Readers and Writers: Recent Episodes
James L Hill
A roundtable discussion to educate listeners on a variety of issues concerning publishing and writing. Teach writers what it takes to become an author. Inform readers of new authors and the books they produce in 15 minutes weekly segments.
Good or bad do not respond to the reviewer.
As a reviewer do not give away the story.
A bad review can be a good thing.
Am I only successful if I am traditionally published.
Make a name for yourself locally to sell more books.
Barnes and Noble should be where you end up, not where you start.
You should write the synopsis first, even before the outline.
Make it as detailed as possible.
You can use it in your marketing such as log lines, back cover blurbs, and teasers.
Pantsers or Plotters can both use outlines.
Can be short or as long as you like.
An outline keeps your story on track.
Real dialogue can’t be real.
Real dialogue takes up too much space.
Writing different voices.
Fiction and nonfiction needs research.
Sci-fi has to be plausible.
Magic, is it a natural thing or is it learned?
Conferences and conventions what are they for?
Fairs and comicons, the good and the bad.
Fall, Winter, and Spring for a Summer Release.
For selling it is the summer.
Which seasons are best for different genres.
Do you have a summer reading list?
Cozy reading in the winter.
Why books are released when they are?
· You now realized you are a writer.
· Discover your genre.
· Join a writing group/class.
· Follow your dream.
· Helps if you can write the script.
· Get scriptwriting software – there are free versions.
· The difference between book and script – not everything goes into the script.
· The difference between movies and television series.
· Myron Edwards talks about writing a book from a script.
· An immediate last-minute gift.
· Great value – lots of books for little money.
· Practically everyone has an eReader.
· Benefits to writers.
· Collaborations make good gift ideas.
· For Indie Publishers we get to share our audiences and expand our reach.
· Benefits of being a multi-genre author.
· Diann Floyd Boehm talks about going from being a children author to an adult author.
· Writing in different cultures.
· Facebook builds a fan base.
· LinkedIn puts you in contact with professionals in the business.
· Twitter is good for quick ads
Season 2 Episode 6 - Do what you do best. Hire someone who does what you can’t. It’s time versus money. You don’t have to do everything at once.
Season 2 Episode 5 - Advertising and marketing are extra important. Virtual vs InPerson.
o Zoom book signings.
o Facebook book launches.
o Vaxxed, Masked and meet people.
Newsletter, email, and website.
Season 2 Episode 3 - Zoom meetings brings everyone together from around the globe. Building personal relationships – a family of writers. Writers working on other’s writer's work are beta readers you know and trust.
The difference between Fairs, Writer’s Conventions, and “Comic” Cons. What to do and What to bring. Which is better for your genre. Discussion with David F. Balog author of Necromancer's Lament and Haley Kilgour author of Nanagin. Two amazing and very different fantasy novels.
Season 2 Episode 1 - We kick off our second season with a discussion on sequels and series, the differences between them.
RockHill is stepping into the arena of young readers. An interview with Gregg Rosenquist author of Uncle Zwizzler's Circus Galactica.
What is it about medieval times that lends itself to magical stories? An interview with H.C. Kilgour author of Nanagin.
Interview with publicist and marketing expert Sandy Lawerence. Everybody needs marketing. It can make a book popular but it can't make it good.
Success is different for everyone. An interview with Zack Varkaris, author of The Vevellis Chronicles: The Crescent and the Cross, his debut historical fiction.
A publishing house must have knowledge of the genres they publish, an understanding of that market, and the ability to change.
What are the types of publishers and how many are there? What do they do? What is an Imprint? Why are they called The Big Five? A dive into the world of publishing houses.
Main Characters – Looking at the business of books. A publisher has a desire to see good books in print. An editor has a desire to see the inside of a good book in print. And together they want to acquire quality manuscript to print. Supporting Characters are necessary so as not to become a Jack of all trades. Cover designers and formatters are essential.
The mission of RockHill Publishing is to find new writers and expose their talents to an audience. We believe that talent is an innate ability in the individual and it is the job of a publishers to guide that talent. The journey to get published should not be a path of heartbreaking and soul crushing rejections.