A blog for authors, about authors, written by an author
It is such a pleasure to present you my new Website. After all this time it’s finally published and I’m so proud to announce it here:
http://www.aurorajeanalexander.com
On my Website you will find:
a brief introduction,
my bio
how to connect with me
and links to my work.
It will be a pleasure to welcome you on my own personal Website.
I’m so excited!
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Thanksgiving is traditionally a day to say grace, to be grateful, to say ‘Thank you’ for the blessings. And that’s what I’d like to do today.
I’m saying thanks for:
THANK YOU ALL!!
And I wish you and your families a
Veronica Bale writes about “Blogging For Authors” which I personally think is a very educational and helpful article with plenty of advice for writers on how to design their blog.
Author friends: Do you blog? Are you thinking about implementing it into your marketing strategy? A word of caution if you are—for your blog to be effective, the majority of your posts should not be about you or your books.
… Huh???
I know. Sounds kind of backwards, right? But the truth about blogging is that it does not immediately convert visits to book sales. Yet so many authors expect their blogs to perform this exact magical feat. As Jane Friedman, CEO and Co-Founder of Open Road Integrated Media (an e-book sales and marketing agency) points out, “Unfortunately, many authors pursue blogging without any understanding of the medium, and also as little more than a means to an end.”
Blogging is a long-term strategy, a round-about strategy. Its goal is to create loyalty, not purchases, and this isn’t always the easiest strategy to comprehend. No, wait … scratch that. It’s not always…
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What an excellent Infographic. – And so true! 🙂 Thanks so much, Kawanee Hamilton for this! 🙂
Kristen Lamb, experienced author and blogger, has published a new blog post I find very educating for new authors (which includes me of course). I’m always getting the best advice on Kristen Lamb’s blog and appreciate her support, experience and wisdom. Thank you Kristen!
As some of you know I am still recovering from the flu. Also, the holiday season gets more than a little insane so it is always a joy to run across fresh talent to share with all of you. The bad news is that Alex Limberg lives in Vienna so taking him as a hostage? Can you tweet #logisticalnightmare? Good news is, apparently Austrians work for compliments and candy cigarettes #littleknownfact.
So, with my Amazon Prime Account, I was able to secure SWEET blog content and all of us could avoid any sticky international incidents with the Austrians.
Which is best for all because, well who doesn’t dig their pastries?
This is another guest post by copywriter Alex Limberg. To mix things up a bit, Alex is assisting me through the holiday season until he makes his New Year’s resolution to kick his candy cigarette habit *rolls eyes*.
…and then we’ll…
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Suzie posted these 9 motivational quotes on her blog post to get her readers through Monday. I’ll re-blog them to get us all through the week. Thank you very much Suzie. You’re the best!
It’s been a tough few days, so I thought I would share some of my favourite quotes to help get me through a dark, cold and dreary Monday… Simply click on the images to see them in full size.
I particularly like the Karen Lamb quote – this is something I often turn to when I am feeling low…
What about you guys? What is your favourite motivational quote that helps to get you through the day?
You can also find me on Twitter and Tumblr @suzie81blog, and don’t forget to check out my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/suzie81speaks, my Pinterest page http://www.pinterest.com/suzie81speaks and my Instagram page http://www.instagram.com/suzie81speaks.
Lately I have lost one of my friends. I knew her for nearly 15 years and loved her. She was such an amazing, wonderful person with the greatest heart. Last week I was informed that she is no more.
I dedicate this poem to her. Rest in Peace, my friend.
Growing up, she’s the different child
no matter how calm, no matter how wild
it never fits, it’s never a match…
no friends, no fun, on her soul is a scratch.
**
Jokes and laughter every day
but she’s not part – she is the prey!
It took a while, but then the shock
to others she is the laughing stock.
**
The years go by, but not the pain
Everyday life becomes more strain.
Sometimes better, then again for the worse
she knows deeply inside, her weight is a curse.
**
Being an adult she’s got the greatest heart
but people don’t care, they still rip her apart.
She’s so amazing with no edges and nooks
still nobody cares; it’s all about the looks.
**
She’s hurt and used by so called ‘friends’
repeatedly pierced and got no amends.
Getting it bad by only weeks apart
At the end she decided to take heart.
**
She made a decision, in secret, and slow.
that to her it was time to turn and to go
on silent soles, her inside in strife,
she blew out her own flame of life…
**
(Copyright: Aurora Jean Alexander, November 2015)
When I became a writer and started with my stories, I had to classify them. Considering the existence of so many genres, I had a hard time to choose.
Where are the differences between the genres? I needed to get research done:
My research showed me that fantasy is a genre of fiction using magic and supernatural phenomena as a primary element.
It might be based on myth or legends or even Science that doesn’t exist (yet).
Fantasy encompasses numerous subgenres. And now we are getting to a list I love! The complexity of the fantasy genre is fascinating!
(Source: Wikipedia)
What subgenre do I categorize my own stories in?
Here it’s getting difficult. The only thing that’s clear is that my writing is ‘fantasy’.
At the moment, I am working on several stories. I’d sort one of them within the subgenre ‘urban fantasy’, the other one might be identified as “heroic fantasy.’ The novel I work on is a mix between ‘Contemporary fantasy’ – and ‘paranormal romance’.
And here I am now, switching between the real world, fantasy worlds, romance, funny characters, creepy creatures, and magic.
I love what I do! And even though the fantasy genre with its numerous subgenres is a little confusing, I’m sure I am working myself into it.
What is it that I like so much about fantasy that I decided on this genre? I think it is quite easy to answer this question. I can let my imagination run amok. If I am going to turn the hair of my heroine blue and give her gills, who will stop me? If I decide to create a child with magical abilities, who will tell me that it “cannot be”? I love myths, legends, and mystical creatures like unicorns… and once in a while I need a protagonist being a princess. This is why fantasy is just my genre. (or – paranormal romance, or contemporary fantasy… Maybe I should try to categorize my story after completing it.)
One of my favorite books is a fantasy book. I identified it a mix of Science fantasy and dark fantasy. It is: “Watchers”, written by Dean Koontz. I love this book even though it’s one of Dean Koontz older books. It impressed me and I never forgot it I wish I one day can touch my readers as much as Dean Koontz can do it.
Do you have a favorite genre or subgenre you read or write in? Don’t be shy, please tell me!
Why not shifting our word choice in favor of emotion? The Story Reading Ape knows why and has delivered a helpful infographic.
Kristen Lamb recommends writers to ditch 3myths “like a bad ex”. And I definitely believe she’s right.
I’m sure this blog post is helpful for many writers, not just us newbies.
In the spirit of the upcoming holidays, today we are going to talk about something touchy and complicated. No, I am not going to tell you where babies come from.
Okay, fine.
Amazon. With Prime, you get free shipping.
Moving on…
The whole publishing paradigm makes me kinda twitch and we writers are often at the center of a lot of silly complaining. So I’d like to debunk some pretty myths we writers love to perpetuate.
It’s like that ex who we run into on Facebook and we get all nostalgic and remember all the loooove. But, if we took more than 30 seconds to think. Really THINK? We’d remember why we were combing Craig’s List for a hit man willing to be paid in unredeemed Starbucks gift cards to take that person OUT…O_o
Same situation. Let’s unpack this, shall we?
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