Six Things To Take To Your Book Signing

One of the neatest aspects of being an author is the opportunity to personally meet the people who are going to read your babies. Receiving reviews is wonderful, but shaking the hand of a fan, looking into their eyes, and connecting on a human level cannot be matched with the two-dimensionality of the written review.  A hundred times over I will pick the gushing, starry-eyed teen over a glowing written review any day of the week.

But, I digress.

This post is timely for me (and I hope for you) because I am enjoying more and more author signing events.  Believe me, this is a list I have developed from face plants I experienced due to my own short-sightedness.  As always, this is not the definitive word on the subject, this is just the junk that works for me.  Onward.

THINGS TO BRING TO YOUR BOOK SIGNING

1. The book you are signing.  And no, I don't want to talk about it.  Just. Bring. The. Book. 
2. Bookmarks you had made for the book.  The correct ones, ahem.  It's a nice touch to tuck one in the just signed and sold opus.  Plus, it WILL have your email address, your blog site, and your facebook URL so your starstruck fan who cannot live until they read every living word you have published can find you and salivate on your public pages. BTW: It WILL means if it doesn't, you should be redesigning them right now.  (Psst....I use nextdayflyer.com)                                                                                                                              
3. Change.  Not of clothing, of the money kind.  I make sure I have change for $100, because people actually still use paper money.  If you are cool enough to have one of those plug-thingies that lets your buyer swipe a card, I wanna be you when I grow up.  I don't have one.  I am not cool. Yet.
   
4. 4.  A thin-point magic-marker in the mood color of the day.  And this is more important than you know.  If the marker is too thick, it will bleed through the page; too thin, and your signature will look weak.  I like the Sharpie Retractable marker in different colors.  It stays fresh even when the cap is off.  So uncool to have to ask your fan if they have a pen.  Not saying it happened.  Just sayin'.
   
5. An assistant.  I can't stress this enough.  You are far to busy signing books and kissing babies to mess with the cash.  For me, I love when my Mum comes and does this.  I give her a cute little cash box, her stash of extra cash for change, and her own Sharpie.  She loves doing it and I love her being with me, for any reason really.  Plus, by removing yourself from the vulgarity of the transaction, you get to remain the aloof and generous-with-her-time famous author.  Or, in your head you do. Uncool, maybe, but still an awesome feeling.
6. Bottles of water.  Seriously, do you have any idea how much talking you will be doing?  After my last signing, I wouldn't have been able to lick an envelope to save my soul.

Lastly, you want to bring your best asset...your beaming smile. After all, why shouldn't you be smiling?  If you are at your own book signing, you are living the dream, baby.  Smile till your face hurts...you deserve it.

Introducing my friend....Elaine Cantrell

My good friend and fellow author at Astraea Press has a new book coming out and I want to give her book launch a great send-off.  So, I am highlighting her here and asking you to give her book a look-see.  Thanks for supporting another indie author!

The Enchanted

By Elaine Cantrell

Blurb:

Forced by his father into a marriage he didn’t want, Prince Alan soon finds that his bride isn’t the sweet, submissive creature he expected. Morgane has the heart of a dragon and beauty beyond compare, but she isn’t thrilled about the marriage either. When black treachery threatens the kingdom, Morgane and Alan embark on a perilous journey that has an excellent chance of ending in failure and death for them and all their people.

Excerpt:

Morgane advanced on her enemy with deadly purpose.

"No!" Alan roared. "She has a knife."

Morgane tried to retreat, but it was too late. Aili's knife caught her in her thigh. Blood spurted as if from a fountain. Renweard was closer to her than Alan. His sword rose. Aili breathed her last as Morgane swayed and slipped to the floor.

Alan ran across the room and cradled her in his arms. In seconds he was coated with blood. "ʺWe must stop the bleeding!" he cried. "Where are the healers?"

ʺI will find one." Renweard left the room at a run with King Bowdyn right behind him.

Morgane's eyes fluttered open. "Your arms around me. No heaven can compare.ʺ

Alan pressed a kiss to her hair. "I love you, my brave Morgane."

Morgane sighed. "I could not let you face this battle alone.ʺ

Author’s Note:

After spending most of the last ten years writing contemporary romance, I decided it was time for a change. So in the spring of 2012 I wrote my first romantic fantasy, The Enchanted. Several challenges immediately presented themselves. First, I knew that I didn't want the fantasy to overpower the romance which meant I'd have to balance my world building details with the romantic elements.

Challenge two was finding characters who'd fit into my newly created world. I didn't want plastic, stereotypical characters. I wanted real people with warts and human imperfections, people whose lives and problems would draw you in and make you care about them.

My third challenge was to craft a plot that included fantasy elements, yet at the same time allowed my characters to be in charge of their own destiny and in the process grow and change.

I'm pleased with the way it turned out. I enjoyed the experience so much I have another fantasy/sci fi romance in the wings waiting for December and its turn at publication. Given my new love affair with fantasy romance, will I write contemporary romance again? I sure will. I'm working on one right now, and I just love it. It will be my first full length romantic comedy.

Author Links:

http://www.elainecantrell.com

http://www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/elainecantrell

http://www.facebook.com/elainepcantrell

The Enchanted is sold at most online retail outlets.

Reviews:

A sweet story, easy read, fairytale/fantasy/romance 5 stars. 
                                                   Teresa Cypher on Amazon

A wonderful story that has swept into my heart. I will be remembering this one for a long time and reading it again.
                                                   Tifferz Book Reviews on Goodreads

Ten Things You SHOULD Do To Promote Your New Book; (and one you should at least consider)

I was inspired to write this particular blog based on a desperate post I noticed in my news feed.  In it, a person is asking for help for a book that is about to come out, because they have no idea what to do.  I can answer that.  I know that there are several ways to "launch" or promote your new book, some I am likely NOT EVEN AWARE OF, but I am just telling you what I do.  The ideas are certainly not new, but they have worked for me.

1.
As soon as my editing is completed, I start sprinkling little teasers on my facebook page, and,
already connected, my twitter and LinkedIn accounts.  If you don't know what any of those are,
for God's sake, Google them!
I start with an action- or tension-laced scene that might pique the reader's interest.  I post a short paragraph as an excerpt to give a hint about the plot, or to introduce the reader to the character. I do this in the weeks leading up to the release.

2.
Same with my cover.  When it is approved by the publisher, I release the cover again to my facebook, my Twitter and my LinkedIn.  I also pin the covers to Pinterest and add the information on my google account.

3.
As soon as the ARC (Advance Reader's Copy) is ready from my publisher , I start contacting reviewers.  Since I have published nine times, I have a huge list of reviewers who I know enjoy the genres I write.  Additionally, my publishers also send copies out to reviewers on their lists.  If I do it right, I should be receiving reviews before the book is even released.

4.
I organize a book launch party with giveaways on my facebook page.  The giveaway is important because Facebook is so drenched with launch parties, I need to do something to make mine worth attending.  Random drawings every couple hours keep the interest up.

5.
I contact my Writer's Group (in my case, the CBW-LA) and they are always generous in their
announcements on my behalf. They will tout a new release or help me to get the word out about a book signing or author event I am attending.

6.
I email my friends, my followers, and my fans and tell them about my new release.  But, I caution that this email list is derived of people who have enjoyed my books in the past, previously provided their email address to me, or are related to me and therefore bound by blood to support me. I never do email blasts to people I don't know.  That may work with some, but I hate receiving them, so I think that maybe others do too.

7.
I am part of several Yahoo groups developed by my publishers where I announce release information.  Most of these chat groups run on a daily basis and as a working mom and author, I don't always have the time to stop in and idle away the time.  But I have amazing friends on there, and we have often agreed to cross-promote one another.  So look for authors in your same boat: new, with a new product to promote.

8.
I make an announcement on Goodreads, http://www.goodreads.com/ and perhaps even do a giveaway.  Now, at this point, Goodreads will only do a giveaway with a print book, but the site is
still critical for a new author.  I link all my blog posts there, and am always happy when commentors come to me from there.

9.

Regarding your blog (and I hope you have one!), I make sure to put the new release information, blurb, cover, and excerpt, on there as soon as available.  I include buy links when those are created.  And I make sure that there is an "opt-In" window where your followers can enter their email address.  Each time I get a new one, I add them to my email list for new releases.

10.
I write a blog post about my release and contact other blogs I know, of reviewers, authors, and even some editors, and ask them if I can schedule a release notice and spotlight.  Eight out of ten times, the blog owner is happy to accommodate and I always offer to return the favor when they have a new release coming.

I hope these help you a little bit.  I learned them over time, and with the help of many amazing new friendships developed on social media.  So, don't forget #11:  Ask Your Author Friends! (hint: I'm one of them!)

Six Reasons I Write Indie

As a member of a writer's group here in my local area, I have been lucky enough to be asked to speak at events, and recently, I have also had the good fortune of doing some book signings. As my writer's group, the CBW-LA, is comprised mostly of aspiring writers, many of the Q and A sessions, as well as workshops I conduct, have been about my writing journey and my process.  The single most asked question has been why I have chosen to be an indie writer.

Of course, there are many reasons why, but for the purposes of this post, I have condensed them down to six reasons.

1. I can publish more often
2. My books are available very shortly after the editing process completes
3. I have creative control over my title and cover artwork
4. I receive comprehensive sales statements
5. I am involved in making the book available to reviewers
6. I, the author, receive the largest chunk of the profits of my labor.

1.  I can publish more often.  

If I were with a traditional publisher, I could expect for my book to be released between 18 months to two years after being contracted.  As an indie author, my publisher is able to release my book between three to six months after contract. This does not mean to say it is just flung into the atmosphere with little to no editing.  Au contrere, mon frer.  My books at all three publishers have gone through a thorough editing process, including a line edit, a content edit, a grammatical edit and a final edit for flow.  Normally, there are between six and ten versions before we feel we have gotten it right.  And all during this time, I am writing another.  And submitting it.  And getting ready for the process all over again.  One year, I had four books release.

2.  My books are available shortly after the editing process.Once the editing is complete, my indie publisher gives the book a final once-over.  I am usually on a release schedule at this point and we, my editor and I, are jointly working toward that same deadline.  Once we meet deadline, it's is normally only a matter of days, and never more than a couple weeks before my book becomes available to the public.

3.  I have creative control over my title and cover artwork.

During editing, I complete a cover art worksheet.  I am able to express my ideas for the cover, give my vision and help in the design.  The cover is submitted to BOTH me and the publisher for approval.  If I don't like it, we change it.  Titles are the same.  I have never had a title I created changed.  I happen to like all my titles, but if one was ever questioned by one of my publishers, I am sure we would discuss it together.  Fun fact: Did you know Twilight was originally called Forks by the author? In this case, I think the change was probably a good one.

4.  I receive comprehensive sales statements.

Each month I receive my royalties via Paypal. Along with those, I receive statements which indicate where every title was purchased.  This is invaluable information for my marketing.  By knowing in which venue I have the strongest showing, I can concentrate my precious few marketing dollars where they will have the most impact to my sales.

5.  I am involved in making the book available to reviewers.

My publishers have a gigantic list of reviewers to whom they send every single title I write for them.  However, I am also provided with a number of watermarked copies to use of my own.  I can send these titles to reviewers, or use them as gifts in giveaways in which I am involved.  And by choosing some of my own reviewer sites, I am again retaining the kind of control I could not enjoy with a traditional publisher.  I can target sites that cater to my specific genre, and therefore reach my book's target demographic.

6.  I, the author, receive the largest chunk of the profits of my labor.

This is perhaps the single most important reason I publish indie.  In most cases, I get 40% of my sales, and in some instances, 50%.  There is no traditional publisher in business today that can give me that much profit.  By targeting my marketing, as I am able to do because I have my sales statements, I can also drive my buyers to the sites that allow me the most bang for my buck.

I am not saying that this is what I will always do.  I am saying that for me, for right now, this is the best business model for my independent contracting business.  It might be best for you, too. Happy publishing!

Queries and Loglines and Blurbs, Oh My! - Series Part Five: Do's and Don'ts of the Query

For the final installment on this series, I want to make the information as simple as possible.  So, I have compiled my personal list of Do's and Don'ts for writing a query.  As always, the disclaimer here is that these are the ones that have worked for me.  There are no doubt, many others and you may find one or more that becomes part of your personal list.  There is no right or wrong answer.

I hope this series has been informative and helped you along your journey to publication.  And please, let me know!

Do's and Don'ts of the Query Letter

1. DO skip rhetorical questions.  No "What if?"s
2. DON'T name too many characters.  Name the main one, and allude to the others.
3. DON'T describe your book as a theme (about peace and love, etc.)
4. DON'T clutter the query.
5. DON'T tell the whole story...leave 'em wanting more.
6. DO spell check, edit and revise.  This is nearly more important than the actual book!
7. DON'T mention other manuscripts.  This one should be your baby.
8. DON'T grovel, beg, or plead.
9. DO research the agent you are querying to see if they rep your genre.
10. DO mention something personal to connect you to this particular agent.  Did you meet?  Go to the same college?
11. DO spell the agent's name correctly.  And get their gender correct, as well.
12. DO remember to state the title of your book.
13. DO mention the word count and genre of your book.
14. DO advise why you are approaching this particular agent.
15. DO be professional and respectful.
16. DO have many, many people read the query before you send it out.

Best of luck in your journey to publication.  There is room on the shelves for ALL OF US!

Queries and Loglines and Blurbs, Oh My! - Series Part Four: What the Heck is a Logline, Anyway?

The first time I went to a writer's conference, my head literally swum with all the buzz words being bandied about.  At the time, my first book, Spellbound, was a much-handled manuscript, and two others were as well.  It wasn't even a series book yet, a single standalone title.  (See how much I didn't know back then?).

Anyway, I sat in on different workshops and found myself writing down all these words and catch phrases to look up later.  Two I heard often, after I'd figured out "Query", was loglines and taglines.  Elevator pitch came up as well.  I nodded sagely every time I heard one, then rushed to a corner to google the damn thing.  Even then, I thought the two were interchangeable, called something different maybe by different areas, like an East Coast-West Coast thing.  So not the case.

So, in Part Four of this series, I want to dispel the rumors and misinformation.  They are not the same.  I know.  I was shocked too.  Then, embarrassed when I realized how many times I had misused the terms.  Here are the proper Webster definitions:

Tagline:   

Web definitions

A tagline is a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising.

Logline:

Web definitions

The story in one active sentence, focusing on the concept, main character and main conflict. Ideally in 25 words or less..

My Take: Tagline:  You know how Amazon used to ask you to choose specific words to describe your books?  Well, your publisher will still do this.  These are the "tags" or words that will call up your book every time someone puts them in an internet search.  Words such as YA, paranormal, witch, first love, and supernatural are all tag words that describe my first novel, Spellbound.  And here's a HUGE tip: those tag words should appear in the description of your book in your query. See how everything is annoyingly related?  The good news is if you master one concept, you can master all. The tag words integrate into the logline, which becomes part of your query from which you develop your blurb. If you are new to the publishing industry, you will hastily learn that these processes are almost the only way a new novel from a new novelist, gets published for the first time.  If you have been in the industry for awhile, you now know that these things are a necessary evil.  Either way, you have to get your head around them. Practice explaining your book to yourself in the mirror.  What words are you punching?  What words are you missing?  Oftentimes, a compelling logline will actually appear on the very cover of your book.  That was the case with my latest, The Deadlies.  My logline:                   At Holly Hills Academy, being rich and pretty can be deadly. My publisher printed it right on the cover!  Man, I better love it and be passionate about it.  Happily, I am!  And the first line of my query AND blurb just expanded on the idea:                   When Calliope Flood catches the unwanted attention of the prettiest and most privileged girls at her new school, she learns they are possessed of more than just good ole’ Southern charm; they are also possessed by the demons of the Seven Deadly Sins.  From the tagline "rich and pretty" is echoed in the blurb with "prettiest and most privileged", and the deadly part is expanded upon with the idea of being possessed by the seven deadly sins. So, here are my steadfast rules for Loglines: Give the main character an epithet: vengeful divorcee, struggling aspiring writer, etc. Identify your main character's mission and what he stands to lose if he fails Brainstorm words and phrases that conjure up your personal idea of your book Pick 25-30 that sound the most compelling and right NOW, pick 5-8 of those that sound even better Fashion a tight, 25-word pitch.  THAT is your logline. Okay!  Now get loggin'!

Queries and Loglines and Blurbs, Oh My! - Series Part Three: Writer's Bio...Who Really Are You?

Your bio is the first time the agent you are querying is going to have a chance to know who you are.  Hopefully by now, they have a great idea of your voice, from reading your hook.  Now, you want to let them know about you.  What you have written, published, and where. How passionate you are about your craft and why you are the perfect person to tell the story you have written.

But, what if you haven't been published before. Do you write a bio at all?

Absolutely!

Tell the agent what you are doing to hone your writing chops.  Are you part of a writing or critique group?  Attended a writer's conference recently, maybe even one at which the agent himself spoke? And why are you so right for your story?  Is it a medical mystery and you are an emergency room nurse?  These are all important morsels that begins to give the agent you are querying a face to go along with your voice.  Your affiliations with groups and clubs also reinforces that writing is much more than a hobby for you.

If you have been published, tout your street cred!  All publications are important, including novels, magazine articles or pieces, newspaper pieces, and anything available on the internet.  Whatever is there for the agent to find in order to get a more developed sense of your writing style.

And finally, several author friends of mine, who are also multi-published, swear that by throwing in a personal tidbit, it makes their query stand out, among a sea of other queries.  I don't always do that, but I will admit to it at least once.  Above all, don't fabricate.  The publishing industry is incredibly incestuous and by that, I mean that everyone in the industry knows everyone else.  If you make something up, someone will know. And you would hate for that to be your potential agent-goddess.

Coming next:  What the Heck is a Logline, Anyway?

Queries and Loglines and Blurbs, Oh My! - Series Part Two: The Four Pieces of The Hook

For some, writing a query is akin to taking cough medicine.  You don't want to do it, but you have to, so you close your eyes and gag it down.  The most prolific writers all say the same thing.  Namely, that writing the book was tough, but the query was a killer.  I know that's true.  I have written nine queries and it never gets easier.  But, you do get better at it.  In my recent workshop, I gave away my own personal trade secrets for writing The Hook, the most critical part of your query, and the mini-synopsis.

My hook paragraphs always have the same four component:

• Motivation
• Conflict
• Plot
• Stakes

Motivation - Who is the protagonist and what is their goal? Introduce the protag and what their story is.  I do this one of three ways: either by giving the era and location (ex: Set in modern day New Hampshire -or- During the long, hot, summer of '65), setting up my main character (ex: Logan Daniels has always led a sheltered, predictable life in sleepy Lancaster, New Hampshire -or- High school as never been effortless for Juice Zander, and her sophomore year is no exception), or using a variation on the "when" formula, (ex: Following the death of his wife -or- While interviewing a drug-addicted celebrity)

Conflict - What is keeping the protagonist from achieving their goal? Introduce the big problem in your protag's life.  Make certain to keep the focus on the protag and only identify key secondary players by the way they relate to the protag (ex: the teen's mother -or- a reluctant ex-husband, etc.)

Plot - How will the protagonist overcome this problem? The conflict should segue nicely to the actual plot.  What's going to happen to your protag?  Don't exercise your vocabulary chops here; be tight, concise, and just lay out the highlighted plot points.  

Stakes - What happens if the protagonist fails and what choice(s) does the protagonist have the make to succeed?  Here is where you have to make the agent or the reader care.  If you don't do your job right, no one will care what happens to your protag.  But, by all means, leave the reader hanging, ever so slightly.  You absolutely want them to die if they don't find out what happens to your character.

Next up: Writing Your Bio...even if you've never been published!

Queries and Loglines and Blurbs, Oh My! Series Part One: What Exactly is a Query?

About two weeks ago, I taught a writer's workshop for my writing group, the Children's Book Writers of Los Angeles (CBW-LA) called Queries and Loglines and Blurbs, Oh My!  I promised I would reproduce as much of the two-hour interactive class here on the bloggy.  I invite you to follow along while I present the meat of the workshop in a series here on the bloggy with the same name.  The first part of the talk is about queries.

WHAT IS A QUERY?

A query is, very simply, a single page letter to an agent, an editor, a publisher, a magazine, etc., that introduces you and your book to the recipient.

There are many formulas that have worked: this is mine.


Break the query into four paragraphs:

• The Intro
• The Hook
• The Mini-Synopsis
• The Bio

In The Intro, you want to start with why you have chosen this particular agent/publisher/editor to query.  Is there a personal connection?  Same college?  Same town?  Have you read that he/she has asked for more middle grade/fantasy/techno-geek stories with animals and yours is exactly that?  Or have you met or heard them speak at a conference.  Make the first line as personal a connection as you can.

The Hook is harder.  You want to capture the agent's attention, not bore her to death with details.  Grab him from your first words by proving you are writing about something he has never seen before.  Some of the best hooks I have written and read are one simple line.  As an example, my most recent release is The Deadlies and this is the hook:  At Holly Hills Academy, being rich and pretty can be deadly. The Hook also very often becomes your logline, which also helps birth your pitch.  We'll go into both of those in an upcoming blog.

So, back to the mechanics of the query. With The Mini-Synopsis, you want to tell the main story arc of your novel about the main protagonist without giving away the farm.  Remember two key points here:  Agents love white space and brevity is key.  White space means don't have cluttered, crowded paragraphs.  And be as precise and tight as you can.  If you can say what you need in 20 words, you can do it in 10.  Focus on the journey of your main protag.  You may have an amazing subplot, but when it comes to the query, subplots need not apply.  Too many names, too many storylines, and you are too cluttered and clunky.  Sleek and succinct is the name of the game.  Edit, edit, edit, and trim the fat.  Make that agent not be able to LIVE if they don't get their hands on your manuscript.  Force that full request because you teased so convincingly.

Finally, The Bio is about you and one fact: why YOU are the perfect person to have written your story.  You don't even have to have street cred or anything published at this point.  If you aren't yet published, tell the agent about how you are committed to your passion.  Attending conferences?  Belong to a writer's or critique group?  This is where that information can help.

Finally, in your closing, two rules are steadfast.  ALWAYS thank the agent for their time, and ALWAYS mention that your completed manuscript is available on request.  This proves you have a fully-written book, and also that your Momma raised you right.  Both critically important to an agent and generally, in life.

Next blog will be about the components of The Hook.  Hope you come on back!

  

What to do When You are Pirated - Sample DMCA Take-Down Notice

Some author friends of mine joke that you know you have written a winning story when it begins to show up on the pirate site.  I don't laugh.  As of this writing, my debut award-winning YA -paranormal, SPELLBOUND, has been pirated over 14,000 times.  Really.  14,000 times.  That means that if my book sells for the bank-breaking price of $2.99, and I receive 40% of the net proceeds, then roughly $11,000 dollars has been stolen from me.

If you are an author, you have seen many posts and blogs and articles on what can be done.  The truth of the matter is that most of these pirate sites operate outside of the United States and therefore outside of any prosecutorial area.  Additionally, pirating books is not considered a serious crime.  Of course, when music was being pirated, musicians everywhere cried foul and succeeded in shutting down sites and getting teens and twenty-somethings arrested.  And whenever you view a movie rental, the FIRST screen is about the serious repercussions of copying it.  Whatever.  Don't EVEN get me started.

So, what can you do?  Admittedly, not much.  Sorry, it sucks, but it's true.  One thing that has worked reasonably well for me though, is the DMCA Notice.

A DMCA Notice is technically the Digital Millenium Copyright Act notice.  It is sent, either by snail or email, to the administrator of the site offering your material.  I have done it a number of times and been fairly successful.  Usually, my books (yes, plural...they've stolen them all) are removed from the site within 48 hours.  It won't cure the disease, but it will stop the flow of blood.

For your information, I am including one here.  This one is from an awesome site I frequent called EPIC, the Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition.  I highly recommend you go and visit here:  http://epicorg.com/

Sample DMCA Take Down Notice

Send a letter like the following to make your claim:

VIA eMail at ISPHosting[at]isp.com

Re: Copyright Claim

To the ISP Hosting Company:

I am the copyright owner of the eBooks being infringed at:

http://www.freeebooks.com/MyGreatNovel.htm

http://www.freeebooks.com/links.htm

This letter is official notification under the provisions of Section 512(c) of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA") to effect removal of the above-reported infringements. I request that you immediately issue a cancellation message as specified in RFC 1036 for the specified postings and prevent the infringer, who is identified by its Web address, from posting the infringing material to your servers in the future. Please be advised that law requires you, as a service provider, to "expeditiously remove or disable access to" the infringing material upon receiving this notice. Noncompliance may result in a loss of immunity for liability under the DMCA.

I have a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of here is not authorized by me, the copyright holder, or the law. The information provided here is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I swear under penalty of perjury that I am the copyright holder.

Please send me at the address noted below a prompt response indicating the actions you have taken to resolve this matter.

Sincerely,

/s/ Emily Dickinson

Email: hardworkingauthor[at]mybooks.com

After the ISP receives the notice, it should remove the infringing materials.

Infringements are much too common these days. Fortunately, there are tools to fight them. The DMCA takedown notice is one of the more powerful ones.

100 Hashtags All Writers Should Know

I may have a good idea how Facebook operates (until they change the rules) and I am fairly comfortable on most of the other social networking sites, but I have to admit, Twitter still has me by the shorty hairs.

First of all, asking a novelist to condense down to 140 characters can come as quite a shock to the newbie.  It may seem almost criminal.  After all, aren't we paid by the word, in a sense?  And hashtags?  What the hell are those?  But, now, having worked within the site for awhile now, I can see where there is tremendous value for the author, aspiring writer, anyone with a creative bent.

A brilliant author friend of mine posted this and I thought it was fab-u-lous.  Try some of the hashtags.  It was riveting reading.  And a brief postscript if you still doubt the necessity of this abbreviated social networking site:  the American Dialect Society just named "hashtag" as The Word for 2012.  So, check these out.  Courtesy of the Aerogramme Writer's Studio  http://aerogrammestudio.com/

100 Twitter Hashtags Every Writer Should Know

Hashtags are one of the most important elements to successfully using Twitter to enhance your writing practice and profile. In fact, the importance of hashtags generally was recently demonstrated when the American Dialect Society recently named hashtag as the word of the year for 2012.

Hashtags allow you to find new readers, connect with other writers who share your interests and to find out about new opportunities such as writing competitions. They can also help to raise your writing profile to attract interest from publishers and editors.

You need to be smart when using hashtags – don’t over use them (never use more than 3 hashtags per tweet), be natural and never spam people. But when used selectively and cleverly, hashtags can be of great benefit to your writing career.

Below are 100 #hashtags that every writer should know:

Books and Reading Hashtags#Books
#BookWorm
#GreatReads
#IndieThursday
#MustRead
#Novel
#Paperbacks
#Storytelling
#WhatToRead

Book Industry News and Publishing Tips Hashtags#AskAgent
#AskAuthor
#AskEditor
#BookMarket
#BookMarketing
#GetPublished
#IAN1 (Independent Author Network)
#IndiePub
#PromoTip
#Publishing
#SelfPublishing
#WriteTip
#WritingTip

Hashtags to Connect With Other Writers#1K1H (write one thousand words in one hour)
#AmWriting
#AmEditing
#AmRevising
#CopyWriting
#EditGoal
#Editing
#IndieAuthor
#MyWANA (writer’s community created by Kirsten Lamb)
#NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month is held every November)
#RomanceWriter
#ScriptChat
#WIP
#WordCount
#WriteChat
#WriteGoal
#WriteMotivation
#WritersLIfe
#WriterWednesday
#Writing
#WritingBlitz
#WritingPrompt
#WritersBlock
#WroteToday
#WW

ePublishing and eBooks#Amazon
#eBook
#BookBuzzr
#eReaders
#ePubChat
#iPad
#Kindle
#KindleBargain
#Kobo
#KPD (Kindle Publishing Direct)
#Nook
#Pubit
#SmashWords
#Sony
#Webfic

Genre and Specialty HashtagsFind readers and other writers who share your interests
#140Poem
#Crime
#Comedy
#DarkFantasy
#Dystopian
#Erotica
#HistFic
#Historical
#FaithLitChat
#KidLitChat
#Literature
#LitFic
#MemoirChat
#MGLit (middle grades literature)
#Mystery
#NonFiction
#Paranormal
#Poetry
#PoetryMonth (Each April in the USA)
#Romantic
#RomanticSuspence
#TrueStories
#ScienceFiction
#SciFiChat
#ShortStory
#SteamPunk
#Suspense
#UrbanFantasy
#WomensFiction
#YA
#YALit

Promotion, Networking and Marketing Hashtags#99c (to offer or pick up an eBook bargain)
#AuthorRT
#BookGiveaway
#BookMarketing
#FollowFriday
#FreebieFriday
#FreeReads
#Novelines (to quote your own work)