It’s a delight that you and Pattie Giordai will be teaching “Marketing for Introverts and Extroverts” at this years GLVWG Write Stuff Conference.
By Laurel Bruce
According to your bio you wrote fan fiction about your favorite soap opera characters when you were in middle school. Could you tell me a little bit about now this helped your writing and career?
My friend Lori and I used to be huge Guiding Light fans and fell love with the Quint and Nola characters. Fan fiction is probably too formal a title for what we did since this was pre-computers and we were the only two who read the stories. But, we were two tweens crazy about these characters, so every night we’d write our own scenes and swap them in school the next day. That’s what got me into the practice of writing every day.
Can you tell me a little bit about your latest book, Fortunes?
Megan Donnelly is not pleased when she visits a fortune teller while on vacation and is told she will soon meet her soul mate. While any other woman would be thrilled to hear this news, Megan cannot let go of the college sweetheart who left her at the altar.
Hot and hunky Chip Nealon wasn’t looking for love when he decided to attend his cousin’s birthday party, but the bright and beautiful Megan has him changing his mind. His grandmother always told him he would know when he met the “one.”
Can Chip convince Megan to take a chance on him and look to the future instead of living in the past?
You’re working as a freelance proofreader at Harlequin. Can you describe for us what exactly a proofreader does and why it is important?
Proofreading is the final stage of the editing process. At Harlequin, I read manuscripts after they’ve been through the editing process to check for any errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, or style. Proofreading is very important because it’s one more step to ensure a manuscript is as close to perfect as it can be. When you’re the writer, by the end of the editing process, you can probably recite your book from memory so it’s easy to miss skipped words or spelling and punctuation errors. Your editor will pick up most errors, but once they’ve read the book a couple times, small errors can get through. A proofreader offers a fresh set of eyes that will be more likely to pick up on any errors left behind.
What was the motivation to start Libra Editorial Services?
With the increase in the number of authors self-publishing their work, Pattie Giordani and I saw a growing need for editors so we decided to pool our strengths and resources and start Libra. Basically any author that works with us gets two sets of eyes for the price of one. While we both edit the book as a whole and make suggestions, Pattie concentrates just a bit more on the grammar and style aspects and I work on story development and copy editing. It’s important for authors to realize that even if they’ve been published before or work as an editor themselves, they should still have someone edit their work. When you write a book, you’re generally too close to the work to pick up all the inconsistencies and errors.
What advice do you have for shy people to market their writing?
Marketing is tough…it’s especially tough if you’re not an outgoing person. Even if you are outgoing, you may not feel totally comfortable promoting yourself and your work. But it’s important to realize that if you don’t promote yourself, no one will. Changing your perception of marketing and promotion can make you more comfortable with the whole concept. In this age of social media, there’s no need to shout from the rooftops or stop everyone you pass on the street to tell them about your book. Instead, you can focus on your strengths and what you do enjoy and use them to make connections. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, blogs, and other online sites are a great way to get your message to your target audience. Friends and family are also a great resource. I have a friend who always introduces me as, “My friend Tina, the author.” This of course starts a discussion on what I write and often a request for a book or more information on how to find my books online.
I was wondering if you could give us a teaser of what you and Pattie will be covering in “Marketing for Introverts and Extroverts”?
Pattie will cover the “Extrovert” portion of the workshop. She discusses ways to get your writing covered in the media, set up book signings and speaking events, and other creative ways to promote yourself in person.
I will discuss “Introvert” marketing, which will include social media and internet marketing as well as giveaways and other ways to get your name out there without stepping too far out of your comfort zone.
Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group 