Back To You

Hey.

I know it’s been a while. I hope you still remember my name.

I’ve been a terrible blogger for the last few years. It’s been challenging to find time to write my novels, market my novels, teach others how to do that via YouTube and social media, and spend time with my family. Blogging had to be left behind.

But blogging poems and blogging about writing are how I got pulled away from journalism and onto this career path back in 2007. I started this blog as “Where the Butterflies Go,” you all commented on my poetry, encouraged me to turn the posts into a book, and … […]<<< a whole lot of stuff happened! and here I am today, a published author, with four novels, five poetry books, a screenplay book and a kids’ book of poems under her belt. I never could have imagined I’d still be doing this more than a decade later.

I don’t think I’d be here if I hadn’t started that blog and had such great feedback from you readers. Thank you.

I miss that interaction, don’t you? Social media certainly makes it easier to comment (no logging in…I’ll see what I can do about that btw) but you don’t always have the same “clan” coming back. I miss my bloggyland tribe.

I’ve learned so much since my first novel was published. Here are a few of those lessons:

1) Take risks. If you don’t risk, you don’t grow. I know it’s scary, especially for so many of us introverted artist types (surprise, yes, I’m in fact an introvert who had to come out of her shell through drama as a teenager when she realized that’s how artists grow). I have had such an interesting life because of a few brave moments.

2) You have to put yourself out there as an author. No one else, not even your publicist, knows your product like you do. You have to go to the book signings and the speaking engagements, tweet about stuff that really matters to you, and risk looking like a fool (see #1) if you want the right readers to find you. In time, many of those readers will become your friends. Cool right? It’s not all about making money…but…

3) You have to spend money to make money. I didn’t like this one very much. You mean you have to spend money to advertise that your heart and soul of a book is FREE for a few days? Yes, you do. You don’t have to do that until the end of time. Just until you gain a reader base. It sounds wrong, but it’s right. I didn’t start making a profit as an author until I started spending money directing traffic to my books.

4) Give back. I feel this one strongly. I like to encourage and teach aspiring authors, because I remember how maddening it can be to feel like you’re getting absolutely nowhere. I still have those days, trust me, but that’s because I’m trying new things every day (audiobooks, TV deals) so I’m still learning what works and what doesn’t work. There are tens of thousands of new authors out there who are struggling to find their audience in this ever-changing book industry. I just want to encourage them before they decide to call it quits. Speaking of calling it quits…

5) Don’t quit. Success if probably just around the corner, or at least the corner after that. Keep on going, dreaming, risking, believing. Don’t put a second mortgage on your home, mind you, please be smart about it, but do everything you can to get your book seen. You have to keep on going, especially if you have a strong “knowing” about it. If you know it’s supposed to be, it will be. It’s just a matter of time.

I’m so happy to be back. I’ll try to do this weekly!

Heather 🙂

 

Interview with Author Kelly Charron

I’m pleased to reintroduce my Interview with a Poet/Author Series for 2018-2019 with an interview with a very special Canadian guest: psychological thriller and urban fantasy author Kelly Charron.

Kelly Charron is the author of YA and adult psychological thrillers and urban fantasy novels. All of her novels have gritty, murderous inclinations and moderate amounts of humor. She spends far too much time consuming true crime television (and chocolate) while trying to decide if yes, it was the husband, with the wrench, in the library. Kelly has degrees in English Literature and Social Work. She has worked as a hairstylist, youth outreach worker and education assistant. She lives with her husband and cat, Moo Moo, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

You write both urban fantasy and psychological thrillers. How did you get into those genres and why do you like them?

It was a natural progression for me actually. I think authors write what they’re interested in and what naturally appeals to them. I’ve always been drawn to dark subjects that deal a lot with the human condition and psychology. I love exploring what motivates people and how they react under pressure and danger. Since I can remember I have watched and read thrillers, horror and suspense. I love unraveling mysteries.

The first book I wrote was a YA urban fantasy, but even though it wasn’t a thriller, it had a lot of darkness, secrets and death. The psychological thrillers I’ve written allow me to delve even farther into these areas, but I have a lot of fun switching between genres. I think doing so allows me to rest my imagination for that genre and I’m stronger with more inspired ideas when I come back to it.

We have being Canadian authors in common. What are some of your favourite things about Canada?

We do! What don’t I love? I’ve traveled a bit and always want to come home. Canada is such a beautiful and accepting country. The people really care about one another and I think we have a great sense of humor. Look at all the incredible comics and comedic actors that come from here. I live in British Columbia and it’s so stunning. The mountains, water, and forests are remarkable. You can literally go snowboarding and skiing in May and then wear shorts and a t-shirt to hike.

Do you think it’s harder or easier to be a novelist today than say, 20 years ago,
and why? What are some pros, and some of the cons?

Tricky question. I think it’s easier now in terms of getting your novels in front of readers. In the past, you had to get past the gatekeepers of literary agent, editor and ultimately the publishing house. Besides what was referred to as vanity presses, there weren’t other ways to see your book out in the world. Self-publishing has obviously changed the game entirely and while there are many perks that go along with that, there are some down sides. I’d say there’s a mixture in the quality of books out there now because of the lack of said gatekeepers. Some self-published works go out without editing, proof reading or revisions, however I’d say that overall, the people who are willing to sit down and complete a full manuscript are dedicated and want to make sure the book they put out is to the best of their ability.

Another downside of this is that discoverability is harder than ever. Over 1.5 million books were published in 2017 alone. That is in addition to all the other books that already exist, so you can imagine how difficult it can be to have people find your novels. Overall, I wouldn’t change it though, because it allows all authors to have a voice. My goal is to be a hybrid author, with both self-published and traditionally published novels, that way is the best of both worlds.
What’s your most recent book about and why do you think people should pick it up?

Kelly: My most recent novel is titled, WICKED FALLOUT. It follows a woman named Ryann who has been in prison for twelve years for killing multiple people when she was fifteen. After she has exhausted all of her appeals and believes she’ll die in prison, new evidence comes to light and her case gets new life under a prestigious legal team who enlist the help of a forensic psychiatrist. Dr. Clafin had the arduous task to evaluate Ryann to help determine if she should be set free or remain behind bars forever.

People should pick this book up because it is so much fun! It’s a true psychological suspense that has so many twists and turns that you won’t know what to think from chapter to chapter. Reviewers have likened the cat and mouse game between my main characters to the one between Dr. Lector and Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs films.

That sounds so cool and like something I wouldn’t be able to put down. I’m picking it up for my August TBR list! What are your hobbies besides writing?

I love hiking in the woods all around the Lower Mainland. I read as much as possible and love to paint, though I barely do because I always tell myself I should be writing. Does being addicted to Netflix count as a hobby?

Yes! It does, because I’m right there with you! If you could go anywhere and do anything, what would your ideal day be?

Easy! I would hop on a plane and fly to Salem, MA on Halloween day to tour the city. So much of my fantasy novels (because they are filled with magic and witches) are centered around Salem and Danvers. I would walk everywhere, hang out in the old cemeteries and shop in the all the stores for creepy antiques and then watch everyone dressed up in their costumes and eat too much candy.

Thank you so much for the great interview! This was so much fun.

Anytime, Kelly! Let’s tell everyone a bit more about your recent releases:

PRETTY WICKED

A small Colorado town. An opportunity for murder.

Ryann has been raised in a strict house by her perfectionist detective father and docile mother. She plays by the rules, doing what her parents ask, getting straight As, cheering at Friday night football games, and is the voice of reason for her eclectic group of friends.

But she’s done following the rules.

Ryann’s been a good girl for far too long. She’s suppressed her dark longings to make everyone else happy.

It’s time to make herself happy—to become the person she’s always wanted to be. Unfortunately, that means a few people are going to have to die.

Her sequel, which can be read as a standalone or as part of the Wicked series, WICKED FALLOUT picks up with the main character, Ryann Wilkanson, twelve years later.

WICKED FALLOUT

A killer’s last chance at freedom. A psychiatrist’s final decision.

Convicted of six murders when she was just fifteen, the notorious Ryann Wilkanson hasn’t been able to act on her darkest, deadliest urges for twelve years. She’s exhausted her appeals and has little hope of ever getting out of prison and back to hunting.

Until a media-hungry legal team mounts a campaign to do the impossible—get her immediately released with a commuted sentence.

Forensic psychiatrist Nancy Clafin has mere weeks to evaluate Ryann’s current mental state against her grisly past to determine if she’s changed. But under the shadow of her own questionable history, it’s not easy to separate her personal life from her professional duty.

At least that’s what Ryann is counting on.

Behind the cold steel doors of a Colorado maximum-security prison, will Nancy find a cold-blooded killer or a newly redeemed woman determined to right her past wrongs?

Connect with Kelly:

Website: http://kellycharron.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyMCharron

Facebook: https://goo.gl/UNkH3g

Goodreads: https://goo.gl/rf4NlM

Pretty Wicked https://goo.gl/EP2GQ8

Wicked Fallout  https://t.co/M8QBtxyhME

 

 

Writers write, and market their butts off.

The expression “writers write,” is an old one, and I think it’s time that we did away with it.

Sure, writers have to write something every day if they’re ever going to get their first novel finished. However, if they want to succeed in the 21st century, they’re also going to have to market their work every day, take courses to improve their craft and marketing skills, network with other professional writers, and interact with their readers.

Sound like work? It is. “But I just want to write,” you say. So did I, five years ago.

In 2012, I worked as a freelance writer and editor for national magazines. I penned my poetry collections in the early mornings, before I got to work on paid writing contracts. I had already self-published two collections by 2012. A traditional publisher accepted my manuscript for Carry On Dancing, and I thought I was set for life. Okay, not for life, but I was traditionally published! I was going to start making a profit on my writing, after years of submitting work and being rejected! I was going to be sent on wondrous reading tours around Canada and maybe even the US. Because: I was published!

Yeah, right.

Now, to be fair, my publisher was awesome and worked hard. Those dreams didn’t happen for me right away, because I didn’t yet understand the amount of work (and advertising dollars) that goes into being a profitable author.

I spent hours a day trying to get my name out there, as did my publisher. I toured a few cities in Ontario, using profits from my freelance editing and writing jobs, and some grants I earned from The League of Canadian Poets and The Writers Union of Canada (TWUC). I blogged and Facebooked my way into a fan base of about 200 regular readers. For all this, I earned about $60 in royalties three months after the book’s launch. I was pleased with this, because I was still holding down other writing and editing jobs, and making some wine and shoe money with my poetry. I even started selling the one-time reprint and audio rights of my poems to internationally-distributed textbooks.

Fast forward to 2014, when a publisher accepted my manuscript for Strangely, Incredibly Good.  The publisher was fantastic, and worked hard alongside me to publicize the book. The greatest lesson for me that year was that I lost some time and money marketing the book to Chapters-Indigo stores in Quebec and Ontario. I was published, but I wasn’t “she’s a big name,” “she’s going to sell like hot cakes” published, so the stores didn’t put my book on their shelves, only took my books by consignment, and took 45 % of the profit. I had a wonderful time meeting and greeting with readers, at a loss of about 0.50 a book. I was fully aware of that loss. I decided it would come out of my paid contract work. In my mind, my fiction writing was still a hobby, and I was getting my name out there with these appearances. It felt a little counter-productive sometimes, but I kept reminding myself that as long as I was having fun, I should keep on going.

Persistence paid off. By 2015, the year I decided to self-publish Remarkably Great, the sequel to Strangely, Incredibly Good, I wasn’t taking a loss with my appearances anymore, and my local Chapters actually offered to put several of my books on their shelves. I started seeing more money from my fiction trickle in, but certainly not what I’d call a living. I told the students I spoke to at my alma mater, Queen’s University: “Writing can’t always make you a great living, but it can make you a great life.” I was enjoying the life my writing had made – never a dull moment – and I kept at it for the sheer joy of the craft.

Author Heather Grace Stewart, right, with Queen’s University students after speaking at their Journalism Conference

My background should demonstrate how many years of zero profit or even a loss you may have to endure before you start making money with your fiction writing. The J.K. Rowling stories are rare. They exist, and I don’t want to dissuade you from reaching for the stars, but they are certainly not the norm.

In early 2016, after much contemplation and research, I made a few changes to how I was selling my work. I took back all the rights to all my work, so that I was the sole publisher. I wanted control of all my work and its marketing, and I wanted to organize my accounting in one place, not several.

Once I had the rights back, I was able to control everything from pricing to discount sales to advertising. I was also finally able to put my first novel in the Kindle Unlimited Library along with Remarkably Great and my new novel, The Ticket. 

Kindle Unlimited, used properly, is one of the best author tools since the typewriter.  I started making a steady profit by early February 2016. I remember pretty much freaking out that I was now making $60.00 a month on Kindle sales alone, because I had been making $60 every three months. I wrote a blog Keep Your Day Job (But keep the faith)   about how I was finally able to use my Kindle royalties – money earned from fiction alone – to buy my daughter a pair of skates.

Over a year later, I’m thrilled to say I could buy everyone in my daughter’s class skates every month with my ebook royalties, and then some. My monthly profits fluctuate, of course, and I haven’t begun to tabulate this year’s paperback profits, so I can’t tell you what I’ll be making this year, but it’s not just shoe money. It’s enough money to not have to think about finding freelance magazine writing contracts each month, or selling my poems to textbook companies to help pay the bills. (Although I still love to do those things).

What did I do differently? I took charge of my creations and my career by becoming an independent author. I kept writing every morning – because yes, writers do write. Then I started spending my afternoons investing in my writing career. I started a mailing list, improved my website, hired a designer for my book covers, and started advertising all of my novels – consistently, in places where readers always hang out. I also began doing more video appearances on my Facebook Author Page and tweeting on a more regular basis, with a more consistent approach.

In December 2016, I took a fantastic course called the Self Publishing Formula by Mark Dawson, and it changed the way I looked at my fiction writing. I had to stop thinking of it as a hobby if I wanted to make good money. It’s a business – a hard one to succeed in – but a business.

It took sixteen years of sending my work to publishers and agents, telling myself fiction couldn’t actually make me much money, before I drastically changed the way I approach my writing “hobby.” Now I’m finally making a daily profit with my fiction writing.

It’s 9:36 a.m. and I haven’t started writing for the day yet. I’ve been marketing my butt off since 7:30 a.m, and trying to help and encourage emerging authors with this blog post.

Because that’s what profitable writers do.

So, You Want to Be An Author?

Here’s my Thursday Q&A video that I did on my Facebook Author Page today. I’ll be offering up these vidcasts every Thursday at 3 p.m. for a half hour for the next few weeks. I’ll try to remind you that morning via Facebook or here. Thanks for tuning in when you can! We had lots of fun today.

Heather 🙂

Remarkably FREE!

Hey readers, how are things? I’ve been so busy this summer, both playing hard and working hard, and being kept busy with the August 1st release of Remarkably Great. My third novel, The Ticket, will hopefully be out in a few months – more on that later.

Excellent news: Strangely, Incredibly Good is ‪strangely, incredibly cheap today, but reductions like this happen once in a blue moon, so grab your $2.99 copy NOW, and then grab the FREE sequel ‪Remarkably Great but ONLY UNTIL August 26th!

Oh, and a #sigfie #selfie  with SIG or RG would be most appreciated – even if you’re holding up your Kindle! I’d love it! Just tweet or FB post them! Can’t wait!