Tag Archives: Book

Author's Platform, Sharon C. Williams, Social Media

Speech: Author platform and social media

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imagesThis past Saturday I gave a small speech to one of my writers group. There were three of us sharing information to the members. One discussed the process of being a self published author. The second filled in the gaps we left behind thank goodness. I talked about the traditional side with query letters, the dos and don’t of the process, gave a nice list of links and then moved on to social media via author platform and why it is so important.

This is something I been working on for a few years now, my author’s platform to where now it is almost second nature to me so doing a small gathering on this was easy on my part. They were so interested I been asked, maybe coerce is a better word, to do another one at my convenience which will be next Wednesday. It is nice a/ to be able to talk about something I am very familiar with to where it is little work to where I just need to prepare for a few run through and b​/ helping other people out especially writers who are more green then I am.

There is enough room for all us to have our books up there. We all write in different genres, different age groups and different target audiences and there will never, hopefully, be a shortage of readers. As an avid reader myself it is a great time for the choices keep expanding on what is out there to read.

Book release, Children's chapter book, Jasper Amazon Friends and Family

Book release this Friday: Volume two to my children’s series

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614cZIpFARL._SX311_BO1,204,203,200_In a few short days my second book to my children’s series comes out. This Friday to be more exact. It does not get old the excitement, the giddiness, the smiles that won’t leave one’s face just anticipating the actual release of a book. A book that took time and effort on your part that includes the edits, the critiquing from your writers group, the revisions, the choosing of illustrations and book cover to just name a few from a long list of things writers have to do for a book to be written.

The day comes close to the fruit of all your labor and to let’s face it everyone, the moment it is dropped, released to the public is very rewarding. As most writes know that is not the end of the story for there is a lot of work to be done after the book is published officially. But it does not take away from the happiness and sense of accomplishment one can feel inside.

So on October 9th my book, “Jasper Rainforest Friends and Family” will be made available to the public in all formats. We do use Smashwords so people can view it in pdf as well if they don’t have a tablet to read it in an e-book form. But the pre sale for the e-book is still going on. Until Friday that is you can get the e-book at half price and also get volume one at half price if you want to catch up.

Book release time is so exciting. To those who read this and have had this happen you get what I am saying. It is not just a Friday to me, it’s book release day which will make three books I have out.

Book Covers, Illustrators, Sharon C. Williams

Your book cover: It’s important

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Jasper ebook cover small

Book covers are so important. It is the first thing readers will see when your book catches their eye. One has to spend some time with the illustrator, being willing to compromise and also knowing when to stand firm at the same time.

I am fortunate that I have two illustrators that are awesome. Squirrel Mafia was easy, with it being a non fiction book, since all the pictures in the book and cover are ones I personally took from around my area. For my Jasper series it involved me sending the team close to 100 pictures of Jasper so they could get a good idea of what he was like, his mannerisms and positions that he had. So the two covers reflect that.

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It again takes time. I have had to tell them a/Ah hmm can you lighten this portion of the book? b/ Can you lower the title a bit? c/ Can you make the font for book 2 a bit more bigger? d/ Ah hmm that is not the title I ended up with to f/ No that won’t work at all.

The team that does Jasper is wonderful and are willing and open to listen to my ideas and thoughts when it comes to the cover and the pictures inside . I am fortunate they give me leeway with each of my books and also welcome suggestions and don’t get upset when I say no that is not going to work period.

I want it just right. It is a tiresome process and stressful one at that for I want it as great as I can get it. Not everyone is going to like it. That’s okay for you can’t please everyone. What I need to do is get a cover that represents the material inside to the best of my ability.