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Heather Hummel Gallagher is an award-winning and best-selling novelist. She writes women's literature and her motto is "Dogs Rule."
Showing posts with label Writer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writer. Show all posts
Saturday, February 12, 2022
Are You on BookBub?
Wednesday, July 01, 2015
Is Your Author Bio Up to Par? 10 Tips on How to Write an Author Bio
Kind of like kids knowing
they need to eat their veggies, authors know the importance of a
well-crafted bio, but that still doesn't mean they like writing one.
Several years ago when I taught writing workshops through Barnes & Noble in Charlottesville, VA, the first exercise I had students do was write their author bio. The cringing, seat shifting, pen-tapping task gets them every time, and every single one of them groaned in unison. And yet, by the end of that first class, they proudly took home a well-crafted bio to stick on their refrigerator. To my surprise, each one returned the next week to see what hoops I'd make them jump through next.
That teaching experience taught me that authors really, truly despise writing their own bios. To help the medicine go down a little easier, I came up with my top 10 tips for writing a quality author bio:
1. You will need up to three versions of your bio. (Yes, I thought you'd love to hear that!) Write an extended bio for your website, proposals, interview sheets and media kits; a medium length bio for queries, guest spots on other websites and shorter marketing material; and a brief bio as a byline or for limited character social media websites.
2. Go ahead -- brag! Start with your greatest writing achievement. As an aspiring author, even one published article in the local paper counts and should be highlighted.
3. Leave your demographics for the end and keep it brief. Though the mere fact that you were born is awesome, as a new author, it's more important to establish yourself as a writer first.
4. When listing book publications, should you have any, italicize the title and do not put in quotation marks. Include the publisher and year published in parentheses after the title: i.e. Title of Your Book (Publisher, 20_ _).
5. Refer to yourself in the third person. On the longer bios, I personally like to interject "Heather" a few more times rather than using the pronoun.
6. The credibility an award gives a book can change the life of it! However, note only awards that are relevant to your writing. For example, if you write nonfiction gardening books and you won an award for your outstanding garden, then brag about it. Alternatively, if you won a blue ribbon for your brownies, but you write science fiction, leave out the blue ribbon (but feel free to send me the brownies!). Be sure to update your bio as the awards come in. When two of my books won awards within the same month, I immediately updated my author bios on my website and other places.
7. BS? BA? BIS? MBA? Ph.D.? When it comes to education, much like awards, if your degree is relevant, then note it. If you have a Ph.D. in psychology and are writing a book on teenage bullying, then certainly note it -- it's a credential. Alternatively, if your degree is in architecture and you changed careers to write children's books, unless your book is about how to build the coolest Lincoln Log cabin on your block, you can leave the degree out (especially in the short bio). I have a BIS degree in English and Secondary Education from the University of Virginia. These credentials support me as a writer, writing coach and workshop instructor, so I use it in my long bio.
8. Your bio will change dramatically as your career advances.
In that same Barnes & Noble class, I showed student my 2007 bio and
my then 2010 bio. It's amazing what a difference three years can make. I
started my 2007 bio with the fact that I "reside in the midst of the
Blue Ridge Mountains" because I thought it sounded really cool and
literary at the time. I learned that where you live isn't so important.
It was my publishing credits that advanced my career and changed my bio.
Think of it like this -- it's not where you write, it's what you write!
Bonus: If you haven't read Stephen King's On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft, I highly recommend it.
9. If you can, have a professional (or at least a really good) photographer take a quality author photo of you. I used a photographer in Colorado and it took more shots than words on a page to capture the perfect shot. Once you have it, use it shamelessly. Most authors are not recognized by what they look like unless they're John Grisham, who resides here in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and author of dozens of books including, A Time to Kill: A Novel and Rogue Lawyer. But, an author photo is needed for your book's jacket, your website, social media and press kit (at the very least). Take the time to do it right. (You can read my previous article titled "The Relevance of a Professional Author Photo.")
10. Browse the Internet and look in the books on your bookshelves for ideas. Especially read the bios of authors who write in your genre.
11. Bonus tip: Read your bio aloud when you finish writing it. You'll know immediately if something doesn't sound right.
Follow Heather Hummel on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HeatherHummel
This post originally appeared on the Huffington Post.
Several years ago when I taught writing workshops through Barnes & Noble in Charlottesville, VA, the first exercise I had students do was write their author bio. The cringing, seat shifting, pen-tapping task gets them every time, and every single one of them groaned in unison. And yet, by the end of that first class, they proudly took home a well-crafted bio to stick on their refrigerator. To my surprise, each one returned the next week to see what hoops I'd make them jump through next.
That teaching experience taught me that authors really, truly despise writing their own bios. To help the medicine go down a little easier, I came up with my top 10 tips for writing a quality author bio:
1. You will need up to three versions of your bio. (Yes, I thought you'd love to hear that!) Write an extended bio for your website, proposals, interview sheets and media kits; a medium length bio for queries, guest spots on other websites and shorter marketing material; and a brief bio as a byline or for limited character social media websites.
2. Go ahead -- brag! Start with your greatest writing achievement. As an aspiring author, even one published article in the local paper counts and should be highlighted.
3. Leave your demographics for the end and keep it brief. Though the mere fact that you were born is awesome, as a new author, it's more important to establish yourself as a writer first.
4. When listing book publications, should you have any, italicize the title and do not put in quotation marks. Include the publisher and year published in parentheses after the title: i.e. Title of Your Book (Publisher, 20_ _).
5. Refer to yourself in the third person. On the longer bios, I personally like to interject "Heather" a few more times rather than using the pronoun.
6. The credibility an award gives a book can change the life of it! However, note only awards that are relevant to your writing. For example, if you write nonfiction gardening books and you won an award for your outstanding garden, then brag about it. Alternatively, if you won a blue ribbon for your brownies, but you write science fiction, leave out the blue ribbon (but feel free to send me the brownies!). Be sure to update your bio as the awards come in. When two of my books won awards within the same month, I immediately updated my author bios on my website and other places.
7. BS? BA? BIS? MBA? Ph.D.? When it comes to education, much like awards, if your degree is relevant, then note it. If you have a Ph.D. in psychology and are writing a book on teenage bullying, then certainly note it -- it's a credential. Alternatively, if your degree is in architecture and you changed careers to write children's books, unless your book is about how to build the coolest Lincoln Log cabin on your block, you can leave the degree out (especially in the short bio). I have a BIS degree in English and Secondary Education from the University of Virginia. These credentials support me as a writer, writing coach and workshop instructor, so I use it in my long bio.
8. Your bio will change dramatically as your career advances.
In that same Barnes & Noble class, I showed student my 2007 bio and
my then 2010 bio. It's amazing what a difference three years can make. I
started my 2007 bio with the fact that I "reside in the midst of the
Blue Ridge Mountains" because I thought it sounded really cool and
literary at the time. I learned that where you live isn't so important.
It was my publishing credits that advanced my career and changed my bio.
Think of it like this -- it's not where you write, it's what you write! Bonus: If you haven't read Stephen King's On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft, I highly recommend it.
9. If you can, have a professional (or at least a really good) photographer take a quality author photo of you. I used a photographer in Colorado and it took more shots than words on a page to capture the perfect shot. Once you have it, use it shamelessly. Most authors are not recognized by what they look like unless they're John Grisham, who resides here in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and author of dozens of books including, A Time to Kill: A Novel and Rogue Lawyer. But, an author photo is needed for your book's jacket, your website, social media and press kit (at the very least). Take the time to do it right. (You can read my previous article titled "The Relevance of a Professional Author Photo.")
10. Browse the Internet and look in the books on your bookshelves for ideas. Especially read the bios of authors who write in your genre.
11. Bonus tip: Read your bio aloud when you finish writing it. You'll know immediately if something doesn't sound right.
Follow Heather Hummel on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HeatherHummel
This post originally appeared on the Huffington Post.
Monday, June 29, 2015
The Relevance of a Professional Author Photo
Due to social media, an
author photo connects authors with their audience now more than ever.
Since these images are not only long lasting on books, but are also
shared on social media outlets, isn't it worth making sure they're
great? The answer ought to be an obvious: "yes!" So, why are there so
many unprofessional author photos out there, when it is the one visual
expression that says: "This is the person who created the work you're
about to read,"?
A quality author photo is one of the most important aspects of becoming an author, and yet it often slips through the cracks. Indeed, there are some very professional, well done author photos out there, but for as many great ones, there are a plethora of faulty ones. I am not one to use clichés, but as a photographer, I completely agree that a picture does say a thousand words. I look at it this way: If an author is trying to attract readers to read the tens of thousands of words they've spent months or years writing, they should use their best author photo possible.
This is where my experience as a photographer lets me address the author photo from both sides of the lens.
If you spend months or years writing a book, spend at least a day preparing for your author photo, because it is a critical part of your brand. Here is my take on some common problems and their solutions.
Problem: Too serious of an expression.
Some authors' facial expressions are overly serious -- as though such an expression depicts intelligence and print worthiness. Yet, depending on their genre, a serious expression isn't always appropriate.
Photo Credit: Rankin
For James Patterson, author of Truth or Die
, Zoo
, and countless other books, it completely works. But, if you are a romance author, it won't work.
Solution: Genre considerations.
Before going into a photo shoot, consider your genre and what overall tone it depicts. If you are indeed a romance author, a pleasant expression of contentment is more acceptable than an intense and serious expression. This is one genre that the head tilted to the side and looking off into the distance, works. If you're a thriller writer, go for the intense, James Patterson-type expression. No matter what, keep your expression as natural as possible. A forced expression of any kind will be picked up by the camera.
Problem: Unflattering pose or posture.
When the camera is on you, pay attention to your body language. An author with their arms crossed will come off as defensive. Not everyone is "a natural" in front of the camera, but simple body language concepts go a long way with author photos.
Solution: Depict an inviting image.
A simple change in position can make a big difference. For example, a person's arms crossed over their lap, while leaning into the camera, is more inviting than arms crossed over a chest and standing upright.
One common pose that works is when an author candidly places their hand on their chin or temple. This is surely an expression of thinking, which is true -- thinking about what to write next is a huge part of being an author. Be sure the look is authentic and not forced, which borders on cliché.
Women, as mentioned above, have the habit of tilting their head to the side, gazing at the camera or off into the distance. This does work for certain genres.
Problem: Photo processing.
An image that is off in tone, color, exposure and contrast/brightness, will look unprofessional. These are common problems that are usually fixable by someone who is talented with Photoshop. The ones that frighten me the most, however, are photos where the flash lights up the author's face in all the wrong areas (i.e. forehead and nose).
Solution: Hire a professional photographer.
A professional photographer will help with not only producing a quality image, but they should also be able to assist with body language and posing.
In terms of a color versus black and white image, many old school male authors tend to lean toward black and white. This can be a great choice, and is often more flattering for those who have a few decades behind them. However, if you are a romance author, I believe your photo should be in color. If you're starting to see a trend between the relevance between genre and your author photo, give yourself a pat on the back.
Problem: Cluttered background.
The backgrounds that scream amateur are the ones with merely a white wall behind the author, or worse yet, but still a popular pick, the author standing in front of shrubbery (oops, did I just describe your own author photo?) Don't get me started on the backgrounds with too many distractions, like a plate hanging on the wall next to their head, or curtains that have busy patterns or aren't framed right in the image.
Solution: Find a background that enhances, not distracts from, your portrait.
For the most professional results, it makes sense to hire a professional photographer. One great example is that they will know how to work with depth of field. Using "shallow depth of field" in your image will blur out your background, making you pop. "Large depth of field" keeps everything in the background in focus. A busy background, especially one that is in focus, competes with the main subject -- you!
Photo Credit: Euan Myles
I love this photo of Kate Atkinson, author of Life After Life: A Novel
, among others
. The background is relevant and doesn't compete with, but enhances, her image.
Final thoughts: An unprofessional author photo sends the wrong message.
I realize that I have mentioned hiring a professional photographer as the solution for some of these problems. The reason is that I strongly feel that being an author is a business, and much like you would hire a CPA to do your books, you should hire a professional photographer to take care of your looks. There are several reasonably priced photographers out there who can do a great job. Don't ask a friend or family member to do it unless they have experience as a photographer.
Lastly, I recommend spending some time browsing Amazon for authors in your genre. Take notice of what their images depict, and use it to create the visual you want to send to your readers.
Note: My own author photo was captured by the talented Doug Ellis at Ribera Beach, C.A.
Follow Heather Hummel on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HeatherHummel
This post originally appeared on the Huffington Post.
A quality author photo is one of the most important aspects of becoming an author, and yet it often slips through the cracks. Indeed, there are some very professional, well done author photos out there, but for as many great ones, there are a plethora of faulty ones. I am not one to use clichés, but as a photographer, I completely agree that a picture does say a thousand words. I look at it this way: If an author is trying to attract readers to read the tens of thousands of words they've spent months or years writing, they should use their best author photo possible.
This is where my experience as a photographer lets me address the author photo from both sides of the lens.
If you spend months or years writing a book, spend at least a day preparing for your author photo, because it is a critical part of your brand. Here is my take on some common problems and their solutions.
Problem: Too serious of an expression.
Some authors' facial expressions are overly serious -- as though such an expression depicts intelligence and print worthiness. Yet, depending on their genre, a serious expression isn't always appropriate.
, Zoo, and countless other books, it completely works. But, if you are a romance author, it won't work. Solution: Genre considerations.
Before going into a photo shoot, consider your genre and what overall tone it depicts. If you are indeed a romance author, a pleasant expression of contentment is more acceptable than an intense and serious expression. This is one genre that the head tilted to the side and looking off into the distance, works. If you're a thriller writer, go for the intense, James Patterson-type expression. No matter what, keep your expression as natural as possible. A forced expression of any kind will be picked up by the camera.
Problem: Unflattering pose or posture.
When the camera is on you, pay attention to your body language. An author with their arms crossed will come off as defensive. Not everyone is "a natural" in front of the camera, but simple body language concepts go a long way with author photos.
Solution: Depict an inviting image.
A simple change in position can make a big difference. For example, a person's arms crossed over their lap, while leaning into the camera, is more inviting than arms crossed over a chest and standing upright.
One common pose that works is when an author candidly places their hand on their chin or temple. This is surely an expression of thinking, which is true -- thinking about what to write next is a huge part of being an author. Be sure the look is authentic and not forced, which borders on cliché.
Women, as mentioned above, have the habit of tilting their head to the side, gazing at the camera or off into the distance. This does work for certain genres.
Problem: Photo processing.
An image that is off in tone, color, exposure and contrast/brightness, will look unprofessional. These are common problems that are usually fixable by someone who is talented with Photoshop. The ones that frighten me the most, however, are photos where the flash lights up the author's face in all the wrong areas (i.e. forehead and nose).
Solution: Hire a professional photographer.
A professional photographer will help with not only producing a quality image, but they should also be able to assist with body language and posing.
In terms of a color versus black and white image, many old school male authors tend to lean toward black and white. This can be a great choice, and is often more flattering for those who have a few decades behind them. However, if you are a romance author, I believe your photo should be in color. If you're starting to see a trend between the relevance between genre and your author photo, give yourself a pat on the back.
Problem: Cluttered background.
The backgrounds that scream amateur are the ones with merely a white wall behind the author, or worse yet, but still a popular pick, the author standing in front of shrubbery (oops, did I just describe your own author photo?) Don't get me started on the backgrounds with too many distractions, like a plate hanging on the wall next to their head, or curtains that have busy patterns or aren't framed right in the image.
Solution: Find a background that enhances, not distracts from, your portrait.
For the most professional results, it makes sense to hire a professional photographer. One great example is that they will know how to work with depth of field. Using "shallow depth of field" in your image will blur out your background, making you pop. "Large depth of field" keeps everything in the background in focus. A busy background, especially one that is in focus, competes with the main subject -- you!
, among others
. The background is relevant and doesn't compete with, but enhances, her image.Final thoughts: An unprofessional author photo sends the wrong message.
I realize that I have mentioned hiring a professional photographer as the solution for some of these problems. The reason is that I strongly feel that being an author is a business, and much like you would hire a CPA to do your books, you should hire a professional photographer to take care of your looks. There are several reasonably priced photographers out there who can do a great job. Don't ask a friend or family member to do it unless they have experience as a photographer.
Lastly, I recommend spending some time browsing Amazon for authors in your genre. Take notice of what their images depict, and use it to create the visual you want to send to your readers.
Note: My own author photo was captured by the talented Doug Ellis at Ribera Beach, C.A.
Follow Heather Hummel on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HeatherHummel
This post originally appeared on the Huffington Post.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Two Facebook Features Every Author Should Be Using
The number of titles
available on Amazon has increased at an unfathomable rate. For example,
when I first published through McGraw-Hill in 2008, there were two
million books on Amazon. Kindle wasn't a contender at the time, so this
number represented paperback and hardcovers. Today, there are over 24
million paperbacks, over 8.5 million hardcovers, and almost 1.3 million
Kindle titles. At the time of writing this post: in the last 30 days,
104,606 new Kindle titles were released. That's a lot of authors.
With the need to make their book stand out against tens of millions of others, an author needs every tool in their toolbox. So, image my surprise when many of them weren't taking advantage of two critical Facebook features.
Works At
I continued to be amazed by the number of times I went to a Facebook friend's "About" section on their timeline only to discover they didn't have their Facebook author fan page linked as their "Works At." Worse yet, many times it simply gave the generic term of "Writer at Author" and when clicked, it went through to a generic "Author" page.
I realized rather quickly that too any authors simply didn't know about the Facebook feature that allows them to link their fan page as their "Works At" on their personal profile. When I posted both on my timeline and in one of my writing groups asking if authors knew about this option, the responses in the comments confirmed that many of my friends and fellow writers hadn't known about this option, and they quickly went and added it.
Michelle Miles, a romance author of A Knight to Remember: 3 (Realm of Honor)
, and well over a dozen other novels, was one of those authors who took
the tip to heart and quickly updated her "Works At" to lead her friends
to her fan page. Miles is the perfect example of the point I was making.
She has nearly 3,000 personal Facebook friends and just over 800 Likes
on her author fan page (rather than the other way around). Now that her
"Works At" reads "Michelle Miles, Romance Author," rather than
"Author," the expectation is to drive those few thousand friends who
haven't already Liked her fan page over to her page as new Likes.
I'm focusing on authors here because they are the ones I interact with the most on Facebook. However, any self-employed individual who has a Facebook fan page should consider doing this.
It's easy to update the "Works At" section. Simply follow these steps to update your profile:
• In the "About" section, click on Edit
• In the box that says, "Where have you worked?" start typing the name of your fan page.
• Click on it when it pops up as an option.
• Be sure to also remove any titles that click through to a generic page.
It's that simple.
Cover Photos
While we are on the subject of fan pages, I should point out that one of the features Michelle Miles was already taking advantage of was optimizing her cover photo. While Miles has over a dozen books in publication, her fan page's cover photo strictly features her Realm of Honor series. Had she used more, let alone all 15 book covers, she would have overwhelmed visitors with visual overload. Reducing it to the Realm of Honor series attracts readers to that series who will likely go on to find and read her other books as well.
For best results, your cover photo should be sized at 851 pixels wide and 315 pixels tall. Any smaller and the image will be stretched. Any larger and part of the image will be hidden. Your cover photo essentially works as a billboard for your books (or service/product). As a professional author, your cover photo should be professional in design and branding.
Author and public speaker, Valerie Ramsey, utilizes her cover photo with images of her book cover and two of her modeling images with a few keywords laid in to describe her. In this cover photo, her brand is represented and visitors instantly establish a feel for who she is when they visit her fan page.
All photographers should be utilizing both of these Facebook features as well. One example is my own Heather Hummel Photography fan page, which has this image as my cover photo. The four images used in the cover photo showcase a sample of my work that is represented by Agora Gallery in New York City. I intentionally chose four images that shows both the diversity of my subjects as well as the continuity.
These are two simple features that should be used by every author, public, speaker, photographer, and anyone else with a business they are promoting. If you aren't sure how to create a cover photo and have a limited budget, go on www.Fiverr.com and hire someone. It's not that difficult with the right tools, and as an author, you already have the graphics -- your book cover and author photo.
Note: Speaking of author photos, be sure to read my article on the Relevance of a Professional Author Photo.
Follow Heather Hummel on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HeatherHummel
This post originally appeared on the Huffington Post.
With the need to make their book stand out against tens of millions of others, an author needs every tool in their toolbox. So, image my surprise when many of them weren't taking advantage of two critical Facebook features.
Works At
I continued to be amazed by the number of times I went to a Facebook friend's "About" section on their timeline only to discover they didn't have their Facebook author fan page linked as their "Works At." Worse yet, many times it simply gave the generic term of "Writer at Author" and when clicked, it went through to a generic "Author" page.
I realized rather quickly that too any authors simply didn't know about the Facebook feature that allows them to link their fan page as their "Works At" on their personal profile. When I posted both on my timeline and in one of my writing groups asking if authors knew about this option, the responses in the comments confirmed that many of my friends and fellow writers hadn't known about this option, and they quickly went and added it.
Michelle Miles, a romance author of A Knight to Remember: 3 (Realm of Honor)
, and well over a dozen other novels, was one of those authors who took
the tip to heart and quickly updated her "Works At" to lead her friends
to her fan page. Miles is the perfect example of the point I was making.
She has nearly 3,000 personal Facebook friends and just over 800 Likes
on her author fan page (rather than the other way around). Now that her
"Works At" reads "Michelle Miles, Romance Author," rather than
"Author," the expectation is to drive those few thousand friends who
haven't already Liked her fan page over to her page as new Likes.
I'm focusing on authors here because they are the ones I interact with the most on Facebook. However, any self-employed individual who has a Facebook fan page should consider doing this.
It's easy to update the "Works At" section. Simply follow these steps to update your profile:
• In the "About" section, click on Edit
• In the box that says, "Where have you worked?" start typing the name of your fan page.
• Click on it when it pops up as an option.
• Be sure to also remove any titles that click through to a generic page.
It's that simple.
Cover Photos
While we are on the subject of fan pages, I should point out that one of the features Michelle Miles was already taking advantage of was optimizing her cover photo. While Miles has over a dozen books in publication, her fan page's cover photo strictly features her Realm of Honor series. Had she used more, let alone all 15 book covers, she would have overwhelmed visitors with visual overload. Reducing it to the Realm of Honor series attracts readers to that series who will likely go on to find and read her other books as well.
For best results, your cover photo should be sized at 851 pixels wide and 315 pixels tall. Any smaller and the image will be stretched. Any larger and part of the image will be hidden. Your cover photo essentially works as a billboard for your books (or service/product). As a professional author, your cover photo should be professional in design and branding.
Author and public speaker, Valerie Ramsey, utilizes her cover photo with images of her book cover and two of her modeling images with a few keywords laid in to describe her. In this cover photo, her brand is represented and visitors instantly establish a feel for who she is when they visit her fan page.
All photographers should be utilizing both of these Facebook features as well. One example is my own Heather Hummel Photography fan page, which has this image as my cover photo. The four images used in the cover photo showcase a sample of my work that is represented by Agora Gallery in New York City. I intentionally chose four images that shows both the diversity of my subjects as well as the continuity.
These are two simple features that should be used by every author, public, speaker, photographer, and anyone else with a business they are promoting. If you aren't sure how to create a cover photo and have a limited budget, go on www.Fiverr.com and hire someone. It's not that difficult with the right tools, and as an author, you already have the graphics -- your book cover and author photo.
Note: Speaking of author photos, be sure to read my article on the Relevance of a Professional Author Photo.
Follow Heather Hummel on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HeatherHummel
This post originally appeared on the Huffington Post.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
WRITE FROM THE HEART is FREE on Kindle New Years Weekend!
"WRITE FROM THE HEART takes readers on a powerful and captivating journey." #Review
New Years Weekend Special WRITE FROM THE HEART is FREE on Kindle Sat 12/31 and Sun 1/1! Happy New Year!
Journals are a woman's best friend...
When Samantha Sounder quits her office manager job the day after yet another boyfriend breaks up with her, the emotional havoc of these two events launches the beginning of her new life.
Samantha dives into therapy with Ragnar Axel, a traditional therapist who explores her failed relationships and sends her on a wild goose chase through her old journals to rediscover herself.
Despite the unsettling reactions of her best friend, Amanda, and Ragnar, Samantha decides to walk away from the corporate world and follow her dream as a novelist. She sets out to craft her first novel, Winter's Truth. Hesitantly, she accepts the unexpected guidance from Craig, an unlikely man she meets at the coffee shop.
Along her journey, Samantha picks up a new journal and titles it her "Positive Journal," declaring to only write positive thoughts in it. Samantha's life transforms from one of despair and loss to hope and faith as she navigates through new territory and explores the possibility of finding love over lattes.
Amazon Kindle
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Journals from the Heart - A Heartfelt Series by Heather Hummel
Are you an avid journal writer?
Do you find comfort in knowing love is still
attainable even after putting your heart on a shelf?
attainable even after putting your heart on a shelf?
Heather Hummel's new series Journals from the Heart threads the powerful theme of journal writing between characters who use the art in many areas of life. From reflection to grief to survival, journal writing carries these characters through challenges and to a place of love and empowerment.
Madison Ragnar utilizes journal writing with her high school students in Whispers from the Heart.
Samantha Sounder in Write from the Heart turns to her past journals and the beginnings of a new one in a mission of self discovery.
The third, and forthcoming, Wisdom from the Heart, will introduce Jamie Jacobs, a fourteen year old girl who finds out she's adopted and depends on her journal entries to guide her through to her adult life.
Heather Hummel is also a ghostwriter. Her books have appeared in newspapers such as: Publishers Weekly, USA Today and the Washington Post; and in magazines that include: Body & Soul, First, and Spry Living, a combined circulation of nearly 15 million. A graduate from the University of Virginia, Heather holds a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree.
Monday, December 13, 2010
To E or Not To E - The eBook Revolution
To E or Not To E?
The obvious answer is To E – to join the eBook revolution of Kindle, the Nook, iPad, Sony Reader, and others. Those who resist will only regret. It doesn't mean you have to give up your coveted hardcovers and paperbacks...just like you haven't given up your oven just because you got a microwave. It does mean that whether you're a reader or an author, if you don't join in on the eBook revolution, you're missing out.
As an author, I am quite pleased that the question isn’t To Read or Not To Read! In fact, the eBook revolution has brought quite a bit more attention to books and the different options for acquiring, reading, sharing, and enjoying them…and that’s a very good thing!
Authors today have more flexibility than ever in regards to where and how their books are sold. Gone are the days where book sales depended on the author plotting a tour around big cities and niche neighborhoods to sell their books—usually at $25 in hardcover. Instead, a Tweet, Facebook post, blog, or e-announcement delivers the word (no pun intended) to the world that their book is available. Feedback is almost instant from readers in almost the exact formats that they heard about the book in the first place...if a reader loves your book, they will often post a mini-review on their Facebook page or Tweet it…some even blog about it. It’s only natural that eBooks are promoted, read, and reviewed all in the one-stop-spot of our electronic devices.
The name Kindle is actually quite brilliant. The word itself subconsciously conjures images of sitting fireside curled up with a book. Adding that warm element to an electronic device has successfully enticed even the hardcore “gotta hold it in my hands” book lovers (I have seen many an elderly gentlemen at coffee shops reading their Kindles). Those who are vision impaired appreciate its option to increase the font size. Saving trees, convenience, and the continued lowering prices of the device and the books sold on it make it an easy sale.
Remember, there are nearly 300,000 new book titles published each year. This increase is greatly due to the ease and convenience of self-publishing. Traditional authors’ titles are automatically converted to eBook format by their publisher. My book Gracefully has been on Kindle since it was published by McGraw-Hill in 2008. My novels, Through Hazel Eyes and The Universe Is My Sugar Daddy, as well as my clients’ books are the titles that I’ve been responsible for loading to eBook formats. With approximately a dozen eBook formats available (including some of the originals like HTML and PDF versions), it’s almost a full-time job ensuring your books’ are available in this not-so-new-anymore venue. For many authors, the questions are, “Is my book automatically in eBook format?” and “How do I load my book to eBook formats if I’m self published or my publisher hasn’t or won’t do it?”
Fortunately, sites and services like Smashwords, take on the eBook formatting role for those who are responsible for their own eBook creations. However, their formatting requirements are quite stringent and if not done properly, can result in an eMess. Having done quite a few books to eBook transitions for my own books and for clients, I can say, it’s a learning experience I didn’t think I’d be going through when I started my publishing company six years ago!
I am most pleased that the quandary is what format to read—not whether or not to read. The world of books for readers and the joy of writing for writers is one of the few Ying and Yang experiences that this world continues to benefit from. And for that, I’m happy.
Heather Hummel is a Celebrity Ghostwriter and the Author of GO BIKE & Other Signs from the Universe, Gracefully: Looking and Being Your Best At Any Age, Through Hazel Eyes and The Universe Is My Sugar Daddy. She has never smoked a cigarette or drank a cup of coffee. http://www.heatherhummel.net/
Her novels are available for 99 cents on Kindle.
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