Indie Block Party – Post 8 – Social Media & Networking Tips

Writing doesn’t have to be a lonely endeavor. Join us for the Indie Block Party to meet your writing “neighbors.”

Participants will have the opportunity to share a little about themselves and their writing, while getting to know the other like-minded crazies that make up the Indie Writing World. Indie block partyWeek 1
Day 1: Introduce Yourself
Day 2: Introduce your WIP
Day 3: Interview one of your Characters
Day 4: Interview one of your Neighbors (not your real neighbor…the one who signed up on the linkey after you 😉 )

Week 2
Day 5: What are you reading?
Day 6: Top 5 books
Day 7: Share your most helpful writing tips
Day 8: Share your most helpful social media & networking tips

Full instructions are available at The Peasants Revolt or Dawna Raver’s blog.

I wanted to start by thanking Fel and Dawna for hosting a great Indie Block Party.  I had fun sharing a little about myself and my work and meeting other indie writers. 

The best social media tip I can offer anyone who wants to create an online platform is be consistent and watch how the greats do it. 

By greats, I mean:

Alex J. Cavanaugh – Blogfest Master, he makes networking seem effortless.
Marcy Kennedy – Writing instructor and Twitter expert
Kristen Lamb – Social media guru and creator of Wana International
Felicia Wetzig – website therapist
The bloggers of NA Alley
The bloggers of Wise, Ink
 

These people are super supportive and are doing it right.

Share with me your favorite social media and networking tips.

Indie Block Party – Post 7 – Writing Tips

Writing doesn’t have to be a lonely endeavor. Join us for the Indie Block Party to meet your writing “neighbors.”

Participants will have the opportunity to share a little about themselves and their writing, while getting to know the other like-minded crazies that make up the Indie Writing World. Indie block party

Week 1
Day 1: Introduce Yourself
Day 2: Introduce your WIP
Day 3: Interview one of your Characters
Day 4: Interview one of your Neighbors (not your real neighbor…the one who signed up on the linkey after you 😉 )

Week 2
Day 5: What are you reading?
Day 6: Top 5 books
Day 7: Share your most helpful writing tips
Day 8: Share your most helpful social media & networking tips

Full instructions are available at The Peasants Revolt or Dawna Raver’s blog.

Three must read books for writers and the best advice from each:

1.  Save the Cat by Blake Snyder 

“You must give it a twist.” – other wise why should the reader keep reading.

“The whiff of death.” – At some point near the last 1/4 of your novel you have to have a death scene. Something, anything has to die.  It spurs the MC towards the climax.  

2. Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success by K.M. Weiland 

Create a scene list. – I’m a list person. 

Interview you characters and know them inside and out. – It all starts with well rounded character and it’s the author’s job to create that character. 

3.  On Writing by Stephen King 

“The real importance of reading is that it creates an ease and intimacy with the process of writing.” – When I write, I read stuff in my genre. It helps me get in the right mind set to write. 

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.” – I make time every day to read, now if I can make time every day to write, I’ll be good. 

Share your most helpful writing tips.

Indie Block Party – Post 4 – Interview my Neighbor

Writing doesn’t have to be a lonely endeavor. Join us for the Indie Block Party to meet your writing “neighbors.”

Participants will have the opportunity to share a little about themselves and their writing, while getting to know the other like-minded crazies that make up the Indie Writing World. Indie block party

Week 1
Day 1: Introduce Yourself
Day 2: Introduce your WIP
Day 3: Interview one of your Characters
Day 4: Interview one of your Neighbors (not your real neighbor…the one who signed up on the linkey after you 😉 )

Week 2
Day 5: What are you reading?
Day 6: Top 5 books
Day 7: Share your most helpful writing tips
Day 8: Share your most helpful social media & networking tips

Full instructions are available at The Peasants Revolt or Dawna Raver’s blog.

Give me a brief synopsis of the first story you ever wrote (in school, published or just for yourself)?Reporter Merah Slavings is stalking Business Tycoon Nicolas Masters. She wants to know all his dirty little secrets and not just because he is the man of her dreams. Merah doesn’t stumble into his deep dark past but into his arms… mortally wounded. To save her life Nicolas, a vampire, turns Merah and wants her to be his loving companion for all eternity. Merah’s life has turned upside down and eternity is a long time.

Nicholas has many secrets one is that he has been watching Merah Slavings for quite some time. He is hoping she is the one that he can trust with his deepest darkest secret, but first he is going to intrigue and romance her to sweep her off her feet. He has learned that taking your time to get what you want is part of the fun. Time he has plenty of. Fate intervenes and he runs out of time to woo her having to decide to turn her or let her die. Has Nicolas bitten off more than he can chew?    

What books have most influenced your writing?  Kim Harrisons the Hollows series, and Laurel K Hamilton’s Anita Blake and Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson. I’d love to roll all three up into  my work!

What is the best writing advice you were given?  Above all else write.

What are your top five favorite movies?  That’s a tough one. Best friend’s Wedding, Sweet home Alabama, Van Helzing, Avatar and any western! I have a thing for cowboys.

Do movies influence your writing?  No not really.

What is your favorite romantic moment in a film or a book? Gosh there’s too many to mention. I’m such a mushy romantic at heart. I loved when Jack Nicholas told Helen hunt you make me want to be a better man in as Good as it Gets.

Any tattoos? Nope

Pick one of your published works and give me a list of the steps involved in that project from idea to publication?  I don’t have one completely polished yet. I just sent my first rounds of edits back to my editor on Love Bites. It has been quite a learning experience. I sure hope it’s polished soon!

Love bites cover!For more information on Cathy Brockman, visit her blog cathybrockmanromances.wordpress.com.

Indie Block Party – Post 3 – Interview one of my Characters

Writing doesn’t have to be a lonely endeavor. Join us for the Indie Block Party to meet your writing “neighbors.”

Participants will have the opportunity to share a little about themselves and their writing, while getting to know the other like-minded crazies that make up the Indie Writing World. Indie block party

Week 1
Day 1: Introduce Yourself
Day 2: Introduce your WIP
Day 3: Interview one of your Characters
Day 4: Interview one of your Neighbors (not your real neighbor…the one who signed up on the linkey after you 😉 )

Week 2
Day 5: What are you reading?
Day 6: Top 5 books
Day 7: Share your most helpful writing tips
Day 8: Share your most helpful social media & networking tips

Full instructions are available at The Peasants Revolt or Dawna Raver’s blog.

I described my WIP in a post last month, please read it and then come back. Although my WIP is written from the main character, Miranda Preston’s POV, I adore her love interest, Troy Anderson. They meet when they were four years old and lost touch when Miranda’s parents moved away when she was ten.  Eight years later, Miranda is sitting in her first college class and in walks her first best friend, Troy.

Hi Troy, I’m excited to interview you. Plus, with your future, you might as well get used to being interview.

Haha, Yeah, I guess so.  What do you want to know?

You grew up in Denver, right? What was your life like growing up?

I was born in Denver and lived there until I was 12, then I moved to San Antonio, so I’m half Texan. Denver was great.  Nice summers, cold winters. My girlfriend Miranda, she grew up in the house behind mine and are parents were best friends.  We spent a lot of time together playing outside. 

You and Miranda grew up together?

Yeah, but she moved away when she was 10. I was 11.

What was that like?

Not great, but you know, we ended up together anyway, so it’s all good. 

How would you describe your personality?

I’m pretty laid back. I like to have fun. I can be pretty intense on the football field, but I understand it’s a game.  I’m loyal to my friends and a situation has to be pretty bad for me to get down.   

How would you describe your looks?

Haha, I never thought about it. I guess, my hair is kind of brown, kind of blond. It’s always messy. My green eyes don’t fit my face, I think. At 6’4, 195, coaches and scouts say I am textbook size for a quarterback, which is a surprise because as a kid, Miranda was always taller them me.  

Who are your closest friends?

Well, there El (Eldrick), my running back. We’ve played together since we started football in the 6th grade.  He’s one of my roommates. My other roommates, Todd (TD) and David, we call him legs. He’s like 6’5 and all legs. They are also my teammates.  

And, Miranda?

Yeah, Miranda, my best friend, my oldest friend. My first love.  Miranda’s my heart.

Where do you see yourself in 4 years?

I just realized how much I hate talking about myself.  

(El interjects) Starting for an NFL team. Engaged to Miranda.

Dreading the first game we have to play against each other. 

Oh, yeah, well, whose going to win.

I’ll win. I’ll feel bad, but I’ll win. 

What else?

Honestly, I hope I still realize how blessed I am to get to do what I do and how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to share it with the people I love the most. 

When you were a child, what was the worst thing that happened to you and what did you learn from it?

Before this year, I would have said it was when Miranda moved away, but I realize now, it  had to happen that way.  If it didn’t we might not be together today. 

You have Miranda’s name tattooed on your hand. Don’t you know that’s a sure sign the relationship won’t last?

This isn’t my girlfriend name, it’s my best friend name. She’s been my best friend my entire life, I don’t see that ever changing.  

Thanks so much for the interview Troy.

Glad to do it.

Do you have any questions for Troy Anderson? 

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Indie Block Party – Allow me to Introduce Myself

I took an unexcused absents from the blog world, but didn’t get much done during it. I think I’m one of those people who are more unproductive when I have time to get stuff done. Annoying habit to break. But, I’m happy to make it back in time for the Indie Block Party.
This is the brain child of one my favorite people in the blog world Fel Wetzig and Dawna Raver. Writing doesn’t have to be a lonely endeavor. Join us for the Indie Block Party to meet your writing “neighbors.”
Participants will have the opportunity to share a little about themselves and their writing, while getting to know the other like-minded crazies that make up the Indie Writing World. Indie block party

Week 1
Day 1: Introduce Yourself
Day 2: Introduce your WIP
Day 3: Interview one of your Characters
Day 4: Interview one of your Neighbors (not your real neighbor…the one who signed up on the linkey after you 😉 )

Week 2
Day 5: What are you reading?
Day 6: Top 5 books
Day 7: Share your most helpful writing tips
Day 8: Share your most helpful social media & networking tips

Full instructions are available at The Peasants Revolt or Dawna Raver’s blog.

Post 1: Allow me to introduce myself.

The standard questions:

  • Why did you start writing? I started writing in pre-K according to my mother. Oh, you probably mean when did I starting writing stories. In the 2nd grade I one an award for story based on actual events. Not withstanding the award, the story resulted in both my brother, the neighborhood kids and myself all getting punished.
  • What are your favorite genre? Another difficult one to answer, I love to write New Adult Romance with a lot of comedic situations thrown into the mix. I love to read just about everything. Stephen King is my favorite author, but currently I’m obsessed with Rachel Morgan, Molly McAdams and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
  • What is your blog about? I blog about movie quotes, tattoos and the life and times of Sydney Aaliyah Michelle. That covers just about anything that moves me. Currently, I am excited to participate in blog tours for New Adult books to do my part in promoting the genre. Plus, it’s what I write and what I love to read.
  • What do you do when you’re not writing? When I’m not writing, I’m editing. Again, I know it’s not what you mean, but my brain is blocked in edit mode for my current WIP. Now if you need me on a Sunday, you can find me in front of the TV watching NFL football. NFL in HD has be mesmerized. Yes, I know, not something new, but I’ve been living in China for the last 5 1/2 years. Last time I was home for an NFL season, everyone didn’t have HD TV.

Not so standard questions – this is me from A to Z:

A. Attached or Single? Single

B. Best Friend? Patrina Williams (also my cousin)

C. Cake or pie? Cake

D. Day of choice? Sunday

E. Essential Item? iPhone

F. Favorite color? Green

G. Gummy bears or worms? Haribo Gummy bears

H. Home town? Plano, Texas

I. Favorite Indulgence? Anything made of chocolate & peanut butter

J. January or July? January

K. Kids? No

L. Life isn’t complete without? Finding your passion

M. Marriage date? N/A

N. Number of brothers/sisters? 2 brothers

O. Oranges or Apples? Granny Smith Apples

P. Phobias? Fear of failure and snakes

Q. Quotes? “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Stop being insane. Do something different.”

R. Reasons to smile? Being a live

S. Season of choice? Winter

T. Television Reality Shows or Drama? Reality Shows

U. Unknown fact about me? I’m a shy person

V. Vegetable? Brocoli Rabe

W. Worst habit? I’m to sensitive

X. Xray or Ultrasound? Xray I guess, I didn’t get this one, but I’ve never had an ultrasound

Y. Your favorite food? Mexican

Z. Zodiac sign? Sagittarius

Please, introduce yourself!