All posts by NewEngland_Muse

I'm a traditionally and self published author. I write in the genre of children and YA at the moment but working my way up to adults. I'm a sports loving, photo taking gal who loves to sing/dance to my own enjoyment. I love to laugh even at myself. I am also owned by 8 birds and 2 hamsters, and yes they know it. :)
Interview, Sharon C. Williams, Writer

My latest interview

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I had the honor of being interviewed this month by the lovely Dante Craddock. I appreciate you taking the time and effort it took to get the questions out to me and working with the answers that were given.

The questions made me sit back and think on how to answer to the best of my ability and also how to make me shine. Being interviewed is no small task. It takes a lot of time and effort for the interviewer and the one being interviewed. Dante did a marvelous job

You can find the interview here.

http://www.dantecraddockauthor.com/interviews-by-dante/sharon-c-williams-interview

Author, Books, Let your editor go

Is it okay to fire your publisher?

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anger_pain_terror_scream_58439Is it okay to fire your editor, illustrator or even your publisher? Let me break it down.

When it comes to your editor, absolutely. This one is a no brainer as far as I am concern. Editors are expensive. I have seen authors let this part of their book slide. After all a writing group or beta readers can do the trick, right? We know this is wrong. You can’t get away without an editor to help you get your book in the best shape it can be in. But you can fire your editor if they don’t do your book justice. There are so many editors out there, good quality ones, so don’t feel bad in giving your editor the shaft.

Illustrators fall into the same category for the same reason. There are many illustrators who, like editors, rang in price and also range in talent. If you feel your book cover is not properly representing the words behind it, why stay with this person? Granted, it is tough coming up with a cover that you are happy with but sticking to what they give you shouldn’t be an option.

Lastly, can you and should you fire your publisher? I can’t say yes any more clearly then yes. Writers get so giddy when a publisher wants one of their works. Something I truly get. It is exciting, amazing, wonderful and oh my gosh A PUBLISHER WANTS ONE OF MY WORKS! But it doesn’t mean you have to take their offer or stick with them to the very end. It is not a marriage that can or will live happily ever after. Yes there will be pitfalls, what relationship doesn’t? But also like a marriage when it is not good for you it is not good for you and a parting might be what you need.

Bottom line, this is your book You are the one who wrote it and spend gosh awful amount of time and effort creating it. Doesn’t it deserve the very best you can give it?

Jasper Amazon Parrot: A Rainforest Adventure, Sharon C. Williams, Tagline

Your book in ten words

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Elevator pitch, do you have one for your book? Something that states your project to the best of its ability in two sentences or less to the point you can say it in 20 seconds. You know, how long it takes for someone to get to their floor if they use an elevator. This is something we hear all the time how we need to have one. For the chance to toss it out at a conference, to an agent, to a publisher anyone who is in the position to listen and decide if they want to hear more.

Yet I read an article the other day that stated you should explain your  book in ten words. That’s it, no more or less. Hmm, really? I did cheat and went to my book that is online and read what the publisher wrote for first  book, “Jasper, Amazon Parrot: A Rainforeset Adventure.”

Jasper learns the importance of family and friendship through a rainforest adventure.

Okay this is 12 words but I still think doable.  Would these words inspire someone to want to learn more?  Maybe. I am fortunate that this book is not a long in depth novel which could make it easier to come up with the wording. Onward to my other books as I try to come up with their tagline, their pitch, the words describing them in a way that will astound you. 🙂