The #1 Reason Your Book Marketing Efforts Fail on Facebook

Dee on Twitter Last month I asked a question on my Facebook profile: If you could give up one social media platform– Twitter or Facebook– what would it be? Most respondents chose Facebook, because they didn’t get it. Although the results weren’t shocking, they were problematic. Many of those responders were authors… African-American authors.  But in this “Relationships are Imperative for Survival” age, black authors need to get Twitter. They need to get it like two years ago… Social Media affords us (all writers) the opportunity to communicate with our readership about our stories.... 

On No They Didn’t… Tee Speaks Out on BIB

**My apologies, but I didn’t know the Blogging in Black site would be down for maintenance today, so for those who have emailed me, I have updated this post to include the entire article. So, feel free to comment here if the BIB site isn’t up.** For those who know me, you know I try to steer toward the positivity in things, stay away from drama, and do my absolute best in everything I do.  I am the same with my family, with friends, and with business.  I’m passionate about the literary industry and also when it comes to raising my children.  Sometimes though, I just want to tell... 

Selling Out or Making a Sell (Part 2) by Dyanne Davis

This week, we continue with Part 2 of Dyanne Davis’ article, Selling Out or Making a Sell. Be sure to check out Part 1 of Selling Out or Making a Sell if you haven’t already and definitely share your thoughts! Part 2 – Selling Out or Making a Sell by Dyanne Davis Let’s move it a bit past the super explosive to the not as explosive. The manner of publication also garners much attention and sadly I might add with each group thinking they’re a bit better for whatever reason: For not making concessions, for doing it themselves. For not giving up knocking on doors until a mainstream... 

Selling Out or Making a Sell (Part 1) by Dyanne Davis

Happy New Year, everyone!  I hope you had a really wonderful holiday. Here’s to the best possible year for all of us! This article is about the little concessions that most writers make to have that contract that we all crave—to see their work in print.  How do we as writers view the choices we make?  How do the readers view them? This is an opinion piece. But it’s also a topic I’ve wanted to broach for several months. Seriously, it has taken me longer to write this article than it has to write a book. I’ve rewritten it so many times because I’m fully aware of the implications of... 

Waiting on Prince Charming by Katrina Spencer

I have a red indicator light on my Blackberry that glows when I have a new e-mail. I’ve looked at my phone a record twenty six times today. And it’s not even lunchtime. “E-mail me!” I want to scream. “Tell me something!” Being a writer, you’re always waiting on something or someone. You have to wait until you get home from your day job before you can get home and write. When you finally get finished with your first book, you have to wait as your writing critique group reads it. (Or for some of us, our close friends and family.) After revising, you send out query letters to agents... 

Story Structure: And The Crowd Roars, An Unforgettable Ending (Plotting Your Novel – Part 4) by Tyora Moody

Story Structure: And The Crowd Roars, An Unforgettable Ending Plotting Your Novel Series – Part 4 by Tyora Moody Have you ever watched a basketball game and your team was down by a few points? They have possession of the ball and the clock is winding down fast. Whether you are sitting in the bleachers or on your living room couch, the anticipation of the final outcome has you riveted. All is quiet as the crowd watches a player throw the ball from what seems like miles from the basket. Swoosh! And the crowd goes wild! “We won! We won!” Okay, so what does this sports analogy have... 

3 Press Release Don’ts for Authors by Dee Stewart

As a literary business hybrid, I get to see the publishing industry in three dimensional terms. As a writer, I share the same pangs and long hours of marketing my latest writing project or literary event. As a publicist, I spend hours creating the best press release for my clients with hopes that it grabs my media friends attention. As a member of the press, I take great care in scrutinizing author requests to be featured in on my blog or magazine department or radio show in my charge. All three aspects of me require basic marketing acumen. All further require a brilliant press release(either on... 

Just Write! by Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant

I’ve been writing for several years now, and I constantly hear people make the same statement over and over again; “I have a story to tell, but I don’t know where to start.” My advice is usually not to make it a bigger deal than it has to be. If you have a story, just start writing it. Several people have also made the following comment to me: “But I wasn’t great in English.” My response: “That’s what editors are for.” Look, the most important thing to do is to just write. Whether you use pen and paper, use a computer or tape yourself telling the story, just get the basics down.... 

Are Black Authors too Late to Jump on the Bandwagon by Dee Stewart

Are Black Authors too Late to Jump on the Bandwagon by Dee Stewart For the past month I’ve found something quite peculiar in my email inbox, tons of social media notices. From Twitter Direct Messages[DMs] to Facebook Notifications to Messages from some member of an online community I belong to. I belong to at least one hundred. Don’t be shocked. Furthermore, don’t be shocked when I state that I mostly delete those messages. Here’s why… Basic Marketing Philosophy and Psychology has proven that most people are bandwagon jumpers. And being a bandwagon jumper is not a bad thing. It is... 

Meet Literary Crime Fighter, John A. Wooden

Meet Literary Crime Fighter, John A. Wooden Interviewed by Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant I had the pleasure of meeting the “crime fighter” in 2006.  Please find  below my recent mini-interview with Mr. Wooden. Also, read the reviews for his two novels on The Author’s Hidewaway and also at Literary Wonders! 1. It seems that your books are about crime. What gave you the inspiration to write this genre? - It’s my active imagination. Way before I put pen to paper I would have these various storylines in my head and once I did decide to become a writer, my imagination went into overdrive... 

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