Great Blogs for Authors and Illustrators!

There is a lot of great information about the world of publishing in cyberspace if you know where to look. I would like to make your quest for knowledge a bit easier, so I am sharing a couple of blogs that I find extremely valuable. Feel free to add to this list in the comments below!

Inkygirl by Debbie Ohi http://inkygirl.com/

My Name Is Not Bob by Robert Lee Brewer http://robertleebrewer.blogspot.com/

Literary Agent Rachelle Gardner http://www.rachellegardner.com/

Raychelle Writes by Raychelle Muhammad http://www.Raychelle-Writes.blogspot.com (I hear this one is pretty good. :) )

Keep your pen to the paper! Remember, inspiration is everywhere...

The Writer's Block Interviews: J.R. Nova

1.Tell us a bit about yourself and where you live and work.

I'm twenty-five and live in Iowa along the scenic Mississippi River. I have held various odd jobs, mostly in the grocery business. There's nothing special there except that it has given me many opportunities to get to know people, what they think, why, and how that effects their actions—and I feel this translates to my writing. A small town grocery store is a wonderful psychology experiment.

I'm self taught in just about all of my interests. I enjoy playing guitar, meditating, practicing Yoga and running. I'm fairly balanced as far as my interests outside of writing go. I have what I think is a profound joy for life.

I consider myself to be spiritual and mystical, and this effects just about everything I do, including my writing.


2.Describe your journey to becoming a writer/author.

I had an experience in first grade that had a profound effect on what I would later become. My teacher (we lived in Germany at the time) had made small, blank books from construction paper, cardboard and wallpaper, and let us fill them in. I teamed up with a classmate,writing out the story of a young girl who goes to the zoo, and my friend illustrated it. It's one of my fondest school memories, and though I no longer have the book I made, the memory stuck with me and writing was something I always related to, even though I didn't actually write anything on my own until a few years later.

Reading Lloyd Alexander's The High King in fourth grade was another pivotal moment for me. It was the first book I remember reading that affected me personally, and it was definitely the first thing I had read that made me want to read outside the classroom.

I wrote poetry in my early teens, and I began writing fiction when I was sixteen. I eventually quit poetry, but stuck with my stories. At one point I thought I would become rich and famous and that this would happen quickly, but I've since tempered my expectations and have worked harder at crafting a good tale than hoping to be the next Stephen King.


3.Do you gravitate toward specific genres in your writing?

I enjoy writing speculative fiction and fantasy set in more or less modern locations. I enjoy mixing magic with technology, the past with the future, history with the present. I enjoy asking deep “what if”questions and seeing what answers the characters give me.

In my fiction I have no qualms about being perceived as a genre writer.To me my mission is to write what others will enjoy, and many people enjoy a fast-paced, action-filled and suspenseful story. It's what I enjoy reading and it's what I hope to be successful writing, though I have a tendency to throw in deeper subject matter.

I'm also drawn to writing about spiritual and philosophical topics, like“awareness” and meditation. Even more so than being a published fiction author, I want to some day be a publishing nonfiction author.It is a greater challenge for me to actually address truths on the page than to merely show these truths through unreal characters.


4.Tell us about your novel, Rising.Where can readers find it?

I took a break from writing in 2011, taking more time off than I had since before I was sixteen, and it apparently did me much good,because in November I woke up one morning with the idea to Rising and wrote the rough draft in two weeks. I split that draft up, saving the second half for the second book, Sacrifice (unpublished), and went to work on rewriting, revising, and editing the first half, which has become Rising.

Rising is about a young witch, Clara Blackstone, who is searching for a man named Maximus Czar, a former general who had caused much chaos and pain throughout the sector (their name for “country”). After losing her family to his war, and having grown up under the tutelage of a great and powerful witch, Clara sets off to make Czar pay for what he's done, only to find out that Czar is not yet finished.

Clara finds and befriends a boy named Zen Mar, and together they must uncover and foil Czar's evil plans, or risk being destroyed, along with the rest of the world.

Currently, Rising is sold on Smashwords and Amazon as ebooks, but I hope to bring out a paperback through Createspace within the next month or two.


5.Who are your favorite authors? What is on your reading list right now?

I have many favorite authors, but if I were trapped on a desert island(or in deep space) and had only a few books to read, I would hope they were written by Michael Crichton or Frank Herbert. Then I don't think I could go wrong.

Right now I have a stack of a dozen used library books waiting to be read.Some Anne Rice and Colleen McCullough, who I really enjoy, and some old fantasy novels, as well as modern fiction on my Kindle by Rodney C. Johnson (his short story “Light and Fire”) and A. L. Tyler(her novel Arrival of the Traveler), just to name a couple. I'm also working my way through Lord of the Rings again.

Trying to edit my novel and read at the same time was impossible. I've probably read more in the last two months than I have in the previous year, yet it was the same twenty-four chapters over and over again.I'm glad to be able to read something else for a change!


6.How do you promote your work? What methods have worked best for you?

I think “making it” in writing is a mix of luck and word of mouth.I'm hoping to get my novel into as many hands as I can, and hope that people will enjoy it enough to recommend it to their friends, but I don't see how I can force this process.

Because of that I'm taking a long-term approach to marketing. I agree with the idea that my next book is my best marketing tool. What will happen will happen, but I've got to stay focused on what is important: writing.

I do my best to let people know I have a book, that they can buy it,without being an obnoxious spammer. I want readers to be aware of my stories, yet also appreciate my online presence.

Being diverse in marketing is a writer's greatest advantage, and it's what I hope to accomplish with my blog, my Facebook and Google+ pages,interviews and guest posts, as well as my stories. I can be a bit shy about self promotion, but I ignore whatever fear or doubt I have and dive in.


7.What are your upcoming plans for 2012?

I'm in a fortunate situation right now to have a bit of time to write and market myself, and I intend to take advantage of it the best I can. I know time is something many writers don't have a lot of, and it's not something I've always had a lot of. I'm not working full time right now, and it's really freed me up to get a jump on my writing career.

This is an opportunity I cannot waste, as I've wasted similar opportunities in the past. I hope to finish and publish Sacrifice by the end of the year, as well as a nonfiction book I'm working on titled Wrapped in the Present. I have a few shorter works right now, as well, a short story and a novella, and a story that may eventually grow to be a novel at some point. If I can work hard and get each of these projects finished, I may be in a better position for 2013.


8.What is your definition of success as an author?

In the big picture, I will be successful if I can pay my bills. Anything more than that is topping on a quite delicious cake.

But every day I find small victories, things that make me feel as if everything I've done is worth it. When people compliment me on what I write or thank me for changing their worldview, it propels me forward. Success is often more abstract than tangible. I hesitate to measure it by a large contract or an award. Success is happening all the time on an individual level, in how I affect others.

I want to live, and if I can live by writing, I'll be very happy. I don't think I can ask for more out of my own life if I can live by my writing and also change people's lives.


9.What advice would you offer to aspiring authors?

For years I've dealt with perfectionism and doubt. I wish I hadn't. Maybe it was a good thing, because it kept me from publishing what now I think was junk, but at some point I know I must leave these feelings behind, or be doomed to obscurity. When I began writing again last November, I gave myself only two rules:

I would not contend with doubt.

I would not be a perfectionist.

I may not have been the most positive and upbeat person in the last few months, but I'll be surprised if I've spent more than a single minute thinking I wouldn't succeed in publishing my first novel. And that I've finally published it is proof that I've caged my former perfectionism.

I would tell any aspiring writer to do his or her best, to learn craft (grammar, punctuation, character, pacing), to work hard, but to also trust that the story is good enough when the work is done. Even if it takes four or five drafts, understand when enough is enough and take a chance.

Readers are a much better judge of our own work than we are. We see it only through our personal perspective, but we are writing for our readers,now for ourselves, and it's their personal perspective that counts, not ours.

Author Bio

"J. R. Nova is an author of speculative fiction and fantasy. He plays guitar, meditates, runs, and philosophizes. Not much else is known about him, as he lives in another dimension with his pet, Harpy."

Contact J.R.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorjrnova

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/109068641765902025825/about

Twitter: @AuthorJRNova

Blog: http://jrnova.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5804900.J_R_Nova

The Writer's Block Interviews: Debbie Ridpath Ohi

1) Tell us a bit about who you are, and where you live and work.

I write and illustrate for young people and live in Toronto with my husband, Jeff. I founded Inkspot, one of the first sites for writers on the Web (now shut down). I have way too many online projects; you can find out more at my website: http://www.DebbieOhi.com. I'm represented by Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown Ltd.

In my spare time, I write songs and perform with my music group (http://urbantapestry.org) and also draw webcomics.


2) Describe your journey to becoming an author/ illustrator.

I've been writing all my life. I started out getting short nonfiction published in various print and online venues, was approached by Writer's Digest Books to do The Writer's Online Marketplace (2001), have also had short stories and poetry published.

Lee Wardlaw, a children's book author (http://www.leewardlaw.com/), encouraged me early on and helped me improve my writing. Lee was also responsible for connecting me with Ginger; Ginger is her agent, too.

At the SCBWI Summer Conference in 2010, I was convinced by an artist friend (Beckett Gladney http://artbeco.com) to enter the Illustrator Portfolio Showcase and, to my shock, won two awards: an Honor Award and a Mentorship Program Award.

One of the Portfolio Showcase judges was Justin Chanda, who is a publisher at Simon & Schuster and heads three imprints: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, Atheneum and McElderry Books. He offered me a book contract, illustrating Michael Ian Black's newest picture book. I was thrilled!

You can read my blog post about what happened here:

http://kidlitartists.blogspot.ca/2010/09/how-rejection-got-me-book-deal-my.html


3) Describe your body of work. Which have been some of your most meaningful projects?

As I mentioned above, I've written (and been paid for :-)) short nonfiction, a nonfiction book, short fiction and poetry. I've illustrated a picture book. I'm also working on writing my own picture books, plus working on middle grade and YA novels.

AND I have some more very very good book news but can't share it yet. Hopefully soon, though!

A few of my most meaningful projects:

I contributed a short story to the just-released TOMO, a YA anthology edited by Holly Thompson (Stone Bridge Press). Proceeds will help teens affected by last year's Japan earthquake and tsunami. More info: http://tomoanthology.blogspot.ca/

Also, of course, illustrating I'M BORED for Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers!


4) Tell us about your upcoming release, I’M BORED.

I'M BORED is a new picture book written by comedian, actor and writer Michael Ian Black. Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers is publishing it in September, 2012.

It's a fun story in which a little girl tries to convince a potato (yes, I said a POTATO) that kids aren't boring. I had so much illustrating this book! I also learned a ton about writing and illustrating picture books in the process; I'm posting about my experience in an online I'm Bored scrapbook: http://debbieohi.com/boredbook

I interviewed the editor, art director and author about the process, and am including quotes, photos and cartoons.


5) What is Inkspot? How did you develop the concept for it?

Inkspot was one of the first websites for writers online. I originally started it as a resource for children's book writers but then opened it up to writers of all genres. You can read more about what happened to Inkspot here: http://electricpenguin.com/inkspot/

Now I have a new site for writers called Inkygirl (http://inkygirl.com/), which is an illustrated guide for those write and draw for young people.

 
6) Who are your favorite authors? What is on your reading list right now?

It's hard to choose favourite authors -- depends on what type of book you're talking about: fiction, nonfiction, age range, etc. I read a wide variety of books and always reading multiple books -- depends on my mood, what I'm doing and even where I am in the house. :-)

On my current reading list, on my readers & in physical print:

TOMO edited by Holly Thompson (reading the other stories in the anthology)

THE YO-YO PROPHET by Karen Krossing

DEADLINE by Mira Grant

WITCHLANDERS by Lena Coakley

HEREVILLE: HOW MIRKA GOT HER SWORD by Barry Deutsch (graphic novel)

THE ANATOMY OF STORY by John Truby


7) How do you promote your work? What methods have worked best for you?

This was a much more difficult question for me to answer. To answer it properly would take a long time and go beyond the scope of a single answer.

So instead, here's the type of promotion that I DON'T do that I see being used quite frequently in Twitter:

Promotion that does NOT work, in my opinion: Making what is essentially the same "buy my book" post over and over again.

I figure most people are already being barraged online and offline (but especially online) with companies and individuals who are trying to get them to buy something.


8) How has music played a role in your life?

Music has been an important part of my life since I was a small child. I took piano lessons for many years and then taught piano part-time for about 20 years (since high school). I took flute in high school and started playing flute with my music group (http://urbantapestry.org) and in studio sessions with other musicians.

Now I write songs for and perform with my group, just for the fun of it. We've given concerts in the U.S., Canada, Germany and the UK and have several albums out. Other instruments I've played, with varying degrees of competency: guitar, Celtic harp, tin whistle and various bangy percussion instruments.

My current musical project: writing an "I'M BORED" song for a promotional music video!


9) How have your professional associations enhanced your career?

See my answers above for just a few ways that the SCBWI has helped my illustration career: Not only did I get a book contract, but being a part of the SCBWI Illustration Mentorship program (see the SCBWI Mentees blog: http://kidlitartists.blogspot.com) has been immensely rewarding in terms of the friends I've made and priceless advice and guidance I've received.

I save up so I attend the annual conferences in NYC and LA every year…it's been worth every penny. Not just for the talks, workshops and critiques but also for the networking opportunities.

I'm also a member of CANSCAIP (http://canscaip.org/), and have been learning a great deal from the monthly local meetings. If you're a Canadian writer or illustrator, I recommend joining!


10) What are your upcoming plans for 2012?

Looking forward to seeing I'M BORED on the shelves!

AND working on new book projects (hope to be able to share more about this soon -- waiting for the contracts to be finalized).


11) What advice would you offer to aspiring author/illustrators?

Be open to new opportunities.

Don't let yourself get into a rut. Keep working on your craft.

Remember that in the end, it comes down to having a good story. No amount of promotion or networking or multimedia formatting is going to help if you don't have a good story to begin with.

Meet other writers, illustrators and people in the industry in person, not just online. I wish someone had told me this many years ago when I was just starting out.


Author Bio

Photo credit: Beckett Gladney

Debbie Ridpath Ohi is a Toronto-based freelance writer and illustrator with a focus on content for young people. She recently illustrated I'M BORED, a picture book by actor/comedian/author Michael Ian Black, due out this Fall (Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 2012), and has an illustrated short story in YA fiction anthology, TOMO (Stone Bridge Press, 2012). Previously, she was the founder of Inkspot and Inklings, one of the very first online writing communities and electronic newsletters. (Bio courtesy Chris Cheung of Autodesk SketchBook)

Contact Debbie

Twitter: @inkyelbows

Blog for kidlit/YA writers: http://inkygirl.com

More info about Debbie: http://DebbieOhi.com

The Writer's Block Interviews: Steven Belanger

 

1) Tell us a bit about yourself and where you live and work.

Thanks for having me here at The Writer’s Block, Raychelle. I’m a high school English Language Arts teacher, novelist, short story writer—and so-so poet. I live in the Northeast, in a quiet area of a loud suburb. It’s sort of rural where I am, but I’m half a mile from suburban and seven miles from urban. Also just half an hour to the good beaches, forty minutes to an hour to good walking/biking/hiking trails, an hour and a half from Fenway Park, two hours to the peaks and streams, and five hours from Manhattan—all of which I love and go to as often as possible.

 
2) Describe your journey to becoming a writer/author.

Oh, boy. How much time have ya got? Well, the short of it is that, when I was about six or so, I wrote a short story in a birthday card for my mother, whose name was Carole. The story was called something like, “A Christmas Carole, by Charles Dickens, but re-written by Steve Belanger.” (The misspelling of her name was intentional. I still have the card somewhere, since she’s passed.) It made her smile, and I was hooked. Throw in some slacking, finishing a novel, getting ripped off by an “agent” who scammed me for about a year (she’s still under indictment in NY State after many other victims came forward), and not writing a single creative word for nine years, and then being rescued (creatively and perhaps literally) by a great woman who convinced me to write again. “Hide the Weird” was the first thing I finished and sent out, and it’s in Space and Time Magazine right now. I feel I have those nine years to make up for, so I’m full speed ahead with many projects.

 
3) Do you gravitate toward specific genres in your writing?

Well, I don’t know. “Hide the Weird” is speculative fiction, I guess, though I’m not happy with that label. I just sold a very short nonfiction piece about how adopting a greyhound changed my life. I also finished a much longer nonfiction piece about managing anxiety in ten easy steps, with examples, anecdotes and short summaries. I’ll be sending that out soon. I’ve written (and am now re-writing) a zombie story that has quite a bit of the feel of Dylan Thomas’s “Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night.” And a tiny bit of the Sox collapsing last year. Cuz they just rolled over and died, get it? (Sorry.) My edited and re-edited, finished and re-finished (knock on wood) novel is a mystery titled Cursing the Darkness. A draft of a sequel (or maybe a prequel, we’ll see) titled Remembering James is about half done. My novel The Gravediggers is a historical fiction horror novel, which I guess is what Dan Simmons’ The Terror was. It’s about the TB epidemic in 1880s and 1890s New England (specifically RI and NH) and how a creature really could have hidden in the shadows of the hysteria and walked in the footsteps of the disease—suspected, but never seen. Or was it? The Mercy Brown folklore of Rhode Island plays a part, as does the unbelievable sacrifice of the village of Eyam, England during the Plague (look both of those up). Modern-day, hysteria-inducing diseases, like 1980s AIDS, does, too, at least in the draft so far. I’m writing a memoir as well, and even my poems are of differing subjects and themes. Oh, yeah, and a book of my existentialist philosophy, titled Faith & Reality: Jumping Realities. And I’m about 100 pages into a semi-autobiographical novel, The Observer. And a collection of essays and articles about my experience in education, titled When No Child Gets Ahead, No Child Gets Left Behind: Adventures and Lessons in Education. And a concentration camp novel, about a camp the Nazis used as a sort of positive advertising to the world’s cameras (the prisoners were shown performing whatever talent they had, like singing; they ate only for the cameras, and were told to smile or be shot after the cameras were shut off). A small group of courageous adults try to save the life of a young boy who has no obvious talent whatsoever, at first by hiding him in a chorus. And a novel about a different sort of Armageddon, titled Apocalypse. So, no, actually I’d have to say I’m all over the place! I guess there are two different theories for not-yet-firmly established writers: write what’s selling (Do we really need another teenage paranormal romance?) or write what you want and work your butt off trying to sell it. I do the latter.

 
4) Tell us about your latest published short story, “Hide the Weird”. Where can readers find it?

Readers can find “Hide the Weird” in Space and Time Magazine: The Magazine of Fantasy, Horror and Science Fiction, via http://www.spaceandtimemagazine.com or at a newsstand near you. It’s a romance with a twist: a young man can see into the very near future (usually a couple of seconds to a couple of days); what he sees next is an ex-girlfriend, who he still loves, jumping from her apartment window, aflame, and plummeting to her death, a shooting star he loves crashing to the ground. But, when? Can he stop it? If he can’t, how can he warn her about it without her thinking he’s a freak? And, throughout all this, is he really saving anyone, or just making someone else die? All of that in just four magazine pages, with a nice illustration by Mark Levine.


 
5) I understand that you have recently completed a novel. What can you share about it?

That I’m soon to seek literary representation for it. Just finishing the pitch and packaging.

And that it’s a story of redemption. Foster was a cop who couldn’t save a three-year old girl from plummeting to her death. Now he’s dead inside—despite a façade, he’s just a depressed and broke PI with a dying mother. But after Henry Blanchard hires him to find his missing daughter, Foster soon learns he’ll have another chance to save someone from certain death. And at the end, when he saves her, he saves himself.

Some people fail at something so traumatic that it defines their lives. How many get a chance at peace and self-redemption? Foster does, but it’s not easy: The vice-president of RI’s largest construction company is extorted and blackmailed by his ex-wife and her lover—a known crime figure named Charlie—who wants the company to work on the Mob’s pork-barrel projects and to launder its money. The VP’s eighteen-year daughter, Melissa, witnesses this and runs away. Foster finds her at her drug-dealing boyfriend’s in time to save her from Charlie’s hitmen. But he’s forced to lose her. Foster solves two other connected crimes while also fending off crooked cops, a dirty detective, a seductive and deceitful woman—and his depression, created by his mother’s illness and his regret and loneliness. The climactic scene: a Wendy’s restaurant, where he finds Melissa—and the hitmen sent to kill her, plus some. The novel resolves with Foster’s and Melissa’s recoveries, his mother’s death, the end of his mental and emotional anguish, and his self-redemption. Sort of.


6) Who are your favorite authors? What is on your reading list right now?

Too many favorites to mention, but here are some, in no particular ranking: Shakespeare, Stephen King, Robert B. Parker, Nietzsche, Anne Lamott, Alice Munro, Umberto Eco, Barbara Tuchman, Dan Simmons (though we need to have a talk about Flashback), Woody Allen (short stories and screenplays), Quentin Tarantino’s screenplays, lyrics of Paul Simon, Lennon/McCartney and Brandi Carlile. And, well, how much space do you have? Right now I’m reading Jonathon Kellerman’s latest (though they all seem to be bleeding into one by now), and The Best American Mysteries of 1998 (working my way up), and Joyce Carol Oates’ Haunted: Tales of the Grotesque. And whatever I’m doing at my job, plus new stuff in the new textbooks that look interesting. And…


7) How do you promote your work? What methods have worked best for you?

Well, I’m still relatively new at this, so I do what I can without letting it overwhelm the actual writing time, plus the career that I love which also pays The Man. I blog usually three to four entries per week. I’m a member of (too many) online writers groups. I befriend (or is it e-friend?) other bloggers, and I comment on their blogs. I tell everyone who is related to me, who likes me, or who might be interested—or any combination—about my published work. I just took a copy of Space and Time with my story in it to the local library and asked if they could subscribe to it, since my story was in it—and they said “Yes!” (That was completely spur-of-the-moment.) A few other things are in the works.

Despite all this, I firmly believe that the best method of promoting my work is to finish more of it, to send it out, to get it published, and to advertise that—then repeat. I very strongly believe that a writer’s best advertising is his own high-quality, published work.


8) What are your upcoming plans for 2012?

To finish, send out, and publish every single title I mentioned I was working on in #3!!! Plus everything else festering in this overactive head of mine that I haven’t had time to jot down yet. And to set up a better schedule for myself so that I can do all that.


9) What is your definition of success as an author?

This is actually pretty simple, and I’m happy you used the word “author” rather than “writer,” or it wouldn’t be so simple. A successful author is one who gets paid to his/her own satisfaction for the work he or she has produced. Success, unlike beauty (though we could argue about that, too), is in the mind of the individual, not the beholder.




 
10) What advice would you offer to aspiring authors?

Read a lot.

Write a lot.

Send it out a lot.

Stir. Repeat.

Thanks very much for having me here, Raychelle. Answering these questions actually helped me realize a few things about my writing—especially how I need to better schedule my writing time.


Author Bio

Steve Belanger has been writing since he was seven, after he read Stephen King's Carrie and thought: I can do this. His first published piece, written at the same age, was "A Christmas Carole," a short story inside of a Christmas card, created for his ailing mother. She smiled, and he was hooked. He's writing whenever he's not paying The Man (or is it the other way around?) and he lives with his better half, his greyhound and his one-eyed cat, who somehow still shoots him a wry glance when Steve's being bad. On most days (and nights, and weekends, and holidays, and--) he's hunched over his office desk, writing stories or novels, pounding the internet pavement, preparing story submissions for magazine editors and novel packages for agents, or pouring over papers and plans for his day job. And over-alliterating the letter P. He also eats and sleeps, on occasion. He enjoys baseball and breathing, when he has the time, and he's finishing his Masters.


Contact Steve

Blog: http://www.stevenebelanger.blogspot.com

Website: http://www.stevenbelanger.com

The Writer's Block Interviews: Sophfronia Scott

1) How did you get started as a writer? Describe your body of work.

I've been writing since I was a girl, but it wasn't until I went to college, at Harvard, that I learned writing could be my career. One of my writing teachers said to me, in what became a life-changing moment for me, "You know you're good enough to get paid for this, right?" I was shocked! I was hired by Time Magazine right out of college and I learned my trade as a journalist. I worked in the company for 15 years. Then I sold my first novel. I've also published two non-fiction books (Doing Business By the Book and How the Fierce Handle Fear) and I've been published in Chicken Soup for the African American Woman's Soul and Forty Things to Do When You Turn Forty.


2) Do you specialize in any particular genre(s)?

I would say I specialize in fiction, especially novels about family.


3) What inspired you to write All I Need to Get By (St. Martin’s Press, 2004)?

All I Need to Get By is a family story about a woman who grew up idolizing her older brother. When I grew up I was particularly fascinated with the life of my older brother and as an adult I came to realize I knew more about his teenage life than he did because I watched him so closely. There aren't many books out there that talk about brother/sister relationships and I thought it would be interesting to explore that bond and what happens when a sibling dishonors that bond.


4) What will authors learn from "Doing Business by the Book"?

They will learn about how a business book really works. Many entrepreneurs want to write a book because they have a good idea and they think a book would be good for their business. But in order for the book to help the business it has to do so much more than just express an idea. It has to get a client to want to work with you, it has to move them to take the next step towards that. Those things won't happen unless you plan it into the writing of the book.


5) Tell us about The Done For You Writing & Publishing Company. What services do you provide?

It helps speakers, coaches and entrepreneurs to write books to promote their businesses. We have a range of services from classes and workshops that teach book strategy and writing to personal coaching to help people with their book projects, to ghostwriting services where we will actually write the book for the client.


6) How did Messenger House Books begin? Which genres do you publish?

Messenger House is a partnership we have with Advantage Media Group to produce books for our clients. The books we've done so far have been inspirational, self-help books.


7) Please share your other brands and how you manage them all.

I have a brand known as "The Book Sistah" that addresses the needs of non-business writers, "Business Book Bootcamp", which is the brand for the webinar class I teach and then "Business By the Book" is my blog. Each gets emphasized depending on what I'm doing and the time of year. For instance, with my focus on fiction these days, The Book Sistah brand will come to the forefront more as I launch a new blog around that. When I'm offering the webinar, Business Book Bootcamp gets a lot of play. It would be too hard to promote all at once.


8) What advice would you give to budding writers?

Be focused on what you want to accomplish as a writer and then bet on yourself. It's easy to get distracted by having to make money for a living but it's something most of us have to deal with, unfortunately. For the past few years I've been sidetracked by my business and raising my young son and my fiction has suffered for it. Last year I made a commitment to change that by going for my masters in creative writing, fiction. I'm now a student at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, one of the top MFA programs in the country.


9) What is your definition of success as a writer?

Writing the work you love to do in the way that only you can do it. The author Robert Vivian, one of my teachers at Vermont, taught me that--it's not just about awards and accolades. When you truly understand your unique voice and your gift as a writer, you will write amazing work that will stand the test of time. And that's also when you will feel the most alive when you're writing. I just love that. By the way, I highly recommend his excellent novel trilogy: Mover of Bones, Lamb Bright Saviors and Another Burning Kingdom. Reading great work is absolutely essential if you're going to grow as a writer.


10) What do you plan to accomplish in 2012?

As part of my masters work I'm currently writing short stories at a clip of about one a month. I'd like to see what I have at the end of it and whether or not it will all come together as a collection. But I may be focusing on my novel in the fall semester, I don't know yet. We'll see. I'm also undertaking a major publishing project for a client that will result in an important book coming out in January. I can't talk about the details on that just yet, but it will be a tremendous book.


Author Bio

Sophfronia Scott has over twenty years of experience as a professional writer. She honed her craft working with some of the best (and toughest) editors in the world during her career at Time and People magazines.

When she published her first novel, All I Need to Get By with St. Martin’s Press in 2004, one prominent reviewer referred to Sophfronia as potentially “one of the best writers of her generation.”

Sophfronia holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Harvard. In her current position as executive editor of The Done For You Writing & Publishing Company, and publisher of Messenger House Books, Sophfronia helps entrepreneurs and speakers to write and publish books to market their businesses. She is also the author of the bestselling award-winning book, Doing Business By the Book: How to Craft a Crowd-Pleasing Book and Attract More Clients and Speaking Engagements Than You Ever Thought Possible and How the Fierce Handle Fear: Secrets to Succeeding in Challenging Times. Sophfronia has published essays in Chicken Soup for the African American Woman’s Soul and Forty Things to Do When You Turn Forty. She is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Creative Writing-Fiction at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Sophfronia will be teaching a live workshop, "How to Write & Publish Books That Change Lives", at the University of Connecticut, Stamford, on May 19. For details go to http://www.BookPublishingEvent.com.

Contact Sophfronia

Website: http://www.doneforyouwriting.com

The Done For You Writing & Publishing Company, LLC
261 South Main Street
Suite 319
Newtown, CT 06470

Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
866-834-3942 office (toll free)
866-834-3942 fax
info@doneforyouwriting.com

The Writer's Block Interviews: Jordan Trent

1) Tell us a bit about who you are, and where you live and work.

I am a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and the middle child of three girls and I come from a long line of educators, so it felt only natural that I pursue a career in the field of education. I currently work with young people and mentor in Atlanta, Georgia.


2) Describe your journey to becoming an author.

My literary journey began very early in life. In fact, my mom, who also loved to write, encouraged my sisters and I to write when we were children because she didn’t always love the images or stories that were in print.  So we began writing poetry and short stories as kids and then would perform our work for our parents.  However, interestingly enough, I never thought I would publish any of my work until I wrote If Tomorrow Comes and I Am Gone.  I thought I would be like my mom and just share my stories with my own children one day to inspire them. It wasn’t until I became a published author that I learned my mom always wished she had published some of her work as well.  So in many ways I now feel this journey is for both of us.


3) What kinds of books do you write? Who is your ideal reader?

I write children’s books that are specifically designed to help strengthen families and children. However, although children are my target group, any reader who is seeking resources for dealing with challenges that families sometimes face from illness to new siblings are my ideal readers.


4) Where did you find your inspiration for If Tomorrow Comes and I am Gone?

I wanted to create a story that was multidimensional in nature; one that would be relatable among a variety of age groups and cultures. As in America, there is a woman in India who has been diagnosed with cancer, a father who is left to be the sole provider, grandparents who serve as surrogates in many cases. Loss, grief, disease. . .cancer transcends age, culture, and location. Tomorrow’s mission is to inspire, mend broken hearts, and provide encouragement to those who find themselves in these circumstances. The activities are an extension of the story. As an educator, I was very intentional to ensure readers were able to interact with the story; to ensure their takeaway was tangible and meaningful. The response has been overwhelming. Libraries have cataloged Tomorrow, centers that work with children and the grief process have expressed interest in using the book as a tool for their clients, parents have told me that they are using Tomorrow with their children to help them create memories of loved ones who have transitioned.


5) Why did you start The Ngambika Academy?

I am energized by young people and find their power of promise and potential infectious. My passion for our future leaders inspired me to develop The Ngambika Academy—a Kiswahili word meaning ‘help me carry the load’—to provide a ‘train the trainer’ model and curriculum for volunteers and mentors seeking to create ongoing leadership, service learning, and life skills training for young people.  The Ngambika Academy is not an actual school, but is a replicable curriculum that allows others to design and develop their own academies within their schools and/or communities. 


6) Who are your favorite authors? What is on your reading list right now?

There are so many authors that I have loved over the years for different reasons, but Dr. Maya Angelou, Don Miguel Ruiz, Iyanla Vanzant, and Margaret Wise Brown are just a few of my favorites. Unfortunately at the moment my schedule has been so hectic that the only thing on my reading list is my “to do list,” which continues to grow.


7)  How do you promote your work? What methods have worked best for you?

I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to promote my work via an array of media outlets that include radio, television, newspapers and online magazines. All have each allowed me the opportunity to share my book with new audiences, so I would have to say that each has worked well for me.


8) What are your upcoming plans for 2012?

I am still seeking opportunities for national press in 2012 and continuing to do readings and signings. Additionally, I am currently working on three additional books.


9) What is your definition of success as an author?

I am sure each author has to defines success differently. For me it is being able to write stories that resonate with readers, that somehow help to enrich their experiences and allows each reader to be reminded that we are not alone.


10) What advice would you offer to aspiring authors?

I would advise aspiring authors to pursue their desires and dream out loud. Write stories that people want to read and be clear on your intent to publish.

Author Bio

Website:  www.Jordan-Trent.com

Twitter: @JordanTrent1

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JordanTrent.JT


To purchase Tomorrow, please visit one of the following vendors:

Barnes and Noble

Amazon


Please click the links below to learn more about Jordan Trent and the evolution of Tomorrow:

Jordan Trent Talks w/Atlanta & Company

Jordan Trent Speaks w/Twanda Black

Book Review: The Little Gnome by Sheri Fink

I just finished reading Sheri Fink's new release, The Little Gnome. This book is both imaginative and educational. The story begins when The Little Gnome makes a whimsical Victorian garden his new home. Initially, he appreciates the warm weather, blooming plants, buzzing activity, and animal companionship. But, then the seasons begin to change and the Little Gnome has to adapt and appreciate his new surroundings.

The Little Gnome is a great way to introduce children to the differences between the four seasons. It concludes by teaching them to be positive and to embrace new situations:

"Just like the Little Gnome, you can choose to look for the good in every season and situation. When you look for the positive in every change, you will always find something to appreciate and enjoy."

Learn more about Sheri Fink by reading her interview on The Writer's Block!

The Writer's Block Interviews: Stephen Henning

1. Tell us a bit about who you are, and where you live and work.

My name is Stephen Henning. I’m a writer based in Ipswich, in the UK. Ipswich is a small coastal town on the East coast, close to where all the US Air Force bases were located during World War 2 and the Cold War. (Something which just might creep into the book series at a future point...)


2. Describe your journey to becoming an author.

I have wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. Throughout my life I have drawn stories, written them, acted them out, and even filmed them. I’m into film making, and roped my friends into creating a mini superhero epic!


3. What kinds of books do you write? Who is your ideal reader?

My Class Heroes books are thrillers aimed at teenagers, young adults and hopefully adults too. The main characters are superheroes, although the aim of these books wasn’t to just translate a comic book into prose form.

First, because I think the kind of stories you can tell in the graphic novel/comics medium are totally different to books. Second, British superheroes in costumes fighting crime in Liverpool, Cardiff and Ipswich … it just doesn’t work. In New York it looks cool, at the British seaside it looks ridiculous.

The main characters in the books, James and Samantha Blake, are 14 years old. I gave them super powers as a means of telling big stories. When you suddenly become very powerful, all the usual problems that go with growing up are suddenly magnified. We all did silly things when we were in our teens, and in most cases those mistakes don't have far reaching consequences. But if you can do super-powerful things, then all of a sudden, the decisions you make take on greater significance. I think a lot of us are still convinced we are teenagers, so I hope the books will have a universal appeal.

I like to think my books are good holiday reads. There’s nothing better than buying a thriller book - something that’s intense, exciting and good escapist fun – and taking it away with you when you go on holiday. So I think my ideal reader is over the age of 13, likes action and adventure, maybe a fan of superheroes already and is just about to go away somewhere nice for a vacation.


4. Where do you find your inspiration for the characters in the Class Heroes Series?


A lot of the inspiration comes from … me. I can remember how it felt to be 14 and I remember wanting superpowers (actually, I still do). So a lot of what the characters feel and what they do comes from my childhood. There’s a certain amount of wish fulfillment in the books. I also took some inspiration from my two cousins. The poster image on the Class Heroes website was based on photos of my cousins from when they were 14, and was painted by a renowned book cover artist called Andrew Skilleter. Andrew has painted cover images for BBC’s The Chronicles of Narnia, Ruth Rendell Mysteries, and Doctor Who.

Andrew was a really nice guy. He’s a very accomplished artist, and I thought he’d be way too expensive for me. I’ve been a fan of his since I was a child. I had posters that he had painted up on my wall. I approached him, told him what I was trying to do with my books, and he was really interested and he came up with this brilliant movie style poster at a really reasonable cost. He’s a star.



5. Why did you start Elucidox Publishing? Describe your publishing process.

Elucidox Ltd is a company owned by myself and my friend and colleague Andrew Butters. We are primarily technical writers, i.e. we write training manuals, user guides and website content. I wanted to write the Class Heroes books, and it seemed logical to publish it under the Elucidox banner.

6. Who are your favorite authors? What is on your reading list right now?

I really like Lee Child, Michael Crichton, Terrance Dicks, and I’m currently reading Shada, by Gareth Roberts, Paper Money by Ken Follett, and The Drowned World by JG Ballard. Terrance Dicks is a prolific author of children’s books and it was reading his books as a child that made me want to be a writer. I love comic books too. I think the biggest challenge in telling a superhero story is finding the drama. If a character is super powerful, then you have to work hard to build the tension and create situations where the main characters are placed in genuine jeopardy, and can't just wave a magic wand to get them out of it. I think the Batman books/films work very well in that respect.



7. How do you promote your work? What methods have worked best for you?

I set up a website for Class Heroes, and I’m on Twitter, Facebook, and Google +. I want the Class Heroes books to be more interactive. They are eBooks after all, so I wanted the adventures to continue outside the confines of each book. Although the storylines are fantastical, I want them to be grounded in reality. So to try and add to the reality, I have set up a fictional News website (like Sky News or Fox News), which contains news reports and videos relating to the events in the books. It's called 24/7 Interactive News, and one of 24/7's news reporters appears in the first book!


I like the idea of people reading the book, and then going onto a "news" website and watching news videos about the events that have happened in the novel.
(You'll also find my mini superhero epic film "Rage" on the 24/7 News site.)


Also, the characters have their own blog and their own twitter feeds. It's a way for readers to find out more about the characters, see what happens to them in between books and engage with them on Twitter.



8. What are your upcoming plans for 2012?

I released the first Class Heroes book, A Class Apart, in October last year. My aim is to release 2 books a year. I’m hoping that the second in the series will be ready in May, and then the third later in 2012.



9. What is your definition of success as an author?

There are two definitions. I think the first is in actually writing a book in the first place. As I’m sure anyone who has tried it knows, it’s a tough thing to do. I’ve always written, but there are some books that I started and could just never complete. For some reason, it just didn’t work for me. But with A Class Apart, it just clicked. The feedback I’ve had on the book has been positive, and that's been encouraging and a relief! And of course, to have the books sell well would be amazing. I don’t really know what I’d consider a success in terms of sales. As long as a reasonable number of people bought it and said they liked it, I’d be happy.



10. What advice would you offer to aspiring authors?

Well, I wouldn’t presume to give anyone advice really. I’m just an aspiring author myself. But what has worked for me is writing about something I really love, believe in, and think about 24 hours a day. You’ve got to really live and breathe it. Oh, and reading lots of books too, including books on how-to-write.


Author Biography - In Brief

I'm a Technical Writer, by trade, although I used to work as a journalist and for a publishing house. I live with my wife, Rebecca, in the UK. Rebecca proof reads and edits my books. I spend a lot of time looking at my book stats :-) You can read a fuller biography of me on my website.


Website links

http://www.classheroes.com/
http://www.247interactivenews.com/
http://www.facebook.com/samjamblake
http://classheroes.blogspot.co.uk/

Twitter accounts

@henningopolis
@SamBlakesHeaven
@JamesBlakes7

The Writer's Block Interviews: Melissa Foster

1) Tell us how you became an author? Describe your journey.

Oh goodness, my journey? I waited ten years to write, and I finally claimed my writing list when our six children were all in school. The day my youngest went to Kindergarten, I put him on the bus and never looked back. I've been at my computer since that day, M-F from 9-2, September-June. No moments of regret -- not a single one.

I emailed Jodi Picoult back in 2006 and asked her how many pages I needed to write to be considered by agents (I could have researched word count, etc., right? But I'm a pantzer -- we don't think that far ahead). Jodi was gracious enough to respond and tell me to write 300 pages because 50% of it would be edited out anyway. No problem, right ? Wrong. I took that literally and wrote 300 single spaced pages. She meant 300 double spaced pages. I had written a 160,000 word novel that would never be published at such a high word count. Five years, one novel (Megan's Way), and several renditions later, Chasing Amanda was published. I'd like to send a thank you every day of my life to Jodi Picoult. Those directions enabled me to learn a lot about writing--believe it or not, those years of editing and revising really did help me grow as a writer. I wouldn't have changed a thing from my path.


2) Do you prefer any particular literary genre?

I am a genre hopper - I write women's fiction, contemporary fiction, and suspense/thriller. I love all of them, and I can't say that I have a favorite, because I can wrap my favorite type of writing--emotional--into any of them.


3) Where do you find your inspiration to write?

Life is one big beautiful inspiration in every way, shape, and form.


4) Please share some of your available titles. Where can they be purchased?


Megan's Way (literary fiction--optioned for film), Chasing Amanda (suspense/mystery), and Come Back to Me (contemporary fiction), can all be purchased from Amazon.com. Paperbacks can also be purchased from Barnes and Noble.


5) How do you balance your professional life with your family life?


I'm a big scheduler. I schedule every aspect of my day--and if something slips, as it usually does, we just go with the flow. We order many dinners in--I think we need a wife.


6) You are an award-winning, best-selling author. How do you promote your work? What methods have worked best for you?

I worry less about promoting my work and more about building relationships. No one will read my book because I shout, "Read my book!" They will read my book when they take an interest in something about me, or are curious based on something they've heard. What works for me is building relationships instead of working toward sales. Sales are just an added bonus--I'm someone who genuinely enjoys people.


7) What advice would you offer to aspiring authors?

Don't worry about word count, genres, or any other confines. Write what you feel and figure the rest out later. Don't skimp on quality - save money toward having your book professionally edited -- your readers deserve it.


8) How did the World Literary Café get started? How can authors benefit from this community?

World Lit Cafe was formed because in November 2011 I brought 35 authors with me for an extraordinary ride. I taught them ways to cross promote and expand their audiences, and when we launched Come Back to Me, over 80% of the authors hit the Top 100 with my guidance. I realized how much authors could achieve if they were provided with guidance and offered the appropriate venues. I have great visions for where WLC is headed, and authors can benefit from a supportive community, training and expertise from best-selling authors, and connections with readers, reviewers, and bloggers. WLC is a site for all writers -- aspiring, traditionally published, and independent, and a community for reviewers, bloggers, and all aspects of literary services.

I'm launching Fostering Success very soon and there we will focus on showing authors every step of the self-publishing path, from creating an online presence to using that presence for effective marketing. I hope to help millions of authors reach the height of their careers.



9) What is your definition of success as an author?

Easy - success is nothing if achieved alone. One can only achieve true success if they help others to do the same. For me, success as an author isn't the number of books you sell or how long you are on a bestseller list. It's defined by who you helped along the way and you help once you've reached your peak. Authors often say they want to follow my path. I tell them to please surpass me:-)



10) What is next for you in 2012?

This will be an exciting year. I have just wrapped up my fourth manuscript (a thriller). I'm excited to see where that takes us. Megan's Way is being adapted to film, so this year will probably hold a number of interesting achievements in that area, and with the launch of Fostering Success, the ability to help others will also increase. I'm also redesigning the World Literary Cafe, and hope to offer far more social avenues there as well. Mostly, though, I'm looking forward to my months at Cape Cod in 2012. Life is beautiful--I guess I just love it all.

Author Bio

 "Melissa Foster is a wonderful connector of readers and books, a friend of authors, and a tireless advocate for women. She is the real deal."--Author Jennie Shortridge

“Melissa Foster is as kind as she is successful. With her experience, Melissa is the best advocate for writing, publishing and marketing. Hands down.” – Rebecca Berto, Editor

“Melissa Foster is a touchstone for the indie publishing community." --Ashley Barron, The Priyas

"Foster's latest novel is in the same league as books written by such authors as Nicholas Sparks, Jennifer Weiner, and Kristin Hannah."--Author Carrie Green

Melissa Foster is the award-winning author of three International bestselling novels, Megan's Way, Chasing Amanda, and Come Back to Me. She has also been published in Indie Chicks, an anthology. She is the founder of the Women's Nest, a social and support community for women, and the World Literary Cafe (previously WoMen's Literary Cafe), a cross-promotional site for authors, reviewers, bloggers, and readers. Melissa is currently collaborating in the film production of Megan's Way.

Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children, she's written for Calgary's Child Magazine and Women Business Owners Magazine, and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family. Melissa's interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping women see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Visit Melissa on The Women's Nest or World Lit Cafe. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Melissa supports Provincetown Cares.

Awards:

Megan's Way
2011 Beach Book Award Winner (Spirituality)
2011 Readers Favorite Awards, Winner (Fiction/Drama), Finalist (Women's Fiction)
2010 Next Generation Indie Book Award, Finalist (Spirituality)
2011 New England Book Festival, Honorable Mention (Spirituality)

Chasing Amanda
2011 Readers Favorite Awards, Winner (Paranormal), Finalist, (Women's Fiction, Mystery)
2011 Dan Poynter's Global eBook Awards, Winner, (Paranormal)
Top 10 Books of 2011, Pixel of Ink
Amazon Top 100 75+ Days running
Indie Reader's Bestselling List That Counts (8 weeks)
Top Books of 2011, The Write Agenda

COME BACK TO ME
Top 5 Must Read Books of 2011, IndieReader
Top Ten Books of 2011, Tea Time With Marce
IndieReader Best Reviewed Books of 2011, Huffington Post


PUBLISHER'S MARKETPLACE: Melissa Foster

Member: Maryland Writers' Association

Member: League of Extraordinary Authors

Member: Independent Author Network

Contact Melissa

My Books

My Website

Follow me, Facebook, Twitter, FB Fanpage

Chat w/me on The Women's Nest

The World Literary Cafe, Where readers and authors unite!

The Writer's Block Interviews: Stacey Shannon, Founder of Happily Ever After Me

1) Describe your journey to becoming an author/illustrator.

Growing up, I always loved writing little poems and scribbling meaningless doodles. I had a blue book similar to a diary that I would keep all of my poems in. I still have that book. I always wanted to do something more creative, but I also wanted it to be different. Once I had my children, I realized that I really did have a love for being silly, and using my imagination. I began to catch myself telling stories to them throughout the day and enjoying it just as much as they did. In early 2009 I wrote a poem. I felt that I wanted to take it a (scary) step further and illustrate. It was then, after many, many, months that my first official storybook, The Swirly Sweater, was completed. I felt like I had accomplished something I never thought I could do! Through this process I realized I wanted to take storytelling to a whole new level (for me) by writing for other children, too. But I wanted to stand out, I wanted to write JUST for each individual child; make THEIR own fairytales and secret dreams come to life. It was then, that Happily Ever After Me, LLC was born. 



2) What inspired you to start writing for children?

My inner child inspired, and my children unknowingly encouraged. I have never completely let go of the ‘little’ Stacey and what she loved most – being creatively different.



3) What books have you written? Where can readers buy them?

My first book, “The Swirly Sweater”, is available on Amazon.com. (link http://www.amazon.com/Swirly-Sweater-Stacey-Shannon/dp/1449909787)

I have written a little over 30 books to date, most of which are completely custom. Because of that, they are not usually sold for others to purchase.



4) How did you develop the concept for Happily Ever After Me, LLC?

I wanted to do something different. I wanted to have a product that grabbed people’s attention, and made them feel as exclusive and unique as their stories were.



5) What products are available for customization? Describe the creative process.

We now have six custom products available- Custom Storybooks, Poetry Prints, SAVE the sKeTcHeS! Storybooks, Custom Puzzles, Custom Posters, and our newest product, FamilyFigures Prints.

The process- I collect the needed information from the customer, depending on which product they choose. I then write accordingly and send back to the customer for approval. Once the story, poem, etc. is approved it is forwarded on to one of our incredibly talented illustrators (love them!). When the illustrations are complete I bring the final product together and then send it back to the customer for approval. The customer stays informed through the whole process to ensure 100% satisfaction and the most custom product possible.

6) How have you promoted your work? What strategies have been the most effective?

I promote my work through sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, AboutMe, Freelanced, Google Plus, Amazon, and YouTube. Although Facebook has played a HUGE part in our growth, my amazing customers have definitely been the biggest “promoters” for me.I believe that customer satisfaction (which leads to word of mouth) is the most effective of all.



7) What is next for you in 2012?

In 2012, I would like to save more sketches, create more timeless storybooks, write more poetry about the beautiful love that families share, and continue walking away touched by each adoption storybook we are asked to create. I want to continue the wonderful relationships with my amazing illustrators, Joyee Neogi and Eva Rojano, and I want to build new ones with all of the other incredible people out there that I have yet to meet.



8) What advice would you give to budding author/illustrators?

My advice would be - don’t let your passion remain a thought. It took some encouragement from others for me to take the first step--and as terrifying as it was, I have never looked back! It is very important to believe in yourself and your work. One thing I am still learning is to not let the negative opinions of others change who you are and what you choose to do. It is good to listen (you can learn and grow as a result), but don’t lose yourself in the process.



9) What is your definition of success as an author/illustrator?

Three years ago I would have said that success was selling books by the millions… which for the record did NOT happen… But, today my definition of success would be doing what I love. I am a mother and wife, first and foremost, but when I sit down to work (if that’s what you want to call it) I love it! Creating and writing something new every time is always so refreshing, especially when I know that the stories have a purpose, a meaning; they represent people and their stories. We celebrate life, what could be more rewarding than that?


Stacey's Bio

Stacey Shannon was born and raised in Greenville, SC.  She is a mother to 3 children: a 1 year-old girl, a 4 year-old boy, and a 9 year-old girl.  She has been married to husband Brad for almost 4 years and lives in Goose Creek, SC (right outside of Charleston). She founded Happily Ever After Me, LLC in March of 2009.


Contact Stacey Shannon

Twitter: @HEAM_llc

Blog (part of the website): http://www.happilyeverafterme.com/blog

Website:  http://www.happilyeverafterme.com/

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