Sharing is Caring

I see 'Sharing is Caring!' all over social media, and I adore the sentiment, but oftentimes it only leads to people dropping a link, perhaps a synopsis to whatever their book or piece of art is about and then fleeing. There is no engagement, no returning the favor for others, and that saddens me.  [Mind you, not everyone is that way, please don't take that the generalization is referring to you if it doesn't.] 

[Many] Authors see others as their competition, but that's simply not true. There are plenty of readers for us all, so you 're not saving or protecting your audience by not helping other Authors. If you can help, and you don't, but you expect other people to help you when you need it, you're kind of a douche. Just putting that out there.  

I love to help my fellow authors, writers, hell artists of any kind, really. I want us all to succeed. I do get agitated though when I'm treated as just another way to get someone's name out there. I am a human being, not a computer-generated marketing tool.  

Your readers and potential readers are human beings as well, and you'll find they want to be treated as more than just a number.  

So, here in my land, sharing IS caring, TRULY caring if other people make it alongside me.  

As such, I extend my hand to keep you company on this journey. All I ask in return is this -occasionally pay it forward. Because if you want others to care if you make it, you have to care if they do. I hate math, but this equation is pretty easy to solve. 

Remember your golden rule, that's all it takes. 

Love and Light! 

Meet Contemporary Romance Author TL Clark!

The writing community is such a vast, varied and wonderous place to exist if you allow it to be; More importantly, it's even more magical if you use it to learn, to grow and utilize your platform, no matter how large or small to help others to do the same.  

I have been privileged to meet so many different types of Authors that I am proud to assist in getting their names out there, to the best of my ability. TL Clark is no exception to the rule. 

Who is TL Clark? 

TL Clark is a British author who stumbles through life as if it were a gauntlet of catastrophes.

Rather than playing the victim, she uses these unfortunate events to fuel her passion for writing, for reaching out to help others.

She writes about different kinds of love in the hope that she'll uncover its mysteries.

Her loving husband (and very spoiled cat) have proven to her that true love really does exist.

Writing has shown her that coffee may well be the source of life.

Latest book: Regency Love - Reflections of a Young Lady

[Click image for purchase options!]

Finding a husband on the marriage mart is a serious business. Lady Anne sets out with an unromantic heart, appreciating how narrow her field of choice is – dukes are not in abundance.

 However, her heart is won over by charm and flattery. Can Lord Felsenworth prove himself worthy despite his lower rank of earl? Her papa, the Duke of Hesford, will take much persuasion.

 During the course of the Season, other beaux step forwards. Some more agreeable than others. Lady Anne struggles between head and heart as she tries her best to obey family duty.

 Choice is but an illusion.

This is Regency England, where fortunes are won and lost with alarming regularity. Who amongst the nobility has kept and who has squandered the family fortune?

Gossip and intrigue are rife amongst The Ton. Not all are honourable. And not all marriages are equal.

Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer fans will love the authenticity, Christi Caldwell ones will enjoy the naughty bits.

 Step into Regency London and hear what Lady Anne truly thought of her situation.

The drawing room doors are opening for you.

NB Contains an attempted seduction and arousing scenes of marital duties

This book is a standalone Regency romance novel

May not be suitable for gently bred ladies

Where do I find her?

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Pinterest

Youtube

Bookbub

Blog


Purchase links (to author pages):

Amazon (author page)

Draft2Digital

Go forth and support this talented Author!


Love and Light.

MiblArt Book Cover Design

They always say "Put your best foot forward" and with Authors, we know the cover of our books is the first impression we make upon the public and potential readers. I've known some talented writers who can also design their own covers, but I'm not one of those and I tend to leave it to the professionals. (It's better for everyone, trust me on that.) 

That being said MiblArt has an incredible portfolio, add to that, the fact that they won't break the bank and you have a design company that needs to be shared! So, even if you can't utilize them, recommend them to others! I know I will!  I mean, check these out!

To have a look at their portfolio, see their prices, and find out mostly anything you'd need to know, visit their site HERE!  

Also, if you'd like to connect on FACEBOOK give them a like so you can follow what they're up to!  

Meet New Adult Author P.K. Reeves!

P.K. is half American and half Filipino born and raised in the United States. She currently lives in Virginia while pursuing her degrees in Computer Science. She has a daughter who is her biggest fan.

When P.K. isn’t writing or outlining her next novel, she is spending time with her daughter or working. She reads whenever she gets the chance and enjoys a wide variety of genres. P.K. is a new adult author that writes across genres, including fantasy, urban fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and urban fantasy romance.

First book released January 1, 2019:

Heir: Lineage Series book one.

Audrey Sanders had much to look forward to. She graduated high school and had accepted an offer to go to a University of her choosing. Everything seemed to be in order until a car accident that should have killed her.

Now, what she had planned had to be placed on hold. Her senses are overbearing, leaving her feeling hopeless. The warmth of humans, their scent and the taste of them in the air. It all clouds her ability to merge back with society. There are dangers waiting in the dark while she is vulnerable.

An old hatred that has its sights on her. As the threat of her new world envelops her a unique position of her upbringing adds a twist that nobody was expecting.

Join Audrey Sanders in the build-up of a world of new magic, and power.

I've read it, and it is amazing! Go grab your copy HERE!

If you'd like to follow this amazing lady on her journey (and I know you do) let me help you out!

Where to find P.K.

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pkreevesauthor/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/pkreevesauthor/

P.K.’s Clique/ Reader’s group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/156934391602501/

Be kind, be supportive, and show her some love! 

Works in Progress

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

If you have more than one work in progress, raise your hand. Uh-huh, that's what I thought! 

Most of us are toiling away at several different things, and I think that's awesome. Although, a bit daunting at times, admittedly.  

I'll be honest, I also suffer from C-PTSD which comes with the ability to worsen the procrastination we already have installed as writers, and I'm sure my Co-Author, the gracious Valkyrie Lake is about ready to throttle me. Not that I can blame her.  

Where was I? Oh yeah...works in progress!  

Currently, I have five projects that I'm needing to bust my ass on: 

The second book in the Novae Terrae Series (Lux Mori being the first) that will be published by Valkyrie and myself under my other pen name Dymphna Dreamer 

Possessed - Book two in The Reincarnation Series 

87715 - A dystopian, Sci-fi piece that is supposed to be a stand-alone, but I make  no promises 

Shadow Soul - A shadow/realm walker who is the son of Lucifer and a powerful witch.  It has demons, sex and such in it, what more could you ask for? 

Untitled - also a project with Valkryie and my lips are sealed about this one, but take my word when I say it's really fucking special.  

I would LOVE to see what y'all are working on, show me, tell me, share!  

Love and Light. 

Social Media Consistency

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Ah, Social Media - what most of us writer's and Author's call "the necessary evil." Or, rather, at the very least, how I refer to it. Don't get me wrong, social media isn't all bad, and it's great for building your brand, but I have a huge problem trying to find a happy medium with it. In other words, I either spend far too much time bullshitting on it, or I ignore it completely. As you can imagine, neither option is super helpful where growing an empire is concerned.  

So, I've done my best with research to figure out a few things, and hopefully they'll help you as well: 

How often should I post? Once per day is optimal, twice per day acceptable, and more than three times per day (regarding your business) and you stand to lose followers. With Facebook, you should aim for at least three times per week. 

What times a day are the best?  It appears that each social media platform has varying times. So, I'll give you the best times for the ones I use the most. 

Facebook:  

Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Friday from 8–9 a.m. 

Wednesday from 8–9 a.m and 5 p.m.

Thursday at 5 p.m 

Most consistent engagement: Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Instagram:

Most days between 2 PM and 3 PM CDT. 

The BEST DAY to post on IG is actually Thursday at the following times 5 a.m, 11 a.m, 3 p.m, and 4 p.m. 

Twitter:

Between Mondays and Thursdays, 1 pm and 3 pm, with no specific peak times. 

However, it is strongly suggested to use images/graphics because they garner more attention. 

Is one site better than another for exposure? Well now, in researching this one I found one platform I've never heard of. So, I'm going to list the ones here that are cited as starting with the best. Much like anything, I'm sure the formula is as individual as each Author is, choose the ones that serve you and toss the rest. 

• Twitter. 
• Instagram. 
• Litsy. (I had never heard of this one, but will be checking into it)
• Facebook.
• Snapchat. (I like the filters here, but I don't have a clue how I'd use it for exposure as an Author)
• MeWe. 
• Tumblr
• Pinterest
• Goodreads
• Reddit

I want to see us all succeed, and my wish is that some of what I do here on this blog, and in general, serves to help y'all as much as it helps me. If you have any tips or pointers you'd like to share with us all, please shoot me a message and I'll share it (giving you full credit, of course!) here. 

Remember, we are not in competition with one another, we are a tribe. A family. To succeed it will definitely take a community, and I'm blessed to be a part of something that has the potential and tendency to be so beautiful and supportive. 

Love and Light. 

You. Are. A. Writer.

Image by rawpixel from Pixabay

Here's one thing (among many) that has been bothering me for a bit - the elitist attitude that if you aren't published, if you write fanfiction, write any genre that another writer/author does not care for, etc. that you aren't a writer. 

Let me go on record as saying: IF YOU WRITE, IF YOU IDENTIFY AS A WRITER, then guess what? You, my friend, ARE A WRITER. It's that simple.  

"But, Willow..." you might counter "fanfiction writers use someone else's stories, and it's not true effort." To which I will always, ALWAYS reply "If you've never written fanfiction, you have no idea just how hard it is, or how much talent and passion it takes. Fandoms are the single most critical audiences on the planet, period. I don't care how non-canonical your story is, if you don't capture the voice that they've attributed to those stories, if you fuck it up, they will LET YOU KNOW, with a quickness. Fanfiction is arduous, and most definitely a labor of love."  

So, fanfiction writers/authors WELCOME TO MY FAMILY. I'll take you under my umbrella any day. 

I have no idea why some writers feel as if they are the bee's knees, and others are scum, but I'm here to tell you, there is room enough for all of us - and if one of us makes it, all of us make it. I do not, never have, and never will see another writer/author as competition. Not because they are less than me, but because we are all so different, that there is simply no comparison.  

Learn from each other, support each other, build friendships, tribes, families with your fellow writers, and never look down your nose at someone who writes differently than you. At the end of the day, all that matters is that they DO write. Don't be an asshole, it's unbecoming. 

So, I don't care what you write, just keep at it. And remember, even if you only write a shopping list but dream of writing that great novel, it's in there, don't give up. YOU ARE A WRITER. Period. 

Hi there!

Welcome to my little slice of, well I'd say paradise, but if you know an Author, or well an Artist of any kind really, you know we're all sprinkled with a touch of insanity, and partying with our demons. So, welcome to the Thunderdome! Pull up a chair under the Willow tree, and wander along with me as I chase my dreams - and I promise to support you while you chase yours.