped jaw. As I added more books, I had time to add and update each blurb accordingly. After repeating them for years, I now have them memorized. The only ones I’d need to work on are the most recent releases.

How do I avoid getting bored?

I rearrange the order in which I present the books. I may also first ask the reader what kind of genre they like most, so it helps that I have a few different genres on display.

Without the elevator pitches, many people would merely look, nod, and walk away, never having even picked up a copy to read the book. I’m constantly people watching. If any of the covers make a person do a double-take, I say something to get their attention. Of course, it helps that I spend the better part of the day handing out bookmarks containing the covers of my books, a short blurb (not the same one I say), and information on how to connect with me or buy a copy online. Many people may walk away and buy later, some have returned to my table after reading the blurb on the back. That’s when I go all out with my elevator pitches.

This is not trivial to do, especially for the introvert, but if you practice, this art will soon be second nature. I’m not a natural salesperson, but my enthusiasm for my stories definitely makes up the difference.

Good luck out there!

Book Events and Why I Do Them

I try to attend a few book events each year. Most of them tend to be closer to the holidays when many people are looking for gifts. Although many people buy digital copies of my book, I encounter a great number of people who still enjoy the feel of a book in their hands. I also get to personalize my message when I sign the books for them.

There are times when someone stops by just to see what I have then later goes online to purchase the digital copy. If I hadn’t attended those events, these individuals would probably not have heard about my stories. Seeing digital sales go up after a book event makes me smile.

Being in person also helps me build my email list. I always put out a pen and paper with lines where the reader can leave their email address. This way, I’m only sending information to those who are interested in learning about future releases or events.

However, I think my favorite part of in-person events is being able to talk to readers about my stories. It’s one thing for them to read the blurb on the back of the book, but it’s a cool experience being able to express what it is that inspired me to write each story. They are able to ask questions, and I can find out what they want in a book which helps me point them toward the best match.

Having return customers is pretty neat too. They tend to tell me how much they enjoyed my story and ask me which they should purchase next. A few readers have already purchased copies of each book in my inventory, so this drives me to release the next book before the next year’s events. However, due to life’s hiccups, that doesn’t always happen. Nevertheless, my faithful readers understand and wait eagerly for the next book.

So, why do I continue to do book events? I’ve built relationships over the years.

The Business Side of Writing

Many writers who turn into authors love the creativity of releasing the work but dread the behind the scenes work that’s needed to make a book a success.

First, there’s the marketing. One must learn social media, target audiences, and build content to post or record to remain in the forefront of their fans’ minds.

Second, there’s searching for events where the books can be sold. Local events are where I meet the greater part of my fan base. They return yearly to see what new story or poem I’ve written. Having a signup sheet for emails also helps me keep in touch with them.

Third, pursuing radio, podcast, or television interviews is critical to building up the reading base. There are many small stations out there that are willing to help new authors introduce themselves to the world.

Fourth, keeping track of sales taxes, earnings, and inventory is important for understanding the health of this venture. Whether it’s a side hustle or main source of income, understanding these details is important to help keep things running smoothly. This is true even if you hire an accountant to do the grunt paperwork.

So, do your best to learn as much as you can about the business side of writing. I am fortunate that both sides of my brain enjoy the entirety of the writing process. I enjoy making graphs and seeing how many copies have sold over time almost as much as I love writing stories and poems. It helps me plan for the future better.

I keep track of the best-selling venues and which of my books sold the most copies at each one. This helps me organize how many copies of each to take. The data also influences whether I take extra to a certain event or return to a certain venue.

The other thing I did was to make additional merchandise available for purchase. So far, I had mugs made with the covers of my books on them. Some buyers like the idea of buying a mug to match the book they just purchased. Others got one because they loved the design or colors of the cover. You basically have to study your audience to know what they’d like.

Listening to my buyers has led to me broadening my genre base. At first, I hesitated because most authors are encouraged to stick with one genre. However, since I enjoy many kinds of stories, my mind comes up with plots from many genres as well. Readers are constantly amazed that I have multiple genres and sometimes return to buy copies of all my inventory. Some have even made requests regarding genres I already enjoy. One thing to remember, though, is to remain true to yourself. If a request doesn’t fit your writing, refer the reader to someone else. For example, I am not into mystery, so I don’t have the desire to release one, but I know author friends who write mystery. I find happiness in helping another author increase sales, and they do the same for me. Helping others grow too is good for business.

But most of all, have fun with what you do. The buyers can tell.

How Learning Multiple Languages Aids My Writing

The second novel I released included dialog in Spanish and Japanese. I had taken Spanish throughout middle school, high school, and college, so I felt somewhat comfortable creating conversation in that language. However, I’d never studied Japanese before. I did some internet searches to find the words I needed and plopped them into the story. Fortunately, my best friend’s first language is Spanish, and my editor had lived in Japan for a while, so they corrected any foreign language grammatical errors.

After that experience, I started learning French for a story whose main character is from France. As of today, that story is still only an idea, but by the time I get back to it, I’ll have a ton of French vocabulary in my head. Then, during NaNoWriMo 2020, I wrote the first part of A Cop and Vampire Story which includes a female vampire with origins in Germany. I expanded my language base to German so that I could create a more realistic back story for her.

The thing that I like the most is when someone who knows those languages reads the story and smiles because I captured not only the words, but the mood, intonations, and attitude of the character’s culture. I not only research the cultures, but I’ve also hung out with people from those cultures so that I can portray authentic characters. That’s the most fun part of writing: getting to know real people who influence fictional characters.

The added benefit? I can read more signage and pronounce more words from the languages I’m learning than I could yesterday. I’m having fun, and this new habit is broadening my writing base.

Building Multiple Anthologies

A few years ago, when one of my stories won a spot in an anthology, one of the avid readers of my stories refused to buy a copy. When I asked why, she said she’d only buy a book that contained short stories only from me. That’s when I came up with the idea of creating an anthology of short stories. As I started working on compiling that anthology, ideas for other anthologies emerged, including one or two for urban fantasy stories.

I am currently still creating stories and poems for these works in progress. My goal for each is fifty thousand words at a minimum to give my readers a lengthy and enjoyable reading experience. I need around two thousand words to complete the first anthology, and I hope I get the idea for that one soon. I’d like to release that anthology, if at all possible, by the end of 2026.

Stay tuned for more on this project.

The Benefits of a Writing Retreat

I’ve heard of writers’ retreats where people go to classes then meet up with publishers and agents at a shot of having their manuscript read and hopefully land a contract. I’ve never attended one because they never seemed to occur on a weekend where I had the time to spend at such an event.

However, in August 2023, I attended my first writing retreat. That appealed to me because I’d been in a writing slump for months and wanted the chance to break out of that to get back into a regular writing rhythm. And it worked. In one weekend, I went from writing zero words to over three thousand. I spent time in nature and wrote whatever came to mind. I wrote about a rainbow appearing in a water fountain and the cadence of songs of the various insects in the small sanctuary. The blue sky and cool breeze also enhanced my creative juices.

I left that weekend renewed and energized. But it wasn’t just about the writing. I taught the opening class and had the opportunity to spend quality time over meals with the other women joining me that weekend. We connected in a kind of sisterhood that is sure to last for many years to come.

We shared what we wrote with each other and offered critiques and encouragement where needed. When I read what I thought was a heart wrenching poem, they viewed it as a modern-day psalm. I’m glad I had the courage to share that one with them.

I look forward to being a part of this type of retreat in the future. I’m so glad the organizer is doing it again.

Pursuing Writing Goals

Every year, I make a point to write down my writing goals: which book can be released, which stories will be actively edited, and what ideas should be fleshed out. Things start out rosy, but then life happens and causes detours for many, if not all, of my scheduled plans. When that happens, I’ve learned to pivot. Last year when four of my books won the International Impact Book Awards, it meant I needed to update covers, redo bookmarks, and prepare for an unexpected trip. I still released two books, but the editing I’d planned on doing for a handful of stories fell off to just a couple. Making any kind of progress in my writing projects had to be enough encouragement to spur me on to continue in my craft. I took pleasure in making a page better on a given day versus focusing on whether I got through the manuscript in less than a month. After all, this is a marathon, not a sprint. I still want to record my stories and land more reviews. I just have to be patient with myself and the adventures life hands me. “Keep on going” is my current motto.  

Reminiscing About My Experience as a Kindle Vella Author

When I heard about Kindle Vella years ago, I recalled the time when weekly episodes of stories were aired on the radio. Before that, authors would submit weekly episodes of their stories to the newspapers. Now that we’re in a digital age, the idea of episodic releases had returned, this time to every handheld device.

 

Since I didn’t already have a story set up as episodes, I translated my then newest work-in-progress (WIP), Blood and Bullets: A Cop and Vampire Story, into an episodic format, making sure that the next episode was clear on whose POV it was in and dialogue tags to point out who spoke first in the scene. After a few tweaks, I set out to upload each one into the online tool.

 

The cover was a bit different, though. Only a small circular section of the cover was used for the Kindle Vella story, so I had to capture as many of the critical elements of the cover as possible.

 

The neat thing about Kindle Vella was that the author could leave notes about the episode, what inspired the scene, and hints about the next installment. In addition, the author could also create a fun questionnaire to encourage interaction with the readers.

 

Initially, the first three episodes are free, but the reader had to unlock the rest of the episodes with the appropriate number of tokens determined by the length of that episode. I am definitely glad I tried it and had intended on releasing the second part of my Cop and Vampire story. However, this adventure came to an end a year ago when Kindle Vella was discontinued.

 

Getting this story back out to the world is on my list of things to do. Stay tuned!

Award Winning Author

For years, I entered multiple competitions with no results. Of course, I started to think my stories weren’t good enough for this market. But then readers would say how much they enjoyed the characters who stayed in their minds for weeks or months after they’d finished the book. Other authors were impressed with the story idea. Still others left glowing reviews. So, when the opportunity to submit a book to the International Impact Book Awards presented itself, I hesitated, not because I didn’t think my books were worthy, but because I didn’t want to experience yet another rejection in a very particular world. I asked my fans whether I should try. When they said, “yes,” I asked for suggestions. I submitted four books. Months went by, and I’d forgotten about it, too busy releasing two more books to focus on anything else. Then, something amazing happened. One…two…three…four books won the award across the span of four weeks. I was elated, then I doubted, then I rejoiced. So many of my friends asked how I was going to celebrate. How does one celebrate the unexpected? I danced like Snoopy. Screamed for joy in my car. Allowed friends to treat me to lunch. But the tangible way I lived out my celebratory excitement was to travel to Phoenix, Arizona, to receive the trophy in person and meet others who’d won this prestigious award. I’m glad I didn’t shrink away from submitting my books. In fact, I submitted four more books to see whether they also measured up to the rubric used by the judges. Guess what, as of February 16, 2026, two more won this prestigious award, one of which is a collection of poetry.

The Challenges of Being an Indie Author

When I was an author with a co-publisher or for a traditional publisher, I had help to market, interact with social media, get interviews, and find bloggers who’d post about my stories. The publishers also found and hired the editors and proofreaders. As an Indie Author, all of that, in addition to creating the work, falls on me, and me alone. Over the years, I’ve had to learn how to do a lot involved in publishing a piece of work.

Once I’ve finished the first draft and have fixed it up, I find a Beta Reader to help me determine whether the story has wow potential. Then, I work with a critique group to tighten and incorporate those items which enhance that desired wow potential. Depending on the work, I may also hire an editor to ensure that the plot and character development are solid. Then, I ask someone to proofread the manuscript to catch any lingering or reader-halting errors. I also proofread the manuscript aloud to see whether I catch anything that the others missed. Finding a trusted editor has taken a lot of trial and error. This person has to be able to find issues and relay them back to me in a manner I could understand. The editor also must interact with the characters in the story enough to know which suggestions would work best. I don’t expect perfection because everyone approaches stories differently, but the editor needs to maintain an open mind.

Next, I format the manuscript. Over the years, I’ve developed a look and order that I like. I create a print version (with page numbers, headers, and table of contents) and another for the digital platform (no page numbers). For the digital format, I’ve had to learn what’s required to upload a copy that the tool will accept and how to understand and apply any fixes for issues that pop up.

While I’m working on the formatting, a vetted cover designer works on the cover. This is another relationship that must be based on trust and understanding as we discuss adjustments to the initial sketches. If I’m purchasing a full cover (front and back), the cover designer will need to know how many pages long the manuscript is which is why I wait until I’m formatting the manuscript to work on the cover.

The last thing needed is what the cost of the new book will be. I pay attention to the market and the cost of other books in the same genre. I also take the size or length of the book into consideration.  I come up with a price for the paperback version and another for the digital one.

With the book uploaded, my attention now turns to heavily marketing the book. Now, this isn’t the first time the world would hear about this release. I tend to talk it up over the months I’d been bringing it closer to release. I prepare an advertisement to post the release date on social media. For fun, I’ll have a countdown via posts to attract future readers. Sometimes, I schedule an event for release day. For this, I prepare sections of the story I’ll read aloud.

However, my work doesn’t end with the release. While I’m focusing on the next manuscript, I must continue talking about the previous books. It’s a lot of effort, and when life gets in the way, the sales tend to fall.

Some authors hire a personal assistant, but with a small budget, this may not be possible.

At in-person events, I smile, speak, hand out bookmarks, and explain more details about the stories (without giving away the ending) for the readers who ask more questions.

Although challenging at times, I must admit that I enjoy the life of an Indie Author. The best part is when people tell me how much trouble they had putting down my books. Page-turners are always one of my goals with my main one being a story that can affect lives for the better.

Planning for Another Year

Now that 2026 is underway, my mind goes to the months ahead and all that’s possible. The past few years have been challenging, but with Nanowrimo 2025 behind me, I am ready to work on the newly created pieces and return to the yet unfinished anthologies and stories.

 

I would also like to pursue getting reviews for the many stories I’ve published. If you’ve read any of my books and have yet to leave a review for each one, please do so as soon as you finish this post. I would be very appreciative.

 

Over the holidays, I finished incorporating months of critiques that had lingered in file notes into a handful of manuscripts. I am grateful for those who took the time to relate how my stories could be improved, so I didn't want to forget about any of their input.

 

I'm praying for a productive 2026.

Additional Winners

Something mind-blowing happened. Billiard Buddies and Just Between Us are also 2025 International Impact Book Awards winners. Click on the pics to purchase copies.

Looking forward to a black tie award gala in July.

Winners

 I am thrilled to announce that Danny R.O.S.S. and A Beautiful Girl are 2025 International Impact Book Awards winners. Click on the pics to purchase copies.

     

That is all.

The Benefits of a Writers' Group

In a craft where spending a lot of time is the norm, writers need other writers for encouragement, help with honing the skills needed to produce solid plots or poems, and to share accomplishments. I am currently a part of three groups (Do What’s Write Writer's Group & Podcast, South Jersey Writers Group, The Village Authors), and each one offers something a little different that meets my needs for friendship, involvement, growth, and fun. I recommend joining at least one group if publishing is intended, but even if you’re just writing a memoir for the family, a writers’ group can be helpful with that endeavor as well.

Some activities include write-ins where a small number of writers get together to write whatever they like; retreats to get time focused on writing, attending classes, or meeting agents / publishers; participating in open mics to practice reading aloud to a group; and discussions regarding various topics, such as genres, POV, and show vs. tell.

Personally, I’ve benefited mostly from the critique group within the writers’ group where other writers / authors read my work and give me suggestions on how to make it better. Some of the suggestions fit what’s needed while others do not. There is no pressure to accept any of the suggestions, but it would be a shame to disregard all of them. My work has benefited and improved over time with my adapting and learning from other writers with different backgrounds and experiences.

Writers’ groups are also a great place to share those rejections. No writer likes to get a rejection letter from a publisher, but when a group of people cheer you on because you took the time to submit your creative work, the rejection letter spurs you on to try the next one and the next after that. Remember, some great authors in world history, even more recently, have received numerous rejections before landing that lucrative contract. Publishing one’s work, I believe, is all about the hope of affecting the lives of others in a positive way through the beauty of imagination.

Starting Again

I’ve been away for quite a while. I didn’t want to be, but grieving for more than a dozen people since the beginning of 2022 took its toll. And my sweet kitty cat died, too. I wasn’t inclined to write although that would have been the very thing to bring healing. I needed a break to allow myself some self-care. The losses continued into 2023, but after attending a grieving class (which I highly recommend), my disposition began to improve. Gradually, I eased back into the rhythm of planning a return to my writing projects. It’s interesting that even though I didn’t progress with the WIPs I had in 2021, I faithfully submitted work to a monthly critique group.

So, what happens now in 2025?

I am focusing on my poetry while I attempt to incorporate all the feedback I received from my critique partners. I am grateful for their patience as I take the time to recalibrate. I am encouraged that they enjoyed one of my short stories so much that they suggested I expand it into a novel or at least a novella. Time will tell, but I can already visualize a bit of what they said.

I am also waiting to hear about the results of my very first song submission to a publisher. How exciting! The process is a bit different than for a manuscript. A recording of the song is also required. It was so cool being present for the recording over two evenings. As usual, I had to wait a few weeks for news of whether the work will receive a contract. Since that didn’t pan out, the song was submitted to another publisher.

In November 2023 and 2024, I jumped back into writing during National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short, where the goal is to write 50K words in thirty days. I’d been gentle with myself both times. If I only managed one word, I was happy with that. At least I started writing again, which is more important.

 I am definitely a different person on the other side of this experience. I look forward to seeing how my writing will change.

I Did It Again!

It's been a challenging thing, getting back into writing regularly after taking a break to grieve. However, I'm happy that I pushed through emotional pain to create a heartfelt story between a mother and daughter at a July 4th beach day for the Cat & Mouse Beach Holiday contest. I've been submitting short stories to this contest since 2018, but I haven't been successful since that first time at seeing my story among others in an award-winning anthology series. I've learned, though, that rejections aren't a bad thing for a writer. I use it to propel me to continue creating stories that I'd like to read. Besides, I already have a plan for any short story I write. One way or another, as I have breath, I will make them available for the world to enjoy.

Inclusion In Another Anthology

I recently got an email requesting my participation in an anthology about unexpected kindness I'd experienced from someone I didn't know beforehand. With the craziness of the current time, Matt Goldberg, an Inspirational Humorist, wanted to put together a collection of stories about kindness to inspire others. 

Busy in the height of tax season, I put off thinking through what to submit until the beginning of May. However, days later, a memory that had stayed with me since my childhood came to mind. I proposed my idea via email, and Matt gave it a nod. Memorial weekend (U.S.) afforded me the couple hours I needed to write the story. I was so pleased when Matt accepted the piece and asked for my bio.

I look forward to reading the other authors' stories upon release.

Interested in participating? Check out Rings of Kindness (matthewjgoldberg.com). He's still accepting submissions. Good luck!