Category Archives: publishing

WGP Episode 59 Dr. Robert Williscroft, Hard Sci Fi

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Dr. Robert G. Williscroft is an adventurer, deep sea diver, nuclear submariner, polar explorer, and author to name a few of his accomplishments. See his website here at this link to see what all he has done in his life. He will educate and entertain you all in the span of the first five minutes of our interview. Robert’s many achievements encourages us to greater heights with our work by the knowledge that we CAN DO THIS! We are only limited by gravity, as I am known to say.

Robert has written six books and has been interviewed by 41 radio talk shows on 38 radio stations across the nation, several of them twice or more. I am very lucky to have him on Writer Groupie again, and believe me, you will love this show.

williscroft

A reviewer said of his book Slingshot 

Heinlein would be enthralled” – and I agree.

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In this episode, we learn about:

Show Notes

  • Dr. Williscroft tells us what he’s been doing since we last met
  • He tells us about hard sci fi and how it is important to get the research right if you want to write it
  • We get insight into his journey as a scientist, adventurer, and author
  • He tells us how he ended up at the South Pole conducting research
  • We learn how the book The Chicken Little Agenda came into being
  • He gives us inside details about diving (and the serious problems it can create if you don’t come back up properly)
  • Details about Operation Ivy Bells and how that book is based on facts
  • Robert shares with us the things he is doing to promote his work, including what Linkedin Pulse has to offer
  • He gives insider details about his book Slingshot and how it was featured at a conference and how he offers to anyone who wants to get an autographed hardback copy he will get them a special coffee mug also.
  • Details about how he got 30,000 followers on Twitter

AND SO MUCH MORE including his best advice for aspiring authors!

A few of his books:

THE STARCHILD COMPACT

OPERATION IVY BELLS

SLINGSHOT

THE CHICKEN LITTLE AGENDA

STARMAN JONES-A Relativity Birthday Presemt (children’s book)

Coming soon!

THE IAPETUS FEDERATION

FederationFrontCover(small)

AUDIO LINK

You can find her online at his Facebook page Robert Williscroft and on Twitter @RGWilliscroft
_____________________________

Thanks for Listening to WGP (Writer Groupie Podcast)!
We appreciate your time!

Did you enjoy this episode with Dr. Williscroft?

If so, please do one (or all) of the following:

Leave a comment on this page or ask a question if you need us to elaborate on the topic.
Use the social media buttons to share this episode with your friends, family, and contacts.
Go over to iTunes or YouTube to leave a rating/review and to subscribe to the podcast.
We appreciate you taking the time to check out WGP! And we look forward to providing you with more content in the next episode!

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WGP Flyby Episode – Positive Thinking

Writer Groupie Podcast brings you discussions, insights, and insider details on planning, producing, promoting, and profiting as a writer.

Welcome to Writer Groupie!

Thanks for listening! You can find show notes, contact form, and more at http://www.writergroupie.net

SHOW NOTES:
This is a quick flyby that I hope will encourage you. Today I am talking about positive thinking for writers. I think we all could use a shot in the arm of positivity these days. Have a listen. Let me know what you are thinking…positively speaking of course!

WGP Episode 57: Sean Grigsby, author

Traditionally published author Sean Grigsby has been working in the shadows since 2008. His work has appeared in many print anthologies and a creepypasta on Youtube. He is a reviewer and slush reader for Grimdark Magazine, and former associate editor for Dark Recesses Magazine. He is now repped by an agent at the Donald Maass Agency.

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There is a lot more info about Sean and his work at his Amazon page also, at:

http://www.amazon.com/Sean-Grigsby/e/B0038MSZPY

In this episode, we learn about:

Show Notes

  • We learn how Sean got an agent and why he chose traditional publishing over indie publishing
  • Insider info on Sean’s first attempt at writing a novel
  • His opinion and thoughts on synopis writing and how his first novel experience helped him
  • Details about his accepted work and what the concept is for the book that was picked up by his agent
  • Information about “the call” when it came
  • How he writes
  • Inspiration from Sean about having a heart for what you do
  • Insider details about his own experience as an interviewer and how he finds time to do that with two babies and a full-time job
  • Details about his time with the Nielson-Haydens (of Tor Books) at Mid-South Con
  • We discuss Tor Books and what they accept and how
  • Information about what is coming up for Sean
  • His thoughts about indie publishing
  • His best advice for aspiring authors
  • Books Sean is reading: (click the image to go to Amazon and get yours!)

    • Myke Cole’s Gemini Cell
    grigsby

    Bentley Little’s The Summoning
    grigsby

    Sam Sykes’s The City Stained Red
    grigsby

    AND SO MUCH MORE

    You can find him online at his website http://www.seangrigsby.com and on Twitter @SeanGrigsby

    _____________________________

    Thanks for Listening to WGP (Writer Groupie Podcast)!
    We appreciate your time!

    Did you enjoy this episode with Sean Grigsby?

    If so, please do one (or all) of the following:

    Leave a comment on this page or ask a question if you need us to elaborate on the topic.
    Use the social media buttons to share this episode with your friends, family, and contacts.
    Go over to iTunes or YouTube to leave a rating/review and to subscribe to the podcast.
    We appreciate you taking the time to check out WGP! And we look forward to providing you with more content in the next episode!

    Subscribe to Writer Groupie Podcast on iTunes and YouTube by clicking on the images below:

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    Top 5 Marketing Tips For Your Book

    Articles, blogging, promotions, publishing, writing

    Self-published authors know that the biggest row to hoe ahead of them is marketing their book. The writing is hard, the editing is harder, but the marketing of that book is certainly the hardest of them all when it comes to this self-publishing journey. I know. I have been there. But I also have a few tips for you to maybe give you food for thought.
    marketing
    First, some people might just want to know what marketing your book MEANS. In my honest opinion, it’s just telling folks about your book. It’s getting the word out.
    Secondly, some people want to know if it is a “have-to-do” item. YES! I mean a THOUSAND times yes. You must get out there and put that book in front of people. You cannot sit down and do nothing. Of course, when you DO sit down, you better be working the ropes.

    So what does a writer do to market their book?

    This list is not complete by any stretch, and is in no certain order other than what appeals to me. If you think of more things, please leave a comment.

    The Top 5 Marketing Tips For Your Book

  • Get it on radio shows such as Blogtalk Radio, or a podcast such as Writer Groupie. There are a lot of podcasts out there these days/
  • Strategize your book launch to make it work for you. There are a LOT of book bloggers out there who do nothing but host book tours. And of course, social media plays a role.
  • Meet other writers and network. Never scoff at the role that going to writer’s cons plays. You never know who you will meet at a con, be it agent, editor, cover artist, or another writer. They can and oftentimes do send you off on a new leg of the writing journey, and can be great places to get marketing tips.
  • The old standby is, of course, social media. There has been so much said about this subject that I am a little tired of hearing about it. Suffice it to say, you should be on Facebook. Twitter, and Pinterest. ‘Nuff said.
  • Along with writer’s cons are live book signing events. These are such fun and really make you feel like a published author. There is nothing like meeting readers face-to-face and telling them about your book. You might even get a chance to speak there in the capacity of a writing authority (yes, like me!) and so there are great opportunities at live events to market your book.

    • And just because I just thought of it … the last thing I can say about marketing a book is the easiest for a writer to do.

    WRITE THE NEXT BOOK

    It cannot be said enough that readers are pretty voracious these days. If you want to make that first book sell, then write another one. And another and … well, you get the picture.

    HELPFUL TIP: Please remember that this stuff takes time also, plan your book marketing strategy way in advance. Like months – weeks – but not days before your book comes out. The reason being most podcasts, book blogs, etc. are booked in advance.

    WGP Ep 55- The Charm Bracelet, Viola Shipman

    Charm Bracelet revised cover

    VIOLA SHIPMAN

    is a pen name for Wade Rouse, a popular, award-winning memoirist. Rouse chose his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman, to honor the woman whose charm bracelet and family stories inspired him to write his debut novel, which is a tribute to all of our elders. Rouse lives in Michigan and writes regularly for People and Coastal Living, among other places, and is a contributor to All Things Considered. To date, The Charm Bracelet has been translated into nine languages. He is at work on his second “heirloom novel,” which will be published in 2017.

    In this episode, we discuss:

    Show Notes

  • Book launches and how checking the numbers is sort of universal
  • The author’s book list and how this one is different for him (memoir to fiction)
  • Inspiration: he talks about how he was inspired and how author’s should write what calls to them
  • Insider details: how reading got his writing really going (structure, flow etc.)
  • How writing a prologue meant a lot to this book and how they can be effective and necessary
  • Information: Details about what/whom The Charm Bracelet is based on and the true human experience that inspired the writing of it
  • The important things in life that helped to write the book ie. setting, characters, etc.
  • The truth factor of fiction and how much of our life ends up in our books
  • What’s coming up next for Wade in the “heirloom” series.
  • How long it took to write The Charm Bracelet and how he went about writing it
  • How his agent helped the writing of it
  • His AHA moment during the writing of this book
  • Editing and how he loves that part of writing and how long he spends during that process
  • What other writing he does that helps in the editing process
  • What his best advice is for an aspiring author

    • AND SO MUCH MORE

    AUDIO

    Links
    WadeRouseSailboat

    Click the cover to go to Amazon to purchase this great book!

    _______________________________________

    Thanks for Listening to WGP (Writer Groupie Podcast)!
    We appreciate your time!

    Did you enjoy this episode with Viola Shipman aka Wade Rouse?

    If so, please do one (or all) of the following:

    Leave a comment on this page or ask a question if you need us to elaborate on the topic.
    Use the social media buttons to share this episode with your friends, family, and contacts.
    Go over to iTunes or YouTube to leave a rating/review and to subscribe to the podcast.
    We appreciate you taking the time to check out WGP! And we look forward to providing you with more content in the next episode!

    Subscribe to Writer Groupie Podcast on iTunes and YouTube by clicking on the images below:

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    youtube

    Podcast: Play in new window | Download

    Subscribe: RSS

    WGP is offering author services!

    publishing, writing

    Have you always wanted to pen a novel?  Do you dream of being an author? Would you like to be published?

    90% of people want to write a book…
    do you want to be one of the few who actually succeed?

    Writer Groupie now has new SERVICES!
    Would you like to write your own book?

    books

    Get a free writing assessment from the writing guru, Kim Smith!

    WG can help you in the following areas:

    • Basics for writing your book
    • Online/in-person workshops to aid with writing, and help to get your book published
    • One-on-one coaching to help you through the process. You CAN finish your book!
    • Aid with the process to sell your book online through Amazon.com and other online booksellers
    • Teach you how to generate a static salary by writing more ebooks
    • And don’t forget! You can promote your book on Writer Groupie Podcast for better sales and higher dollars!

    Writer Groupie can inspire you as well as provide the practical information to achieve these steps. Send us a contact form today!

    When you want to quit writing…

    Can you quit writing?

    Indie publishing can be tough.

    quit

    Uphill Climb

    This past week, I had a new release, and helped a fellow author through hers. There are a lot of resources out there to help authors, I have found. Yes, resources on craft, editing, revising, publishing, marketing, promotions, etc. are in abundance.

    But sometimes, learning all you can learn is not enough to be successful. Sometimes you have to have a bit of luck, and a lot of thick skin. And you always have to not only absorb all that information, but you also have to digest it and put it into action.

    And believe me, there is a lot of information to consume!

    When we are unprepared for the onslaught of reader comments, typo-finders, and other helpful folks who contact you POST-release to update you on their input, suddenly, being a writer isn’t so much fun anymore. Suddenly, you might want to crawl into a hole and drag the dirt in over you.

    It takes SO much time getting a book ready for publication, and your efforts are only welcomed with well-meaning people who tell you it could be better. A lot of authors at this point in their career sit over a steaming cup of coffee and threaten to quit.

    Yes, that’s right, QUIT.

    A few reasons:

    1. You’re getting a lot of negative comments, or reviews, about content issues (ie. formatting, typos, grammar, etc.)
    2. You are not getting reviews.
    3. You have low sales and an abysmal Amazon ranking.

    And there are a few things you can do to develop a writer’s attitude toward this stuff. Well, toward your work anyway.

  • Develop the skin of a rhino. Don’t let this stuff throw you. It’s a business now. The art side of writing is gone when you post it up for readers to get at.
  • Remember: your book is NOT your baby. It is NOT. Repeat over and over. This is not my child, this is not my blood. This is my book. MY BOOK. People are not always going to like it.
  • Go back to the drawing board. Maybe you DO need a refresher course on grammar, spelling, and punctuation. There is nothing wrong with that. Do it, and quit stressing over your lack.

    • Writing a book is easy, editing it is hard, publishing it and putting it out for the general public to gawk at it is the hardest. This business is not for the faint-hearted. But you can do it!

    Quit? No way. Quitting is not an option.

    WGP Flyby – What About Amazon?

    podcast logo

    Writer Groupie Podcast brings you discussions, insights, and insider details on planning, producing, promoting, and profiting as a writer.

    In today’s flyby episode, I talk about fans and followers who are now titled Groupies.
    I also share news about my mystery novel upcoming, and an offer for writers in the process of getting ready to indie publish. If you need help with formatting, you should listen to this episode!

    There are quite a few fun items in today’s epp so – I hope you enjoy it!

    Welcome to Writer Groupie!

    Thanks for listening! You can find show notes, contact form, and more at http://www.writergroupie.net

    Self-Publishing into Indie Publishing

    Articles, publishing,

    Indie publishing has come a long way, baby. Heck, even the name indie publishing is new.

    In recent times, even in the last fifteen years (which is recent in the industry), self-publishing was considered to be a sideways effort to get your work into print. Self-publishers were considered poor writers who couldn’t break into traditional publishing.

    And don’t even get me started on the print versus digital argument.

    Those were the old days.

    indie

    Now, move ahead fifteen years, and tada! Self-publishing is the most popular form of publishing for EVERYONE. Trad pub authors are moving to a hybrid model where they see a lot of their work published by their own hand. And the rest of us, the original self-published authors, we are seeing some of the best years of all for our work. Because self-publishing had SUCH a negative start in its life, in the last few years, the moniker self-publishing has been transitioned over to a new term : INDIE PUBLISHING.

    Aren’t you SO glad????

    Indie publishing today

    Today, I thought I would break indie publishing down into its parts. Good and bad. Let’s check out the negative side first, and get it out of the way.

    What’s wrong with indie publishing?

    ***All the costs of editing, formatting, and cover design fall squarely on your shoulders.

    ***There are a lot of people in the industry that can help you but there are far more scammers and you may not know the difference. A wolf in sheep’s clothing never looked better.

    ***You may lose heart over the fact that your book doesn’t sell well at first.

    What’s right with indie publishing?

    ***It’s fast-you can upload a book to Amazon or other distributors and within 48 hours have it on the digital shelf.

    ***You get to have all the control of the book from writing to cover art. You can literally DIY a book today.

    ***You can keep all the MONEY. This getting 70% of the total sales of the book and now we get it monthly is just the BOMB.

    There are many many wonderful books out there in the indie pub world today as well. No longer can it be said that the indie published book is a bad book.

    And in my opinion, the best of the reasons to be indie publishing your work is this:

    Sometimes traditional publishers will find you. When you’ve done the right things, and marketing has worked. Sometimes if you build it, they will come.

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    Writer Groupie Podcast is looking for all types of authors and industry pros for interviews. Leave a comment below or drop a contact form to get booked.