Today I continue the commentary I began yesterday, exploring the author behaviors that you should and should not do in your everyday life.

Remember that every action you take as an author is a reflection of you, the businessperson. It is a measure of your character, your integrity and your reputation.

Today I’m looking at Newsletters, Caveat Amplexus, Giveaways and Promotions, and that One Important Thing.

So now, let’s finish off the bakers dozen of 13 Author Do’s and Don’ts in Everyday Dealings.

PART II 

NEWLETTERS

1. Are you one to send out a newsletter? I confess I started one and I have been uneven about using it. But I discovered several other authors have them and you know how they get subscribers? They steal them. Yes, by signing people up when they don’t ask for it. So here it is, DON’T sign people up to your newsletter without their permission/knowledge. EVER. That is rude. It assumes more than I can put into words. Such an act makes me furious. Not only will I immediately unsubscribe from you but also I probably won’t buy your books on principle either. DO ask people to sign up for your newsletter at signings and through your blog or website. DON’T sign people up to your newsletter if they simply comment on a post or buy your book. DO ask people who buy your book if they would like to sign up for your newsletter. See what is happening here? DON’T ASSUME people want to be in contact with you simply because they liked something you wrote, a Facebook post or because they downloaded your eBook. Bad business folks. I have badmouthed several authors for doing it. Puts a very bad taste in my mouth when I am signed up for things that I did not agree to. How about you?
2. Now I’m going to tell you to do as I say and not as I have done, here. If you have a newsletter, DO use it. I’ve been bad about that. I’m about to change my ways. DON’T keep people waiting on word from you. Once you have clients signed up, DO give them something to appreciate you and stay engaged in. DON’T be like me, or, as I was.

CAVEAT AMPLEXUS – Beware the (free) embrace

1. Caveat Amplexus, or beware of the embrace, is what I use to warn people away from “freebies.” This is a tougher one to explain. When you have friends who know you write books, friends who work in various places that might be of a benefit to you, it is sometimes tempting to want to “lean” on them. In other words, you want to embrace your friends with warmth in the hopes that they will offer you freebies. DON’T expect your friends, because they are your friends, to give you what you would expect strangers to pay for. Example: You have a friend who has a friend who oversees a venue that would be a great place for a book signing or a launch party. So you decide to hint that it would be great to do but you wish you could afford it. This is pulling on your friend’s affections to see if they can come through for you. Now you begin negotiating for a freebie. Suddenly that friendship without strings now has them. The friendship seems used. DON’T do this to your friends. DON’T ever expect to get something for free that strangers would have to pay for. If you should be offered a deal that’s wonderful! By all means, take it. But again DON’T ASSUME and put your friends in awkward positions. Don’t make your friends whisper “Caveat Amplexus!”
2. The other side of that coin works, too. Never expect less from your contacts than you do from perfect strangers. DON’T let your contacts work you in ways that you wouldn’t accept from people you don’t know. I understand that we want to do for others but if you are guilty of buying acceptance or selling yourself just make friends (or sell books) then you lose yourself and your professional self takes a huge hit. DO keep professional standards at all times, especially with your personal contacts and friends. You want to keep their respect once earned. DON’T ever cheapen it.

GIVEAWAYS AND PROMOTIONS

1. Love contests and giveaways, don’t you? DO have them. They expand your readership and winners help you spread the word on your work. Want to know what frosts me? When I win a contest and it takes weeks to get my prize. I don’t enter so many raffles or giveaways that I don’t know what I’m getting. Rule of thumb, advertise when you will announce winners and when the winners’ books (or gifts) will be mailed. DO keep your word. I know when I win I start figuring out when I will get my goodies. I won a contest once and after sending several requests for mail out dates, I finally got my gifts a month later. I was not impressed. DON’T take your winners’ patience or enthusiasm for granted. DO keep your word and DO mail out within 72 hours of winning. That is the longest you should wait before mail outs. In fact, you should already have your boxes or mailers ready to go, unsealed so you can sign the books before they go. And DO personalize whenever you can!

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

Finally, and perhaps most important of all things, DON’T lie. DO protect and build your professional self by expecting and maintaining the highest possible standard. Demand only the best out of your work, whether it is your writing, your book design, your phone calls, your newsletters, your face-to-face contacts. DON’T drop your standards for anyone. Ever. That means the truth is your guide and your word is your reputation. Once you lie and you break trust, you may never get it back again. Be the standard. Sadly I must say, DO expect and demand the same of others, even when they don’t want to give it. Never back down.

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With this baker’s dozen of unwritten, everyday rules for authors and writers, I think you will be well on your way to a sterling professional career, whatever path it takes! Good luck!

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ONE QUICK BIT OF NEWS:

COVER REVEAL FOR THE BOOK OF NOW COMING SOON!

Thanks for stopping by!
I remain yours between the lines,
Sherry

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****The following items will always appear to keep you posted on activities.*****

WIP (Works in Progress): –  Writer’s Workbook – Learning to Write Everyday – Beginners Volume

– first novel in the Evening Bower series, about vampires and other supernatural creatures
– fictional memoir – November 2016!
– four-part fairy story (part one complete)

On the Desk: (next reading): TBD

Off the Desk (book just finished): League of Dragons – Naomi Novik

Coming Soon:  Interview with new folks and more about upcoming projects. Plus meet my assistant (yes, you want details!)

Five months! I can’t believe it’s been that long since we sat down together. I do owe you another apology, and to make up for my absence, let me give you a quick overview of what happened while I was away. I’ve been busy being a writer!

October 26 – I had the pleasure of being on The Ron Shaw Radio Show, a part of Artists First Network. He is a retired police captain, and a prolific author and poet. As a radio host, his show is broadcast to an international audience and I was thrilled to be among truly august company. That hour-long interview is archived for your pleasure if you’re interested. Just scroll down to listen.

I also have new branding! The marvelous Marisa-rose Shor of Cover Me Darling worked up a branding package for me complete with new logos!  Here’s a sample:

 November – National Novel Writing Month kept me very busy. I was the Municipal Liaison for the Charlotte, NC Region and though I didn’t travel as much this year as I did last year, I was writing my own work (a challenge of 50K words in one month) plus tried to work with plenty of other writers. I enjoy meeting so many new, inspired folks but whew! And of course, there were the holidays too, and that’s always a busy time for everyone.

December brought more parties and visits and the writing never stopped. I felt as though I was working on a dozen projects. I confess to an extreme sense of chaos.

January – I started the dreaded task of editing last year’s WIP, and something weird happened. I began hemorrhaging poetry. I mean it wouldn’t stop! I hadn’t been this inspired in years. The poems bleed everywhere all over the house, every day, without warning. I was doing one a day, sometimes up to three or four. And I’m not talking about little four liners either! More on this coming.

Also in January I was privileged to sit on a literary panel at a local library. Another author, two publishers and I fielded questions on “things you need to know about self-publishing” and it was great meeting so many local writers and would-be authors.

February – Still bleeding poetry, editing, and I prepared for and went to the author signing, Book ‘Em Book Fair and Writer Converence in Lumberton NC. While there I sold quite a few books, and sat on one panel (another about Self-Publishing) and moderated another. I had a blast.

March –  I was honored to be featured twice with Focus on Women Magazine’s radio show, La Femme de Prose ( part of BlogTalk Radio) where I discussed my books Midnight Assassin and Paper Bones. Those broadcasts are archived and available if you’d like to catch up:  Miracles and Poems Episode (at halfway mark for me) and Community Love and Poetry (halfway mark about Paper Bones).

April – and here we are. This is National Poetry Month and the poetry that I started bleeding in January has finally slowed and nearly stopped. Because of so much of it, and as I mentioned on the La Femme broadcast, I decided to publish a new book of poetry. This one will be along the lines of Paper Bones, but more raw, more current, and I won’t be pulling any punches. The will cover current events and issues with brutal honesty. July 2016 is the current expected release date.

Sign up for my newsletter to read upcoming sneak peeks and get your chance at an early – perhaps free! – copy! PLUS, be prepared for a sneak peek of a new, upcoming fiction for this year!

So what else is going to happen now that I’m back? Well next week I will have a guest blogger for Princess Week! And I’ll be back to talk to you about writing, of course. Additionally, I’m updating the conference lists because next year I will be traveling. Maybe we’ll see each other, stay tuned.

Finally, National Poetry Month is half over but you still have time to dive into some delicious works by your favorite bard. Don’t have a favorite? Then explore. The poetic world is vast and you are sure to find a style to suit you. Ogden Nash? ee cummings? Perhaps a bit of Billy Shakespeare? I leave it to you.

Until next time, I remain,
Yours Between the Lines,
Sherry

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****The following items will always appear to keep you posted on activities.*****

WIP (Works in Progress): 
– first novel in the Evening Bower series, about vampires and other supernatural creatures
– fictional memoir
– four-part fairy story (part one complete)

On the Desk: (next reading): Soulless by Gail Carriger (#1 in a series)

Off the Desk (book just finished): Burned (Alex Verus #7) by Benedict Jacka

Coming Soon:  Poetry Smoetry! Why should I bother? plus some award news!
And More Guest Bloggers