Friday, November 28, 2014

Author Marketing Tips Before Book Launch

Iola Goulton, owner of Christian Editing Services, asked me to participate in a book launch case study where authors talk about what marketing they did prior to launch, how they did it, what help they got from their publishers, and what they would or wouldn't do next time. To read about my launch of The Land Uncharted, follow this link to Christian Editing...


Monday, November 17, 2014

Guest Post: Author Regina Tittel

Hello everyone! I'm Regina Tittel, author of The Ozark Durham Series. My writing career started as a desire to serve the Lord on a larger scale. I was already homeschooling our two children but knew I had more to offer.

I remember telling the Lord, “I’m very happy with the job of homeschooling the kids, but I feel I can do more.”

So he gave me the gift of writing. I didn’t catch on right away. I had to be corrected a lot in a writer’s group. I joined ACFW, but I was willing to be criticized for the sake of His calling. Because through my books God is able to help women understand Him as their Heavenly Father even when they’ve lacked an earthly example (Unexpected Kiss), He opens the eyes of chosen readers to those hurting overseas (Cherished Stranger), and still, teaches others how to pray (Devoted Mission).

When this first started, I wasn’t passionate about writing. In fact, I never thought I could. However, I was passionate about communicating God’s desire and love for His people. Thus, through the gift of writing, I’m able to do that and receive spiritual fulfillment.

If you’ve been restless in your walk with the Lord or perhaps don’t know what your gifted area might be, then take David’s advice in Psalms 4:4, “… commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.” Search your heart to find out what you enjoy doing most. What are you passionate about? Share with God your desire to serve Him then ask how He can use your passion to further His kingdom.

Thanks for stopping by Keely’s blog. Your support to writers like us keeps us encouraged. Please feel free to leave a comment or question you might have. I hope I’ve inspired some of you to take that step you’ve been wanting to, or maybe I’ve helped clarify something you’ve been contemplating. Either way, it’s been a joy to share with you!

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 Thank you, Regina!

Check out some of Regina Tittel's books:




Connect with Regina Tittel
Website | Facebook | Twitter


Guest Blogger Regina Tittel grew up outside a small rural community in S.E. Missouri with an older sister, and a younger sister and brother. With parents fully dedicated to one another and God, she describes her childhood as idyllic. With a couple dogs, a cat or two and several horses to cover their sixty acres, she was blessed with a creative atmosphere . . . but never imagined becoming a writer.
 
It wasn't until after the birth of her second child that she began to devote herself to her first novel. What started as a drive in the country, spurred the makings of the first volume of The Ozark Durham Series, Abandoned Hearts.  

Regina still resides in S.E. Missouri with her husband and their two daughters, one dog, several chickens and a couple of bunnies.




Friday, November 14, 2014

How To Set Up a Blog Tour

Today I'm writing over at Combined Book Exhibit's new CBE Author site. CBE Author offers free marketing advice and DIY tutorials for authors. I wrote about my experience setting up a blog tour. Read more here: CBE Author

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Uncharted Redemption ~ Book Two in the Uncharted series

I have an advance copy of Uncharted Redemption on my shelf! It's the second book in the Uncharted series.

Here is the blurb:

Levi Colburn, resentful of his father, haunted by his mother’s tragic death, and pained by his love for the unattainable Mandy Foster, breaks from the Land’s tradition and begins to build a life of his own. When rebels tear through the village of Good Springs, Levi vows to deliver justice and restore the woman he loves. As tradition stands in the way of redemption and threats from the outside world begin to appear, Levi must learn his greatest battles cannot be fought with his fists. Romantic, suspenseful, and filled with adventure, Uncharted Redemption weaves dramatic new layers into life in the Land.

You can download a 20% sample in EPUB and MOBI ebook formats here: Smashwords

Or add Uncharted Redemption to your To Be Read shelf here: Goodreads

Pre-order links will be live soon!

Friday, November 7, 2014

There is a Time for Everything


There is a Bradford Pear tree living in a tiny swath of soil in the middle of the paved parking lot in front of my building. I can see this pitiful tree from my desk, and I call it pitiful because it is currently blooming... in November. This isn't new. It has bloomed out of season every year for the past six years.

Confused and excited bees swarm the ill-timed white blossoms. People point at it as they park beneath it. The tree is living and doing what it was made to do, but it is not doing it in time with nature and it is, therefore, to be pointed at and given strange looks and pitied.

See, there is a time for everything. The writer of Ecclesiastes penned that thousands of years ago. There is a time for fruit trees to produce fluffy white flowers and there is a time for its leaves to blaze with the colors of fall.

I understand the pitiful little tree because I have been that unseasonable tree.

There is a time to remodel a house. There is a time to go back to school. There is a time to have babies. There is a time to start a business and buy a new car and write a novel. But those times are not at the same time. It took me most of my twenties to figure that out.

How about you? Are you trying to do the right thing but at the wrong time? Or are you trying to do everything at once and therefore fail to do anything? Think of the tree with frostbitten blossoms, my friend, and do what is right in this season.