5 Questions with BookBuzzr

This Q&A is more targeted at writers, though readers may also find it of interest.

Please join me at BOOKBUZZR where I answer the following five questions:

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your journey as a writer?
2. Who designs your book covers and what kind of a process do you follow when you design your book cover?
3. How do you divide your time between your writing and promotional activities?
4. What’s your latest book Bitter Nothings all about?
5. You are in the happy position where it’s not too difficult for you to get reviews for your book. At the time of this interview, your books have anywhere from 25 to 66 reviews. Do you have any tips for a new author looking to get more book reviews?

BOOKBUZZR builds widgets, tools and technologies to help you market your book like a pro. The BookBuzzr blog provides practical advice on book promotion and marketing.

Story ideas, characters and real people

Today I'm over at Donna Fasano's blog, talking a little about where I get my story ideas from and basing characters on real people. Hope you'll pop over and say hello.

Donna Fasano is a three time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, and a Golden Heart finalist. Her books have sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide and have been published in nearly two dozen languages. Her books have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #17.

The IndieView ARC Angels' Club

The IndieView has a new feature: ARC Angels' Club for both readers and authors.

“The idea here is to help authors find advanced readers for their novels, stories, poems. For readers it is the opportunity to read some of your favorite authors, in advance of release, and perhaps even influence the outcome of a book.”

For more information, head over to New Feature the ARC Angels Club.

The Power of Words

The Editor: A Writer’s Fairy Godmother or Ogre?

My article The Editor: A Writer’s Fairy Godmother or Ogre? features at American Editor today. I'd love you to come and join the discussion.

Characterisation and Reader Emotional Involvement

Check out and join Richard Adin's American Editor discussion: Characterization: How Important is Reader Emotional Involvement?

It struck me the other night while I was watching TV that in series like Spooks and NCIS, I remember (and love) the characters, but not the stories. In movies, it’s the storyline that stays with me, never the character. The difference between plot-driven and character-driven perhaps? I’d be really interested to hear others thoughts on this subject.

Does anyone have any recommendations for standalone (versus series) mysteries where the characters get inside the reader's head and stay there long after the book is finished?