Those of us left on Unpubbed Island have been going through preparedness training.If you want to get off the island you have to be able to envision your dreams coming true and you have to take steps of faith towards those dreams.
Here's a few things you can do to prepare:
1. Schedule an appointment with a professional photographer. By the way, make sure you purchase the reproduction rights. Discuss this thoroughly with your photographer.
Here's some recent shots I have had taken in the studio. I thought I'd let our Seekerville friends decide which picture captures my essence. So, which one do you think will look best on the back cover of a book?
2. As you decide on your brand, and the name you will be putting out there in cyberspace, you might want to check out NameChek:
"Check to see if your desired username or vanity url is still available at dozens of popular Social Networking and Social Bookmarking websites. Promote your brand consistently by registering a username that is still available on the majority of the most popular sites. Find the best username with namechk. "
3. Speaking of a cyberspace presence. Reserve your domain name with an Internet Service Provider such as:
GoDaddy
Network Solutions
BuyDoman.com
1&1
4. Time to think about business cards, bookmarks, and postcards for promotions.
Vistaprint
Overnight Prints
Printing For Less . com
Don't forget .....
Customized United States postage stamps!
5. Put together a Press Kit. Here are a few sites to refer to.
Creating an Author Press Kit by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
How To Fatten Your Press Kit When You're A New Author by Lorna Tedder
6. (Spew Alert Here) It is never to early to consider the film rights. When the screen writer and the director approach you for your suggestions, who will you recommend for your leading man and woman?
So now you know what we're doing on Unpubbed Island. Writing and preparing for our escape, I mean departure. Because you can never be prepared enough for Pubbed Land.
Next Week In Seekerville:
Monday: Steeple Hill Historical author, Janet Dean is your hostess.
Tuesday: Abingdon Press and Barbour Publishing author, Myra Johnson shares.
Wednesday: Revell author, Julie Lessman is here.
Thursday: Ruth Logan Herne, the newest addition to the Steeple Hill family posts.
Friday: Tammy Barley, Whitaker House author blogs.
Seeker Sightings:
The calls have gone out for the Maggie Awards, Unpublished and Published Division. While we haven't seen any official lists the following Seekers received the "call." Congratulations to:
Janet Dean
Debby Giusti
Cara Lynn James (Unpublished Category) Love on Assignment
As part of the fun during the two-day celebration of Harlequin's 60th Anniversary at Don's Books in Kokomo, IN, Janet Dean is signing Courting Miss Adelaide and Courting the Doctor's Daughter from 11:30-2:00, along with Blythe Gifford, Jade Lee, Dana Corbit, Denise Lynn and Lori Foster.
Cara Lynn James is the current guest at Romance Writers on the Journey. Her post is titled "Saturday Special: Cara Lynn James Sold!" Keli Gwyn asks her about her sale, receiving The Call and what she's learned since she was Keli's guest in June. And there are giveaways too!
Be sure you stop by Julie Lessman's web page and check out her ICRS photos!The Deadly Intent Blog Tour Continues...
8/8 Camy's lovely Genesis coordinator Erica Vetsch asks her to blog about the differences in writing category suspense and trade contemporary romance.8/10 Camy spills ALL about visiting my friend Audra Harders and milking her goat! No joke!
8/11 Amy interviews Camy and reviews Deadly Intent.
8/12 Camy's friend and Love Inspired romance author Betsy St. Amant reviews Deadly Intent.
8/13 Camy's friend and women’s fiction author Christina Berry reviews Deadly Intent
(pre-order Christina’s debut novel, The Familiar Stranger!)
8/13 Women’s fiction author Trish Perry interviews Camy.
8/14 Gina Welborn reviews Deadly Intent.
8/14 Camy is on the blog of her friend Ronie Kendig, talking about her writing journey between suspense and chick lit and contemporary romance--with a bonus blurb from one of Camy's old manuscripts!
8/15 Fellow Love Inspired Suspense author Cara Putman asks Camy about any embarrassing research books I had to check out of the library.
Save The Date:
August 21, Christy Finalist, Pamela Binnings Ewen joins us.
September 2, Dorchester debut author, Marilyn Brant will be with us.
September 18, LIVE FROM ACFW it's Seekerville!
September 22, Private Eye Duo, Colleen Collins and Shaun Kaufman are sleuthing in Seekerville. They're bringing goodies too!
September 25, Our guest is Love Inspired Historical author, Winnie Griggs.
September 28, two-time Golden Heart finalist Anne Barton is back in Seekerville.
September 29, Barbour Publishing author, Marcia Gruver returns to Seekerville.
September 30, Cool Beans! NavPress author Erynn Mangum will be here.
Tina,
ReplyDeleteYou weekend posts never disappoint.
I'm chosing the third picture, Tina "Audrey Hepburn" Russo for your persona.
Since I'm first, I have hot tea and strong coffee brewed and ready to drink with carmel pecan rolls.
Did you get your three chapters written?
Rose
I'm with Rose, Tina, we gotta go with Audry's pose because let's face it, you and Holly Golightly DO share a certain amount of wonderful quirkiness, right?
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for posting the ICRS pix except ... uh ... they're from last year, not this year. And, yes, I am behind on updating my website, so let's blame it on the books ... :)
Happy Saturday, all!
Hugs,
Julie
Hi, Rose. Hey I still have two days left. LOL. Bring on the java.
ReplyDeleteThose are last years ICRS? Oh that is too funny. They are nice though aren't they? Oh well a little PR is good, even if it is a year old.
What? No shots taken with "Flying Nun" head gear, Tina? Awww. Guess I'll have to go with the Hepburn pose then. :) Thank you for a Saturday morning smile and lots of great info!
ReplyDeleteThough you add style to Mona Lisa and class to the Wicked Witch, I gotta say, you're a ringer for Audrey Hepburn! LOL!
ReplyDeleteNot only preparing for sales, but all the great tips will be used in preparing for conference!!
Yee Haw!
Great start to Saturday, T!!
Oh, Tina, this is so much fun! I pick Hugh Jackman to play the hero in The Woodcutter's Daughter and I want Harry Connick, Jr. as Truett, my hero in my newest book, Magnolia Summer.
ReplyDeleteCan I envision my success? OHHHHH YEAH! Can I ever!
And I pick the Audrey Hepburn look for you, Tina. Except you need to get Julie's husband to change the cig. holder to a quill pen.
The Audry pose IS the best and tres chic ;-) You have WAY too much fun with these things. HA!
ReplyDeleteI'll take a carmel pecan roll and hot tea made with milk ( I learned how to do it the 'British' way when I was in England :-)
I'm gonna add some Oreo Truffles to the mix, just because chocolate is always a good idea.
A day without chocolate is like a day without sunshine.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I have learned in this journey is that life is short so you may as well smile and have fun.
I'm with everyone else, Tina. The Audrey Hepburn look is you!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Cara, Debby and Janet on your Maggie finals. Way to Go!
Tina, I can't tell you how much I look forward to your weekend editions!
ReplyDeleteThe Audrey pose is great (love Melanie's idea about the quill). If you write a paranormal someday you should go with the witch pose! :)
Thanks for all these savvy tips. I love dreaming about being pubbed.
Happy Saturday Anne and Keli.
ReplyDeleteI love my biceps in the Audrey pose. Buff!!
Audrey! Great post. I am going to check out some of the links I hadn't looked at before.
ReplyDeleteAmy! Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteAudrey is you.
ReplyDeleteOr is that Audrey is Us? Or You are Audrey?
Whatever.
I pick the third one. Definitely you!
Thanks for the pick-me-up, Tina!
Tina, I agree, you're totally #3! Thanks for a fun and informative Weekend Edition!!
ReplyDeleteFinish those steps of faith in preparation for Pubbed Land 'cause we're all going to make it there!!
Janet
Cara--I love your picture here!
ReplyDeleteTina--Great ideas for 'getting ready'. These five weeks are going to feel like a whirlwind as I prepare to come to the conference! Thanks for the detailed advice. I need it!
If I keep finding myself being reminded to check up on my name, make sure I have an internet presence, work out my brand, etc., does that mean I've just been on unpub island too long, or am (can I dream it anyway...) looking out for the boat?
ReplyDeleteA, you are coming to Denver. How cool is that?
ReplyDeleteSheila, we've all been on the island too long. I had a hallucination yesterday...got up pick fresh coconuts and thought I saw Gerard Butler leaning against a palm offering me a slice of coconut cream pie.
Definitely the wicked witch!! Love the photo, Tina. I hope you bought the rights to that one. :)
ReplyDeleteMIssy
You can do it, Tina!! Get those chapters done!
ReplyDeleteSee I am partial to the lady in gren myself. Black is my favorite color and I like clothes that aren't restrictive.
ReplyDeleteTina,
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your posts! You are Audrey Hepburn all over again! Gotta use that photo!
Edwina
Awe, thanks Edwina.
ReplyDeleteA little twisted humor goes a long way. Have a great weekend.