Sarah Jane Butfield is the author of international
best-selling and award-winning travel and nursing memoirs. These include:
Glass Half Full,
Two Dogs and a Suitcase,
Our Frugal Summer in Charente
Ooh Matron
Bedpans to Boardrooms
Having It All
Sarah Jane shares her writing insights, chats to fellow authors and helps new and aspiring authors find an audience for their books.
Are you looking for somewhere new to post your promotional book links? Yes, then pop along to https://www.facebook.com/promotingauthors LIKE the page and and follow us on Twitter @RukiaPublishing and/or @SarahJanewrites then just post your link. It is as simple as that!!We will work to get it shared and tweeted for you. Top tip: A ready made tweet included makes it a faster more efficient service!!
If you are anything like me, when I started my writing journey I did not fully comprehend the
enormity of the marketing task ahead of me. The learning curve to even become self-published
is huge, but that is just the first step on the road to getting your books in front of readers and
in turn reviewers.
I am a member of a group called The Booktrap. A group of authors who support and help each
other to promote their work while allowing readers to access to a variety of great books.
Paula Shene is a valued member of this group and she has started a series of blog posts which
I think authors of all genre's will find interesting and informative.
Here is the first one, be sure to leave Paula a comment on here and/or on the Booktrap blog. It is really helpful if you share the blog post on Twitter and Facebook to help others access this information.
Thank you Paula for sharing your blog posts with us.
The Author in the Spotlight today is Lorene Stunson Hill.
Author Biography:
Lorene Stunson Hill was born in St. Louis, and later raised in Detroit, Michigan. In a visit to Sardis, Mississippi (hometown of her ancestors), in her teens, Lorene experienced the cruelty of racial discrimination, but she stayed steadfast in her unshakable faith and belief in the values of the traditional African-American family, community, and culture. She currently resides in the Central Florida area.Her life was not as she would have wished it to be; one of ease and luxury. In fact, the opposite was true. She wished to make it more than it was and to tell her impressions in a story, warts and all, to help others and help bring forth something good out of misery. “Family experiences are universal,” she said. Lorene drew from the wealth of experiences placed in her path to create, "To Dance with Ugly People.” Along that path she completed Creative Writing Courses at the University of Central Florida under the esteemed guidance of Professor Wyatt, Wyatt, who taught her that, if you want to write you cannot be a coward. Lorene was never a coward.
Lorene joins us to talk about her new release 'To Dance with Ugly People'which is currently on the Kindle Countdown Deal. Kindle edition is currently 99 cents (99pin the UK) starting 13th July for one week. Don't miss getting your copy at a great price. Welcome Lorene and thank you for joining us today.
Can you give us a brief synopsis of your new book?
'To Dance with Ugly People' depicts the life of an African-American from infant to childhood, teenager to adult. “To Dance with Ugly People," tells the harrowing story of Dani Ransom's travels down several dark paths. She experiences the ravages of drug abuse, suffers psychological cruelty, and the fanatical abusive love of her husband Dane. Experience Dani Ransom “Living on the Edge,” understand the narcissist hold of Dane on Dani. Witness the chaos of Dani Ransom’s mind. Troubled by man versus women, she makes many wrong decisions. Exhausted by the collapse of every aspect of her life, can she save herself and overcome the shadows of darkness that follows her? Divorced, she finally finds the love of her life, her greatest muse, an older man, Chance Wiley, but even when she strives to travel the right path, fate steps in. Haunted by her own personal ghosts she can't live life to its fullest. Is fate everywhere we are, involved in everything we do and not just the end result? What do you think?
“Dig into mystery and mayhem of psychological, fanatical and narcissist hold, where living on the edge isn’t the only thing blooming in the heart of my African American Protagonist.” – Lorene Stunson Hill
What inspired the title of -To Dance with Ugly People?
In my 20’s I met an older lady who was a Financial Planner. I went to see her striving for a better financial future. After every session, as I was leaving, she would say, “Don’t Dance with Ugly People!” I’d answer, “Yes, ma’am.” But, that statement resonated with a roar in my heart. From then on, every time I had a bad experience, I would mumble (in my mind), “I just danced with Ugly People.” Of course, when I thought about seriously writing a book, “To Dance with Ugly People,” was born!
What a great story Lorene, thanks for sharing that. Who is your target audience for this book?
My General Target Audience is composed of people who loved Alice Walker’s novel THE COLOR PURPLE because my book is intended for a mature audience that can deal with the pain... and I advise they don’t forget their box of tissues. My Indie Publisher states, “Lorene Stunson Hill, eloquently guides you through this journey of life, hope and despair.“My Specific Target Audience is women readers in a particular age group (young adults who are twenty-somethings, thirty-somethings and a cross section of middle-aged female readers), any woman who enjoys an Angsty Romance. It is relevant to include African-Americans, Avid Book Readers and anyone open to a book where the good is sensitively written, the bad is portrayed as the reality of life and the ugly are the things in life we hope will never happen to us – That includes male readers willing to step outside of their usual reading norm. My male publisher wrote, “Whilst not my usual genre. If you read only one book this year – make sure its this one!” My book was written for all humankind no matter what race, gender or color – showing the elementary principles of human nature that can be outside our perception as the norm.
What is the biggest source of inspiration in your writing life?
Boredom - It began in High School, I use to get bored during Summer Break from School. To pass time, I hand wrote a novel. Lacking confidence, I threw each one away as soon as School started, again. I remember the first one I wrote was titled, “WindSong.”But, searching for a sense of accomplishment is my biggest inspiration. Unfortunately, I tend to write better when I’m down and I write to bring myself up. For example, in 2007, emerging from homelessness, I lived in an old historic relic of a hotel that was known to be haunted. Many of its residents were “put” there by Social Services or on drugs. You paid by the week so, for many it was a revolving door. I stayed locked up in my apartment raising my one year old Grandson, whose Mom abandoned him. Writing this book was my escape and it made my life rich and rewarding. I felt in touch with a higher power while writing this book. I’d pray for where to go next, having reached writer’s block, and I promise you the answer would pop into my head during the night. This novel brought me to a new divine awareness. I realized I had experienced a lot in life that had left me strewn and unsettled; the book brought about the resurgence of a strong feeling of cohesion, for me. I could feel my heart glow with excitement and enthusiasm as I wrote this book. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.”
How much real life goes into a fiction writing?
The skeleton,general idea, outline and frame work – I took details from my life to evoke a place and the people who inhabit my novel. The entire story in a nutshell. Those life details served to illuminate and liberate my imagination. I think you can only write what you know if you want to create a strong compelling novel that grabs people. Some people argue that point of view stating “You don’t have to kill several people to write about a serial killer.” Somehow, how I agree with both of those statements.Stories aren’t about people and things. Stories are things. Writers travel, move to new places, try various life experiences all in search of real life experiences that they can use to liberate their imagination.
What made you decide to become aself published author?
I couldn’t write a query letter that grabbed a Literary Agents eye. I got tired of being rejected. I gave up and the book sat on a shelf for 6 years. I began to see more and more on the Internet about self publishing and this year, 2014, blew the dust off the manuscript and gave it a try.
What are 3 of your favorite lines/quotes from your new release?
"You've caused me to spend a lot of time thinking about you, Dani. Perhaps I was afraid of you. Where were you when I was nineteen and looking for a wife?"
I thought for a minute and answered,"In kindergarten."
He let out a loud, chest heaving laugh.
Do you have a favorite time of day for writing and why?
In the middle of the night when the house is quiet and everyone asleep. Sometimes I got to bed with a question on my mind, and the answer pops into my head. I jump up and write it down. I am retired, so able to take cat naps during the day.
What are you currently reading and why did you choose it?
Having a new release, I don’t have time to read a novel. I am spending every minute of my spare time reading online books and articles on Marketing Strategies hoping to get my book out in front of the public.
Who is your biggest source of inspiration in your writing life?
No one person. I have loved the written word my whole life. I have attended lectures and readings by Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, and Sonia Sanchez. I’d shed tears of admiration sitting in the Audience. NtozakeShange, Alice Walker, Terry McMillan and Alice Walker are among others I have admired.
Do you have a current writing project that you would like to share with us?I’ve started my second book. It is a sequel to, “To Dance with Ugly People,” titled “UglyPeople Can’t Dance.”
If you wrote your autobiography what would the last line be?
I had decided I would not become an Author, fortunate for the Universe, I changed my mind.
Thank you for taking part Lorene and I would like to wish you every success with your new release.
My featured author for July is Margaret Lynette Sharp.
Australian author Margaret Lynette Sharp spent her early years in an inner city suburb of Sydney, moving with her family to a leafy, outer suburb at the age of ten. Her enthusiasm for literature led to further studies, with a particular focus on Short Story Writing. Shortly after the death of her elderly mother whom she cared for, Margaret met and later married Ronald Sharp B.E.M., the creator of the Sydney Opera House Grand Organ. She believes that, without doubt, he is her greatest fan and motivator.Excelling in English himself, Ron has edited her work. To date, Margaret has ten titles available: 25 Stories of Life and Love in Australia, A Taste of Life and Love in Australia, The Essence of Life and Love in Australia, Reflections of Life and Love in Australia, 60 Questions, Insights and Reminiscences, Long and Short Australian Stories, Encore, Amelia's Call, Michaela Betrayed and Lauren Played.
Margaret joins us to talk about her new release Love, Desire and Betrayal which is currently only 99c for a three day launch promotion.
Welcome Margaret and thank you for joining us today.
What inspired the title of 'Love, Desire and Betrayal'?
I was sitting by the river with my husband Ron and some friends. We were all talking about this book and what it was about. The title just popped into my head. Although the narratives are quite different, love, desire and betrayal are key elements in all four stories.
Who is your target audience for this book?
This book is written to appeal to different groups of readers, for different reasons. Lovers of romantic stories, lovers of poetic literature, and lovers of true-to-life fiction make up my target readership.
What is the biggest source of inspiration in your writing life?
A tough question! Through a process that defies description, an idea --a situation--appears in my mind. It quite often happens while I'm swimming…
How much real life goes into fiction writing?
I write stories of truth, as distinct from true stories. Characters and situations need to be authentic.
What are some of your favourite lines/quotes from your new release, ‘Love, Desire and Betrayal?’
"Carried away by a wonderful sense of fate favouring us with every blessing, I felt a resurgence of optimism. Life was wonderful... and love the pinnacle of happiness."
"Together we walked along the golden sands-- holding hands and stealing kisses as our emotions surfaced. Twice we ventured into the waves; splashing, playing around like kids. But our behaviour changed to that of adults in love as we warmed ourselves on the shore."
Do you have a favorite time of day for writing and why?
I write in the afternoon. I like to go out and about in the morning: to exercise body and mind, and hopefully refresh my creative energies.
Who is your biggest source of inspiration in your writing life?
My husband Ron. He is the one who encouraged me to write.
If you wrote your autobiography what would the last line be?
Whatever I believed in, I gave to it my all.
Have you received any reviews yet for your new book?
This quartet of character-driven, page-turning romantic novellas by Ms. Sharp is a phenomenal bargain you should seize upon. Three of the four (Michaela Betrayed, Lauren Played and Amelia's Call) have been published previously to considerable acclaim and enthusiastic reviews from prominent bloggers and authors -- and this reviewer as well, so I won't repeat myself, other than just to say that Margaret Sharp writes stirring romance (with completely authentic and believable heroines) in exquisitely poetic, spare, well-crafted prose that makes her work a delight to read. Check out the individual reviews of the included works, but once you've read one, you'll want to read the others (including the particularly riveting one never before published), and you'll save 65% by enjoying all four together in this superlative collection.
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