Click here for your FREE ebook: The SPARREW One-Year Anniversary Ebook!
SPARREW ISSUE THIRTY-FIVE
Welcome to the SPARREW Newsletter!
The newsletter for Self-Publishers, Authors, Readers, Reviewers, Editors and Writers!
Welcome to the November 2024 issue of the newsletter!
So glad to have you on board!
Say the word “newsletter” and I’ll instantly look for a link to sign up. Mention that you have a Substack and I’ll ask for a link to subscribe. And if you post that readers can subscribe to your blog? Count me in!
I’m an omnilegent kinda reader. I want to read EVERYTHING. Or, at least, I try to.
I’m a huge fan of online newsletters, and one newsletter I am subscribed to is Kim Catanzarite’s newsletter, Self-Pub 101. Her recent blog post, “You are your own last judge” (included in the writer’s section list of articles) really hit home for me.
I submitted a short story to a market I have been hoping to get published in for years. As you can guess, this was not my first submission to them! The editor responded with some tips on revising the story then resubmitting it. I took the suggestions I agreed with, used them in revisions, and sent the story back. It still didn’t make the cut. The editor wanted changes which I myself did not feel was right for the story. I struggled with this, though. Was I wrong not to want to take the editor’s suggestions? Did refusing to make certain changes to the story that I didn’t feel were right for the story mean I was a bad writer?
I delayed responding to that email, because I really couldn’t decide the best course of action to take. On one hand, I had the chance to revise my story yet again and resubmit it (something not many writers are given!), and increase my chances of getting a story published in that publication. At long last! But would I be happy with the story? Probably not.
On the other hand, this was my story, and I knew that I wanted it to be written a certain way. Some editor out there who would be fine with it the way it was.
I know that in her article, Kim is talking about books, but what she wrote also applies to writing short fiction. Well, anything we writers are having edited by a professional editor, anyway. In the end, we are the best ones to judge how our work is written.
And in the end, I knew that the best thing for me to do was to respectfully withdraw my submission. No harm, no foul. The editor encouraged me to fix this story up and get it out there, and perhaps someday I will be able to view this story differently.
And maybe one of these days, I will finally submit to that editor a short story which we are both happy with as it is written!
We’ve got a great issue for you this month!
I have known D.E. McCluskey for quite some time. First I knew about him by name, then I started working with him in publishing! He is a great guy and my business partner has often told me “his books are so funny.” Well, it turns out that Dave self-publishes his books, in addition to going with indie publishers, so I asked him if he had time for an interview. Well, he made the time, time differences be damned! And Dave is not just an author of humorous books but he is a humorous guy in conversation, as well! Many of his answers to my questions made me laugh. Don’t miss my interview with him in the self-publishing section below!
Another author I have been familiar with for some time is Candace Nola! I have been a frequent visitor to her website, uncomfortably Dark (and I include links to their book reviews! See below!), and I have checked out her books too. Candace graciously took some time to be interviewed for this newsletter, where she shares all about her new novel, Moloch.
And Desiree Horton is another name I know well! This writer is so prolific, getting stories published in various anthologies. She took some time to be interviewed for this newsletter as well.
Chris Stevenson returns with another guest post. His article covers a crucial topic most writers and authors are interested in exploring: Getting more visitors to their websites! Check out his tips in the article below to find out how to make it happen!
And, once again, the lovely Carolyn Howard-Johnson returns with the latest installment for her “Tricky Edits” column. Just as important as an author or writer website? Your book cover! Carolyn is here to offer some tips on creating a fantastic cover for your book, with helpful insights for both the self-published author and the cover designer!
I hope you enjoy this issue! Feel free to drop me a note or connect with me on social media! I'd love to connect with you!
Enjoy this issue!
Check out archived issues of the SPARREW Newsletter here:
https://sparrewarchives.blogspot.com/
All current issues will be posted on my website here:
https://www.dmcwriter.com/the-sparrew-newsletter
Meanwhile, here are my most recent blog posts:
Dawn Colclasure’s Blog: “No Fan Fiction? No Problem!”
**************************************************
I welcome submissions from subscribers!
Are you a booklover who wants to have your book blog featured?
Are you a writer with news?
Are you an author looking for reviewers of your latest book?
Are you a book reviewer whose review just went live?
Are you a self-publisher with a new release?
Are you an editor who wants to share your thoughts on editing, complete with a bio advertising your business?
Please feel free to submit any of these notes to me at DMCWriter@gmail.com for the next issue of the newsletter!
**************************************************
ATTENTION WRITERS OF BOOKS AND ASPIRING AUTHORS!
A new publishing company is in town! This indie press specializes in horror, but it is also open to books in other genres.
Twisted Dreams Press is a brand new independent publisher accepting submissions of short story collections, novelettes, novellas and novels from authors in a variety of genres!
Check out the new website to find out all the details!
Be sure to follow us on our Facebook page and our other social media platforms, which are all easily accessible from our website and Facebook page.
Please like our Facebook page
Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our news
**************************************************
THANK YOU…
Thank you to Lindsey Goddard for publishing my article, “Why Can’t We Appreciate Witches Outside of Spooky Season?” on Weird Wide Web.
Many thanks to First Chapter Plus Magazine for publishing my article “The Best of Both Worlds: Hybrid Books Offer Different Kinds of Writing for Different Kinds of Readers” in the November 2024 issue! My article is on page 24.
SELF-PUBLISHER CORNER
Self-Publisher Interview with Dave McCluskey
1. What can you tell me about your experience as a writer?
It’s both the BEST thing in the world and the WORST idea ever. It’s the best because I get to exorcise all the ghosts in my head. All the ideas that I’ve had jumbled up in my conscience for years and years, and I can give them life… It’s like I HAD to write them down to get them to stop… but with the added bonus of the fact that there were people out there who wanted to read them, and who enjoyed them… That totally shocked me.
So that’s the best thing… the worst thing is now it has totally taken over my life. I go out for a walk with the dog, and Lauren, and I’m always thinking about tales. Lauren will be talking about what she wants to do with the house, or what holiday we should do next… and I will blurt out ‘THE THINGS HE STOLE FROM HER WERE CURSED’… She will be like, ‘What the HELL are you talking about?’ LOL
I also can’t do anything like gaming anymore… If I’m gaming, I feel like I am wasting my time, as I should be writing… It also has ruined some of my enjoyment of watching TV shows and films, as I’m constantly like… ‘They shouldn’t have gone down that direction… that character would never do that… If I was in charge, I would have done this…’ LOL. It does my head in. It’s like it becomes all consuming. I can totally understand why King wrote a lot of books about writers.
2. What made you decide to write a book?
Well… The tale I always tell is totally the truth. It was Christmas Eve. My daughter was about 4 and I was in bed with her reading THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. When she was finally asleep (my voice is so boring, I could lull a 4-year-old to sleep on Christmas Eve LOL)… I got out of bed, and I thought… I could totally do that. So over the Christmas period, I developed this story I called THE OTHER NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS… but I thought that sounded too much like THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, so I changed it to THE GOOD BEHAVIOUR ACT… I wrote it as a rhyming story. It started off nice, but because my brain is twisted, it changed a little. It’s a funny little children’s story about getting on Santa’s naughty list, and what happens to you if you are. I then continued to write these funny little rhyming stories… then someone said why not get them printed. I’ve always loved comics and graphic novels… so I developed them into short comic stories (I made them into INTERESTING TYMES and INTERESTING TYMES X2, both available on Kindle). Then I began to develop longer tales, darker tales, but still graphic novels and shorts, but more adult in nature. I released DOPPELGANGER and a few shorter comics… Then I wrote THE TWELVE as a graphic novel, I even got some pages drawn up (they are brilliant too). But the artist then told me, it would take a fortune to get the complexity of the story down as a graphic novel, and she said why not write a novel. I’d never even thought about it… so, as I’d taught myself to script comics (something I still love doing), I had to learn how to write a book. I had a little help from a local guy who knew all about it, but had never done it himself… so he helped me along the way. We developed THE TWELVE, and it went really well. I still get negative reviews about the editing in that book, but it was totally my first attempt. I’ve had it re-edited since, and I think it reads a lot better than it did… but as a debut novel, I couldn’t have been prouder of that book. I still love it today.
3. What circumstances brought you to the decision to self-publish your book?
This is probably the same reasons as a lot of other writers. I thought, with the limited success of THE TWELVE and the response I got from it, I thought agents and publishers would be lining up at my door with contracts and flowers, and chocolates and promises of money and women, and all sorts of stuff. LOL But it was nothing like that. Because I’d self-published, all the agents and publishers kind of looked down on me, or that’s how it felt anyway. How dare I publish something with such terrible editing! (It had NO editing at all, as I didn’t have the money, or the knowledge to understand that it did, I made a lot of mistakes on that first book, but I hope I have made up for them). I then looked into the industry and learned a lesson… I had to jump through all kinds of hoops in order to get an agent, just to jump through more hoops to get a publisher, only for them to do seven parts of NOTHING for me that I couldn’t do myself. I heard all kinds of horror stories about trad-published authors’ books being ignored, only having a limited shelf life, and being dropped. There was a girl I used to work with (we worked together on early drafts of the GLIMMER saga) who got lucky with an agent, and a publisher… she got her debut novel published, and it did really well. We kind of drifted apart (nothing unamicable), and I looked at her book on Amazon. She has not hit any of the charts, and it only has like 100 reviews. Now, that’s nothing to be sniffed at, but I bet if I asked her, she would tell me that SHE did all the work on the presentation and her own PR… but only got a low percentage of royalties… I’ve touched lucky with a couple of titles… ZOLA and THE BOYFRIEND have touched nerves, and people seem to enjoy them (thank you so much) … but for every semi-success, there are 3 or 4 books that are ignored. That’s the nature of the beast. I believe that if I trad-published THE BOYFRIEND, it would not have gotten the response it did from doing it self-publishing. It’s my bet they would have wanted me to cut a lot of the horrific SA scenes (I know it is long and horrible), but I needed it to be horrific so the ending would pay off like it did. I do feel like it’s a rounded book in that way, but I honestly don’t think any publisher would have touched it with a barge pole.
4. What has your experience as a self-publisher been like?
In a word, EXHAUSTING. LOL Lauren comes home from work (she is a nurse), and she works really hard, and it is a thankless job that she loves… but what she doesn’t realise, or anyone else who hasn’t done the self-publishing thing for themselves… is that we don’t stop. If you want it to be a success you, NEVER stop. You are working ALL THE TIME.
My day is like this… I get up at 5am, I walk the dog while clearing my head. I get in half an hour later and have a coffee. Then I log on. I check FB, Insta, whatever platform… I answer messages, etc. Then I go to the train station to get into work. I then sit in the canteen till 8:30 (usually about an hour, maybe an hour and a half) and write. I then do my 9-5. I write in my dinner hour, and do socials through the day. I then finish, get the train home, walk the dog, and then I write (usually about an hour). I go to the gym, I cook and eat dinner, then it’s family time.
I repeat that 5 days a week.
Of a weekend, I get up at 5, walk the dog, do the socials, then write. (I usually get a good few hours in of a weekend.) Then it’s family time, gym time, walking the dog time.
If I have a drink, or a party… then the day after is lost, as I can’t write with alcohol in my system. (Some people do it better, I can’t concentrate) … so its NONSTOP. Add to that odd dreams, and constant self-doubt about if the story is going to work… it’s no wonder I’m not entirely grey yet. Although I am only 22 years old, I just look 51. I get angry at my 9-5 job as it gets in the way of the life I want. But then I remember I don’t make enough on the books to live (YET). LOL
When I go on holiday… Lauren has to ban me from taking my laptop, but she doesn’t’ realise that I use my phone to flesh out the 0.5 drafts of stories (insert evil laugh here).
5. How do you respond to the negative stigma attached to self-publishing and self-published books?
BADLY… LOL. No, I'm joking. I don’t take any notice of negativity to be honest. If you will pardon my French… I say, FUCK them. There is too much negativity in this world, as it is. Humans are a strange breed. They just thrive on pulling people down. If they see anyone doing well for themselves, they HAVE to find something to pull them down for. I used to respond badly, and when I first started, I was angry and upset, and demotivated that I couldn’t get a trad-published deal, but these days, as the industry has changed, I have found that the true readers, the real deal readers, are all moving over to indie authors anyway. I think the likes of Frieda McFadden and John Marrs are doing well, but their stories are heavily edited, and they probably can’t publish the book they really WANT to publish, as the companies they work for won’t let them. As an indie, I can do what I want. I can release a children’s book, and then do a splatter book right after. I can kill the dog in the book if I want, I can write a 20-page sexual assault page… It’s my book.
So I say, yes, I would take a trad-published deal if one was offered on certain books, just to experience what it is like, but I would still be indie publishing too.
A lot of the dynamism of publishing is shifting, and I enjoy riding that wave.
6. What is one very important lesson you have learned as a self-publisher so far?
The biggest and most important thing I’ve learned is TAKE THE HELP WHEN IT’S OFFERED. If someone offers to proofread, TAKE THE OFFER. If someone says they will do the cover for you for free, TAKE THE OFFER. But please, please, please do not skimp on the editing.
The editing is the most important thing you can do. Get someone you can trust, and for God’s sake, don’t take the editor’s criticism personally… It is literally their job. Take it on the chin, put on your grown-up undies, and listen to what they are saying. Nine times out of ten, they are right (if they are good), they will have been down this path before… they know the script.
Also… don’t listen to negative ninnies… There are going to be a lot of people out there who will see you as a threat. Watch out for them. They usually show themselves pretty early in the game. Remember, it is not a competition out there. It’s not a game to see who can get to 100 reviews first. I see it as a community. Yeah, I might piss some people off sometimes, and some people might piss me off sometimes, but I like to see it as a YOU SCRATCH MY BACK kind of community.
7. What do you know now about self-publishing that you wish you knew at the beginning
That the work is NEVER finished. It literally never ends. Even when you go to bed, you are self-publishing. Sitting on the toilet? Self-publishing. In work? Self-publish… self-publish, self-publish…
But you need to know when NOT to self-publish…
I got some BOSS advice when I was firs starting off. It was from Matt Shaw (it wasn’t filthy, which is a shock, I know). He said to me, ‘You need to push your books, you need to post about them, and tell people about them, but don’t make people sick of seeing your book.’ He told me I needed to post every day, but post about my dog, my journey into work, what trousers I have (or don’t have) on… make the readers laugh. People don’t buy books, they buy into the author. If they like you as a person, if you make them laugh, and are a bit cheeky, then they will buy from you.
This is so important. Market your books till you are blue in the face… but know when to stop. Market another author, karma will come back around and they will help you out. If someone comes to you for help, or guidance… give them what you know. People buy people… it’s a good thing to remember.
8. A lot of authors of self-published books have reservations about promoting and marketing their book. Some even feel that it is a form of vanity or self-importance. What is your opinion about this?
100% it is a form of vanity, and self-importance. But so what? Be proud of the work you have done. Don’t let anyone bully you into thinking you shouldn’t be proud of your work. Shout it from the rooftops. Push it in people’s faces… just remember what I said above… don’t overkill it.
Jesus… you have just spent 2-3 years of your life, going through every emotion you can think of, from elation to anxiety… sweating and pushing yourself to get a book out. If you don’t tell anyone about it, no one is going to do it for you. You need to be loud, you need to be pushy, you just need to make sure you don’t piss anyone off. It’s a balance. It’s a Yin and a Yang.
9. How do you promote your books and what form of book promotion has worked the best for you?
I really have no clue. Something about THE BOYFRIEND touched a nerve and went ballistic, and the same happened with Zola (although that was a slow burn), but some of the others have been so hard to market. The groups now, most of them don’t allow self-promotion, and can be a bit funny about you posting about your own books. It’s a tough game out there, but there are a lot of authors vying for readers attentions. Some won’t be able to handle the rejection, the hard work, the constant battle to be noticed and relevant and they will fall by the wayside, so you need to have your tenacity… you need to dig in and realise that you are not going to hit the big time on your first book. That is so important to remember…
10. What are some other important things you have learned as a self-publisher?
Grow a thick skin, don’t be a drama queen, work double hard. Set time and be organised (I am the most unorganised person ever, except when it comes to writing). Understand that not everyone is going to enjoy your book. Be big and ugly enough to know this. If everyone liked the same thing, the world would be a boring place. Some people are going to troll you, they will do this to make themselves look smart, or better than you… be the bigger person. And one of the most important things… DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, REPLY TO REVIEWS… I sometimes do, but do it in a funny way.
11. Do you feel that self-publishing is a viable choice for other authors?
Oh… 100%. I think self-publishing is going to push the boundaries of trad-published books soon. Trad-pub books are becoming so sterile. You can’t write about this and you can’t mention that… and you deffo can’t use that word. In self-publishing, we are our own editors (to a degree), and we can write about whatever we want. Will our books ever be on the shelves of the supermarkets? Probably not, but then I don’t think I have ever once seen anyone buy a book from a supermarket.
However, this being said, we do have to keep our standards up. Get the book to the best you can make it, THEN give it to an editor, use proofreaders, and Alpha and Beta readers, and right before you press that publish button, read it once over yourself… There are a lot of grammar nazis out there who are just too quick to jump on the back of indie-published books stating bad editing, etc.… so standards need to be kept.
12. How do you feel that self-publishing their books has helped many unknown authors finally get the recognition their books deserve?
Right… I have a friend from work a few years ago who got her first book trad-published. Bang, right out of the door, she was signed up. There was a whirlwind courtship and she did some book signings… I never read the book (I really should have), but apparently, it was great. It’s been out for 2 years now and it has 45 reviews on Goodreads, and I think it’s touching 100 on Amazon (might be the other way around). But then, look at some of my books. The Boyfriend is over 1k reviews, as is Zola. If we were still talking trad-publishing, no one would have touched Zola with a 39-and-a-half-foot pole. Yet it has over 1k reviews, and over a million page reads, and thousands of orders.
So there are some big names in the indie horror world. Duncan Ralston, Matt Shaw, Aron Beauregard. These guys probably wouldn’t have been able to get book deals with their extreme content.
So I am all in for indie publishing… But that doesn’t mean I don’t want a $50k advance on my next book… Please, and thank you!
ABOUT DAVE:
Born in Liverpool in the UK, Dave McCluskey left school and began working in a music shop, selling guitars and drums and playing in local bands around the Liverpool music scene. When he realised that fame and fortune, and rock god status, was proving rather elusive, he went to university leading to him wasting almost 30 years of his life messing around with computers. He became a novelist later on in life, having been an avid reader since he was a child. He writes as DE McCluskey, mostly in the genre of horror (mainstream, extreme, and comedy), although he has been known to dabble in thrillers, romance, science fiction, fantasy, and also children’s books (written as Dave McCluskey). He began his writing career creating comics and graphic novels, thinking they would be easier to write and sell than traditional novels (how wrong he was). He then made the switch into the media of novels and audiobooks and has not looked back since. His books include the highly regarded The Boyfriend, Reboot: A Cosmic Horror, The Twelve, Cravings, Zola, CRACK, and the historical thriller, In The Mood for Murder. Dave remains an avid football fan, although sometimes he wonders why, and he has been known to lurk around the stand-up comedy circuit in the North-West of England. He lives at home with his partner, their two children, and a sausage dog with his own future children’s book series, called Ted (Lord Teddington of Netherton).
NEW IN SELF-PUBLISHING:
"The challenges and triumphs of self-publishing in a conventional world" by Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA
via KevinMD
"Self-Publishing’s Output and Influence Continue to Grow" by Andrew Albanese and Jim Milliot
via Publishers Weekly
AUTHOR CORNER
Author Interview with Candace Nola
1. When did you start writing?
I began writing for publication in January 2019, published my first novel, Breach, that fall. I’ve essentially been writing since I was a young child.
2. What was your journey towards becoming an author like?
Once I published the first novel, I started learning the industry and how I could fit in. Started reviewing books for other authors, built my platform around that, then started learning how to edit from some respected publishers before I started offering editing services to some new authors. Both of these efforts allowed me to learn the industry, network with new and established authors, build my own platform and brand, all while I continued writing.
3. What can you tell me about your latest book? (Feel free to include an excerpt.)
My latest novel is a gothic ghost story set in an old manor house. It explores maternal love, loss, grief, and betrayal within dual timelines set in both past and present.
4. What sort of methods do you use for book promotion?
I network with other authors. I do newsletter swaps with authors and on various websites. I use email marketing, Facebook groups, and social media posts. I also have a dedicated street team of reviewers for my publishing house.
5. Where do you get your ideas for stories?
From everywhere. My kids give me a lot of ideas. My life experiences, things that my family has gone through.
6. What are you working on right now?
I am working on the third installment for my werebear series, Bishop, as well as the second installment for my splatter Western series, Hank Flynn. I also have a new collection in the works.
7. Any advice for other authors?
Just write. Then dedicate yourself to learning the business and the industry, not just crafting good stories. It takes a lot of work, motivation, and dedication. You are the author, but you are also your own promoter, marketer, advisor, business partner, etc. You need to learn who your peers are, who the veterans are, who the mentors are, and more, so you can properly, and respectfully, network, make connections, and form lasting friendships.
ABOUT CANDACE:
Candace Nola is a multiple award-winning author, editor, and publisher. She writes poetry, horror, dark fantasy, and extreme horror content. She is the creator of Uncomfortably Dark Horror, which focuses primarily on promoting indie horror authors and small presses with weekly book reviews, interviews, and special features. Uncomfortably Dark Horror stands behind its mission to “bring you the best in horror, one uncomfortably dark page at a time.” Follow her on all social media and join the Uncomfortably Dark Patreon for free books, merch, and more!
AUTHOR NEWS:
"What To Do When You See Somebody Else Has Your Idea" by Lois Wickstrom
via Reader Views Blog
"Rensselaer 12-year-old is already a published mystery writer" by C.J. Lais Jr.
via Times Union
"How I Traditionally Published Nine Novels Without an Agent" by Douglas Weissman
via FundsforWriters
"How to Maximize Goodreads Giveaways for Better Engagement" by Penny Sansevieri
via Author Marketing Experts
"7 Critical Strategies for Marketing Books on Amazon Like a Pro" by Penny Sansevieri
via Author Marketing Experts
"Agents, Authors Question HarperCollins AI Deal" by Andrew Albanese and Jim Milliot, with reporting by John Maher
via Publishers Weekly
"New publisher Spines aims to 'disrupt' industry by using AI to publish 8,000 books in 2025 alone" by Matilda Battersby
via The Bookseller
REVIEWER CORNER
My Reviews:
Dawn Reviews Books:
Reader Views:
“The Dreaming Way” by Toko-pa Turner
Reader Views Kids:
“The Boy with Strange Eyes” by Dr. Thomas Davison
Other Book Reviews:
Hellnotes
Advance Review: NINETY-EIGHT SABERS
Advance Review: SIX O’CLOCK HOUSE AND OTHER STRANGE TALES
Book Review: OF TEETH AND PINE
Book Review: THE EERIE BROTHERS AND THE WITCHES OF AUTUMN
Horror Bookworm Reviews
Wererats Underground by Terry Miller
The Bug Collector by Wrath James White
Reader Views
“Echoes of the Tomb” by M. Tobias Harris
“The Unexpected Guests” by Ruth F. Stevens
“Water Memory” by Tom Strelich
“Contagion of the Night” by Edward J. Leahy
“F*ck Your Happiness” by Keith G. Wright
“I Should Be F’N Dead” by Emmilia O’Sullivan
“Claiborne County Breakdown” by Patrick Watts
“The Shellfish Grift” by Mike Rose
“A Visit Home” by Janeen Swart
“The Mermaid of Lake Superior” by Aurora Lothbrok
“The Oracle of Spring Garden Road” by Norrin M. Ripsman
“Stranger in the Mind” by J.R. Berrywood & S.L. Aspen
“The Doorway” by Jesse L. Watson
“The Girl with Autumn Eyes” by R.F. Vincent
“Dragon of Denmark” by Jennifer Ivy Walker
“Good Citizens” by Christine Anthony
“A Lion’s Pride” by P.L. Stuart
“The Far-Out Adventures of Marty Tomato” by Artemis Andreou
“It’s Not Love” by Jasmine Katz
“El Caminante” by Ricardo Lenis
“The Lies That Blind Us” by Amora Sway
“Sail to Scale” by Mona Sabet, et al.
“Maui Travel and Adventure Guide” by Ocean Breeze Adventures
“Somewhere Over the Moon” by Fabiana Reis
“Freja Born” by Jessi A. Charles
“Our Global Crisis” by Brian D. McLean
“Christmas Romances: 5 Short Stories” by C.L. Hamilton
“The Bluff” by Bonnie Traymore
“Written in Stone” by Diane Bator
“Secrets We Don’t Keep” by Misty Barber
“Smuggler’s Love” by T.D. Wilson
“Tell No One” by Donna M. Zadunajsky
“Tokyo Tempos” by Michael Pronko
“A Mixed Bag” by Agnes McIntyre
“The Shard of Asclepius” by Stewart F. Brennan
“Never Enough Words” by Jack Hammond Jr.
“Celebration Playhouse” by Gary P. Cohen
“Don’t Tell Me There Ain’t No God” by Gary McDougall
Reader Views Kids
“Sophia and the Dragon Eye Charms” by Beth Christopherson
“Mui Mui Goes to London” by Phuong Cooc
“Oh, Tal! Not Today.” by Tal Anderson
“Alex, the Awesome and Artsy Allosaurus” by Susan Mills
“The Masterful Mallard” by Doreen Pullo-Fleisch
“Theodore, the Sloth Who Wants to Race” by Dr. Sam and J.L. McCreedy
“Tales for Tra-La-La Day” by Steve Michael Reedy
“We Were All Together” by K.T. Williams
“Hey! I’m Not a Book! I’m Really…an ALIEN!” by Captain HappyLife
“Go Grow Glow” by Eugene Hamilton
“Lumi the Cloud Princess” by Naza Semoniff
Uncomfortably Dark
11-1-24 SPECIAL GUEST REVIEW - Warn Iverson
Rachel Schommer Reviews: 11.4.24
11/08/2024 Guest Author Book Review: Highway Man by M.J. Preston.
11/15/2024 Guest Review Post from Warn Iverson: SEX TAPE by Matthew Vaughn
Unveiling Nightmares
Calls for Reviews:
I’d love to find reviewers for my books! Contact me at DMCWriter@gmail.com if interested.
READER CORNER
BOOK BLOGS:
Alan K. Dell--Science Fiction Author & Creative
BOOK NEWS:
"The Republicans’ Project 2025 is Disastrous For Books" by James Folta
via Literary Hub
"Sales surge for dystopian books after Trump election victory" by Ella Creamer
via The Guardian
"New poetry book, High Notes of Poetry, offers hope and strength through life’s toughest challenges" by Shawn Cabbagestalk
via AOL.com
"Utopia, Dystopia, Anti-Utopia, Hetertopia..." by Elana Gomel
via A Guide to Unreality
NEW BOOKS:
D.L. Winchester
Genre: Western Horror
Not Born of Woman (Paradise Investigations Book 1)
Teel James Glenn
Genre: Horror/Suspense
by Joe Scipione
Genre: Horror
Undead Plaything (Jerry Blaze Erotic Horror Novelettes Book 2)
Jerry Blaze
Genre: Erotic Horror
The Bad Guys in One Last Thing (The Bad Guys #20)
Aaron Blabey
Genre: Children's Book
Kelly J. Baptist, Illustrated by Jenin Mohammed
Genre: Children's Book
Eoin Colfer, Illustrated by Steve McCarthy
Genre: Children's Book
Nino Cipri
Genre: YA
Claudette Colvin: I Want Freedom Now!
Claudette Colvin and Phillip Hoose, Illustrated by Bea Jackson
Genre: Children's Book
Jehan Madhani, Illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh
Genre: Children's Book
Olivia A. Cole
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The Winterton Deception 2: Fault Lines
Janet Sumner Johnson
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery
Alex Thayer
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Kayvion Lewis
Genre: YA
I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call
Jamison Shea
Genre: YA
Tirzah Price
Genre: YA
Simina Popescu
Genre: YA Graphic Novel
Helen Comerford
Genre: YA
Written by Anoush Elman and Edward van de Vendel, translated from the Dutch by Nancy Forest-Flier, illustrated by Annet Schaap
Genre: Middle Grade
The Davenports: More Than This
Krystal Marquis
Genre: YA
Gia Gordon
Gernre: Juvenile Fiction
Meika Hashimoto
Genre: Middle Grade
The One & Only Googoosh: Iran’s Beloved Superstar
Azadeh Westergaard
Genre: Children's Nonfiction
Tina Cho, Illustrated by Deb JJ Lee
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Chelsea L. Woods, Illustrated by Dan Mottram
Genre: Children's Book
Katharine McGee
Genre: YA
Adiba Jaigirdar
Genre: YA
Cameron Mukwa
Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel
The Cursed Among Us (Book 1 in The Newport Curse)
John Durgin
Genre: Horror
Dan Fields, Chris Robinson and Joe Filipas
Genre: Horror
Drew Starling
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Thomas Stewart
Genre: Horror
Jerry Blaze
Genre: Erotic Horror
Joshua Millican
Genre: Horror
Joe R. Lansdale
Genre: Horror
Uncovering Dinosaur Behavior: What They Did and How We Know
David Hone
Category: Biology
Every Arc Bends Its Radian: A Novel
Sergio De La Pava
Genre: Literary Fiction
Richard Price
Genre: Literary Fiction
Tom Newlands
Genre: Literary Fiction
Melanie Cheng
Genre: Domestic Fiction
Chloe Seager
Genre: Women's Fiction
Ingenious: A Biography of Benjamin Franklin, Scientist
Richard Munson
Category: Biography
They Just Need to Get a Job: 15 Myths on Homelessness
Mary Brosnahan
Category: Domestic Politics
Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures
Katherine Rundell
Category: Science & Technology
Edward M. Lerner
Genre: Science Fiction
Nadia Steven Rysing
Genre: Sapphic Creature Feature
Niall Williams
Genre: Literary Fiction
Bonnie Kistler
Genre: Thriller
Michael Idov
Genre: Thriller
Suja Sukumar
Genre: YA
Molly Horan
Genre: YA
An Earthquake is a Shaking of the Surface of the Earth: A Novel
Anna Moschovakis
Genre: Literary Fiction
The City and Its Uncertain Walls: A Novel
Haruki Murakami
Genre: Literary Fiction
Family Romance: John Singer Sargent and the Wertheimers
Jean Strouse
Category: Biography & Memoir
Stranger Than Fiction: Lives of the Twentieth-Century Novel
by Edwin Frank
Category: History
The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Category: Science
The Purple One, A Story of Prince
Written by Matthew Burgess, Illustrated by Sirin Thada
Category: Children's Nonfiction
Lili Anolik
Category: Pop Culture
Clare Chambers
Genre: Literary Fiction
Elizabeth DeLozier
Genre: Historical Fiction
Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso, the Show That Kicked Its Way into Our Hearts
Jeremy Egner
Category: Performing Arts
White Shoe: How a New Breed of Wall Street Lawyers Changed Big Business–and the American Century
John Oller
Category: World History
By Izumi Suzuki, Translated by Helen O’Horan
Genre: Historical Fiction
The Story of the Forest: A Novel
Linda Grant
Genre: Historical Fiction
Cant Republic: Erasures and Blackouts
Chad Parenteau
Category: Poetry Collection
Marion Deutsche Cohen
Category: Poetry Collection
Walden Quinn Caesar
Category: Poetry Collection
Mileva Anastasiadou
Genre: Short Story Collection
BIRDS OF PARADISE: Poems on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
Aishwariya Laxmi
Category: Poetry Collection
Peter Kaczmarczyk
Category: Poetry Collection
Jerry Blaze
Genre: Horror
Marcin Piotrowski & Patryk Bogusz
Genre: Extreme Horror
Schnitzel and Snow Globes (Bells Pass Book 8)
Katie Mettner
Genre: Christmas Holiday Romance
Sacred Coven's Secret (The Sheva Chronicles Book 4)
Michael Todd
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Matt Lawson (The Unadjusteds Book 5)
Marisa Noelle
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Operation Endgame (The Last Hunter Book 16)
JN Chaney and Terry Mixon
Genre: Science Fiction
Battle for Pointer's Bluff (Revenant Online Book 3)
Bradford Bates and Michael Anderle
Genre: Fantasy
When Justice Has Claws (Drakethorn Legal Book 6)
Isabel Campbell and Michael Anderle
Genre: Fantasy
The Enemy Within (Backyard Starship Book 24)
JN Chaney and Terry Maggert
Genre: Science Fiction
Codename: Rockstar (Spellbound Security Book 1)
TR Cameron
Genre: Fantasy
Down in the Dark Deep Where the Puddlers Dwell
Written by Rebecca Cuthbert, Illustrated by Dakota Marquardt
Genre: Children's Horror
Don't Tell Mom I'm Alive (Dead Academy Book 3)
Juliann Whicker
Genre: YA Vampire Romance
LEADER OF THE PACK: Three Wee Hairy Things (The William Meikle Chapbook Collection 2)
William Meikle
Genre: Supernatural Horror
Brad Ricks
Genre: Christmas Horror
Citadel's Fall (Taken to the Stars Book 9)
JN Chaney and Rick Partlow
Genre: Science Fiction
Corps and Clashes (The Hero Prophecy Book 3)
Michael Anderle
Genre: Fantasy
Banished (Eila's Exile Book 1)
D.S. Bailey and Michael Anderle
Genre: Fantasy
The Untamed Fighter (The First Beaufont Book 7)
Sarah Noffke and Michael Anderle
Genre: YA Magical Realism
Eve L. Fell
Genre: Splatterpunk
Rayne Havok
Genre: Extreme Horror
by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ; translated from the Chinese by Lin King
Genre: Literary Fiction
by Paul Auster
Genre: Literary Fiction
Written by Ingvild Rishoi, Translated from Norwegian by Caroline Waight
Genre: Holiday Novel
Lindsay Hunter
Genre: Literary Fiction
Jacquie Pham
Genre: Murder Mystery
Four Points of the Compass: The Unexpected History of Direction
Jerry Brotton
Category: History
Cassino ’44: The Brutal Battle for Rome
James Holland
Category: History
The Savage Storm: The Battle for Italy 1943
James Holland
Category: History
The Intimate Life of Computers: Digitizing Domesticity in the 1980s
Reem Hilu
Category: Computers
Shamans and Robots: On Ritual, the Placebo Effect, and Artificial Consciousness
Written by Roger Bartra, translated by Gusti Gould
Category: Psychoanalytic Theory
EDITOR CORNER
Tricky Edits from Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Everything My First Publisher Didn’t Know About Book Covers
10 Tricky Edits for Book Covers
By Carolyn Howard-Johnson, multi award-winning author
of the HowToDoItFrugally Series of Books for Writers
Say what? It is not the business of writers to tell their publishers, their cover designers, or anyone else for that matter how to design their book covers!
That used to be a hard, fast rule. They said, "It’s no longer your business.” "Chiming in on your cover will get you off to a rough start with your publisher!" "Your own cover designer might find it annoying, too."
Then came the age of self-publishing or POD as some like to call it. All authors (including the traditionally published ones!) started doing more marketing on their own, more partnering with their publishers. And the more we learned, the more accepting the industry as a whole came to accept—even require—more participation in most aspects of the publishing process.
Still, the old rumors persist. And almost no one thought of book covers as part of the editing process until my The Frugal Editor, now in its third edition from Modern History Press, made a point of re-establishing what a writer’s final edit might include—from book covers to a book’s front and back matter! And as long as authors manage their helpful suggestions with tact, everyone is better off for it…right down to selling more books.
So, here are your basic tenets for a book cover that SELLS books, gleaned from my own experiences and some great graphic designers I’ve used in publishing some twenty books using several different publishing models over more than two decades, and teaching marketing to students at UCLA Extension’s Writers Department for nearly a decade. Trust me. You’ll be glad you did!
1. Use a subtitle. It is your second chance to publicize your book right up front. Amazon every other search engine uses the keywords found in subtitles to help readers find your book. (Some call it “findability.”)
2. Use another subtitle on the back—not the same one as on the front. This your third chance at selling your book to bookstore browsers. How many times in life do you get a third chance? If you want to repeat the title on the front, put it at the bottom of the back page.
3. Use enticing blurbs that you’ve excerpted from your favorite reviews from the most prestigious journals on the back cover, with ample space between them. Use a bold, easily read typeface for these, please. Learn more about these effective marketing tools from the fifth book in my series. How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. It will soon be released by Modern History Press in its second edition.
4. Don't use borders on the books covers. Sometimes the spine doesn't align well in production and it will look like a Mondrian or Pollock gone awry. Also, avoid a white background. It won’t show up well in the teeny-tiny book cover images that online bookstores tend to use.
5. Use big letters on the spine. Make them read up and down if the title isn't too long, instead of making readers twist their heads to see it on bookshelves.
6. An author bio located on the back page your book where you’ll have more room to showcase your voice and experience might be preferred over including it on the back cover. If you or your publisher insist on the cover, limit it to about twenty-five words touting your most impressive credential. End it with an ellipsis (…) to indicate there is more inside.
7. An author's picture that tells more of a story than just a head shot is desirable. (If you would like to see an example of this, I share my “headshot” with my Great Dane, Trixie. She looks like an overgrown Dalmation so she catches everyone's attention!) This was one thing I got right before I had any knowledge about book covers. It is on the back cover of first book, This is the Place, which is out of print and only available using Amazon’s New and Used feature.
I’m saving the most important for last! Keep reading!
8. Have your graphic artist make you name huge. Look at book covers in the bookstore windows in airports. They’re sometimes three-dimensional and fluorescent! When you are a very famous author, no one will remember all of your titles, but they will sure will remember your name.
9. Consider an introduction from well-known author or expert in your field and utilize their name on the cover. For an example of how to use it for fiction, See Shirley Petro-Timura’s Tanglewood. It’s an example I am proud of because her book is about tolerance at its root, a theme that runs through much of my creative work.
10. Publish and copyright you book as early in any given year as possible. copyright date possible. That might allow it to qualify for reviews in some of the most prestigious media and add to its shelf life in bookstores.
ABOUT CAROLYN:
Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the recipient of the California Legislature’s Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment Award, and her community’s Character and Ethics award for her work promoting tolerance with her writing. She was also named to Pasadena Weekly’s list of “Fourteen San Gabriel Valley women who make life happen” and was given her community’s Diamond Award for Achievement in the Arts. Carolyn writes nonfiction for writers, poetry, and fiction and has studied writing at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom; Herzen University in St. Petersburg, Russia; and Charles University, Prague.
New in Editing:
WRITER CORNER
Interview with Writer Desiree Horton
1. Have you always been a writer?
I have always been a storyteller, but I gravitated toward poetry in high school. I did my senior project on poetry, most of it dark and depressing, and one of the judges gave me a failing score because he felt that I didn't pick something that would get me anywhere in life. I took that to heart and stopped writing for a long time. Then when my second child was born, I wrote a crappy young adult fantasy novel. I had a hard time convincing anyone to read it, and it promptly went into wherever projects go to die. I let go of my dreams of being a writer until I was speaking with my husband two years ago about that ill-fated YA novel, and he said to me, "Well that was your problem. Why don't you write what you love?"
He had a point. I LOVE horror and he knew it. So I sat down to see if I could write a short story and submit it to be published. And the rest is history, I guess.
2. When did you realize that maybe writing was actually a "thing" you could do, get published and even sell?
After I sold a few short stories, I challenged myself to write a horror novel and submit it. I've struggled my entire life with my self-worth being tied directly to my productivity and other people's opinions of my work, and I wanted to change that cycle for myself. I forced myself to finish the novel, and then I forced myself to submit it to a few places, even though I knew the chances of it being published were small. Now that I know what I am capable of, even if other people don't like it, I write things that I want to read; things that I want to see in horror. I won't let myself stop because this is one of the few things that I have done for myself, and have created by myself, wholly out of my own mind.
3. What was your first sale as a writer and how did it feel to sell your work?
My first sale was actually a short story called "Penny's Tea," to Unveiling Nightmares for the Body Horror Anthology 2. My first story was for a charity collection so there was no payment. I was elated, and I told myself that the day I stop getting that feeling when I see an acceptance email is when I stop writing. There's nothing like it for me. I'm not proud of myself very often, but that's the closest feeling I'll get.
4. How has writing helped you in other areas of life besides being something you could earn money from?
It helps to get things out of my brain. Sometimes I feel like there is so much in there all bouncing around at once that I'll go insane if I don't get some of it out on paper. It has also helped with my self-discipline and my issues with self-worth. Getting not-so-great reviews has been helpful for me, even though it's painful, but I appreciate the lessons I get from it.
5. What was your biggest accomplishment as a writer?
I am not sure I have a 'biggest' accomplishment yet. I like to leave myself room to grow. Getting my first novel published was definitely a milestone for me though, and the same with my second.
6. Who has inspired you the most in the writing field?
Aside from the obvious, Stephen King, there have been many writers that have inspired me. Most of the people who inspire me currently are the other authors in Unveiling Nightmares. Everyone is very supportive, and they all give great feedback.
7. What are some of the challenges you have faced as a writer and how did you overcome them?
My biggest challenge is my own doubts about the validity of my work, and actually finding time to write. I'm a mom, I work full time, and I have two giant dogs that knock things over and wrestle and generally wreak havoc on everything. I don't have a space set aside for writing yet, because we moved last year and made some changes to our household. We live in a much smaller space but have a huge outdoor space for gardening, etc. This was fine in the summer when I could sit outside with the dogs and write, but the rainy winter months make it tough to find a good spot. I'm a problem solver, though, so I know I'll figure something out.
8. What is the best writing advice you have ever received and why do you feel it is important?
I think there is something to that quote about the first draft being the story you are telling yourself. It's very hard for me to resist editing while I am writing so I limit myself to editing only after a chapter has been completed. I try to tell my children that the first draft is supposed to be trash even though every fiber of your being is telling you it shouldn't be. It is, and your job is to finish the trash and then go back and pick out the treasure.
9. What sort of writing do you do now?
Horror always and forever, though I'm getting more into thrillers as well. I still love writing short stories, and I feel like I have a good method for short and sweet (or not so sweet) ones.
10. Where can we find some of your work online?
Amazon, mostly. There are two anthologies I'm in on lulu.com, and one of my short stories was turned into a podcast episode on Creepy Pod.
11. What advice do you have for other aspiring writers thinking of taking the leap of getting their work published?
Try it. If it doesn't work the first time, try again. You are the only person standing in your own way.
12. What are your final thoughts about being a writer?
Persistence is key. And don't listen to idiots who tell you that writing won't get you anywhere. The world will always need stories, we may just have to change how they get delivered.
ABOUT DESIREE:
Desiree is a horror author and enthusiast. She can be found at home in the Pacific Northwest with her two dogs, two kids, and one husband. Her work appears in numerous spooky anthologies, including Autumn Tales II and III, Masks of Sanity, Body Horror 2, Flash of the Undead, Cursed Cooking, Halloween Horrors, and more. Her full-length novel, Midnight Mother, and novella, Of Teeth and Pine, is out on Amazon now! You can find her working on her latest story in her not-yet-haunted house, much to her disappointment.
News for Writers:
"How to Write Irresistible Character Relationships, Part Two" by Lynette M. Burrows
via Writers In The Storm
"6 Powerful Techniques to Escape Tedious Descriptions" by Sandy Vaile
via Writers In The Storm
"The 3 (Structurally) Most Important Characters" by K.M. Weiland
via Helping Writers Become Authors
"Writing in a Time of Dystopia" by Cathy Yardley
via Writer Unboxed
"Antagonist vs. Villain: What’s the Difference?" by K.M. Weiland
via Helping Writers Become Authors
"5 Things Screenwriters Should Study While Watching Movies" by Ken Miyamoto
via ScreenCraft
"Create a Formidable Antagonist" by Kim Catanzarite
via Kim Catanzarite Blog
"Fortitude: Dream, Do, Then Keep on DOING Day After Day" by Kristen Lamb
via Kristen Lamb Blog
"12 Paying Regional Markets For Writers" by Karoki Githure
via WritersWeekly
"Mastering the Art of the Unreliable Narrator in Your Storytelling"
via Reader Views Blog
"Strategic Planning Made Simple: An Annual Review" by Award-Winning Author, Jo-Ann Vega
via Reader Views Blog
"Are You Storyboarding Your Script? (And Why You Should Be!)" by Emily J
via ScreenCraft
"Beta Readers: How to Find Them and How to Get the Most From Them" by Jillian Forsberg
via Writer Unboxed
"From Manuscript To Masterpiece: 18 Insider Tips For Publishing A Book"
via Forbes
"No More Banging Your Head Against Waning Inspiration" by Lynette M. Burrows
via Blog
"You are your own last judge" by Kim Catanzarite
via Kim Catanzarite Blog
FEATURE ARTICLE
Guest post by Chris Stevenson
Driving Traffic to Your Website
By Chris Stevenson
A lot of authors try to reach customers via their website. This is a rather generic article that might encompass other products, but it works well for books, poetry and short stories that you might have listed on retail sites.
A website is a wonderful tool to reach the masses whether you are selling products and services, books, or programs. It's almost a given for any serious author and many publishers ask writers if they have a current website, or even a blog that will afford promotion space. Increased website traffic translates to more readership, visitors and ultimately, income. Once you have a website designed and active and you’ve established that you have a viable product or service to sell, it is important to draw as many potential customers and readers to your home base website. Here are some ideas on how to promote your website and draw that much needed attention.
First and foremost, you need to link your website URL to any and all sources on the Internet that you frequent (search engines). If you belong to a group such as Readers Forum, any display sites, several blog sites or other relative websites pertinent to your product or service, you should list your URL in any signature line or profile page provided. When you comment or guest-write a blog or article, your link will take potential customers and readers to your website. This works well if you are an authority on your subject and your interaction piques curiosity. You might have a website that is genre specific, such as Young Adult, science fiction or fantasy.
Offering something of value free gratis on your site is an excellent way to attract visitors. This could be free excerpts, short stories or entire novels, and you can lay out stipulations for acquiring the freebie. You may offer a free non-fiction tutorial or eBook that has valuable information. Small contests work well where you pose questions or offer free merchandise to a limited number of first responders. You can post questions that have to do with characters or plot points in one of your books and reward for the correct answers.
Offering discount days also works for drawing attention and you can announce these discount days via Facebook, Twitter or on a separate blog. Write a small blurb in any website group that features a thread on “latest news” or “goals and accomplishments.” Radio, newspaper and cable TV sources are always on the hunt for local human-interest stories and articles—this is a terrific way to reach the masses, especially if your website is new and in need of traffic. You may also convince other websites to give away your freebies, in essence, using their traffic and membership to widen your exposure.
Using “pay for rank” search engines is an economical way to get targeted customers that share your subject matter. Visitors obtained in this matter may cost as little as 10 cents apiece, but the traffic jump may result in the thousands of visitors to your site. Ezine advertising works the same way—you pay a small upfront fee to advertise in numerous ezines that may result in hundreds of thousands of prospective clients and customers. Unlike paper magazine and newspaper advertising, ezine ads are longer lasting and able to reach the masses instantly. You may also publish your own ezine or newsletter that offers a membership. If you have a number of titles, especially in a series, you can create your own little book club. This will bring repeat customers back to your website via embedded email notices, especially if you are adding new information or making announcements.
You may try “joint venturing” where you team up with several competitors or persons in related book and reader groups and agree to cross promote or list your URL on their sites. Joint venturing can go nearly viral if there are dozens or hundreds of similar websites that offer the same products and services you are promoting.
ABOUT CHRIS:
Chris H. Stevenson (pen name Christy J. Breedlove), originally born in California, moved to Sylvania, Alabama in 2009. His occupations have included newspaper editor/reporter, astronomer, federal police officer, housecleaner and part time miniature builder. He has been writing off and on for 42 years, having officially published books beginning in 1988. Today he writes in his favorite genre, Young Adult, but has published in multiple genres and categories. He was a finalist in the L. Ron. Hubbard Writers of the Future contest, and took the first place grand prize in a YA novel writing contest for The Girl They Sold to the Moon, and a bronze medal in the International Reader's Choice awards. He writes the popular blog, Guerrilla Warfare for Writers (special weapons and tactics), hoping to inform and educate writers all over the world about the high points and pitfalls of publishing.
****************************************************
Thanks for reading! See you next month!