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When people hear the words home library, they may picture an entire room filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a cozy reading chair, and thousands of beautifully displayed books. While that sounds wonderful, you don’t need a dedicated library or a huge budget to create a special…

I am one of those authors who has to let an idea circle around in my brain for a while before I can commit to it. I think about the idea. I think of different scenarios, and I basically start writing in my brain first,…

     When you hear the words “author brand,” you probably think about a logo, a website, or the colors you use on your book covers. While those things can certainly be an important part of your brand, an author brand is much more than a logo…

When I decided to become a children’s book author, I had no idea how much marketing I would have to do when I decided to go the self-published route. Sure, I did all kinds of research (in everything from A-Z) and I knew as a…

There was a time when how-to books were expected to maintain the same tone from the first page to the last. They were often written in a formal, instructional style that focused almost exclusively on delivering information. While there’s certainly a place for that approach,…

A couple of weeks ago, when I was going around town doing cold calls, one of my sisters and I heard of a new bookstore in our city called Final Draft. After the success there (read my July 13th blog, “A Self-Publisher’s Dream Come True…

In the past, I have talked about visibility as a self-publisher and its importance. It is probably one of the most important jobs a self-publisher has when it comes to selling and promoting their book. With traditional publishers, such as those known as “the Big…

I would say that my writing process is a little unconventional. Most authors follow a strict day-to-day process that consists of brainstorming, aka the prewriting stage. Next, there’s the drafting stage, which is writing what comes to mind. Some call it the “messy” version. Next…

If you’ve ever self-published a book, you know that writing the story is only the beginning. After the book is printed, a new job begins—one filled with book signings, community events, social media posts, emails, networking, and countless conversations about your book. As a self-publisher,…

Last week’s blog was about why reading aloud matters when writing a children’s book, so I thought it would be appropriate this week to write about how children reacted when I read my story, A Birthday Surprise In Triple Oaks Forest, to them. But before…

One of the simplest yet most powerful tools a children’s book author can use is reading their manuscript aloud. While many writers focus on word counts, illustrations, or plot development, the true test of a children’s story often happens when the words leave the page…

The other day, I was talking with one of my sisters on the phone. I had told her what all I had been up to lately regarding writing, creating digital products, etc., and she mentioned how extremely organized I seem to be. This conversation then…