The Romances of Celeste Barclay
From Aspiring to Be a Corporate Lawyer to Making Your Granny Blush Gayle Leeson Before becoming the author of more than fifty books, Celeste Barclay earned degrees in international affairs, secondary social science, and political management. It’s no surprise then that her books are so thoroughly researched and accurate. From particular Scottish clans to the […]
Navigating the Seas of Nautical Fiction
Gayle Leeson When delving into the world of Nautical Fiction, you might first imagine epic tales like Herman Melville’s Moby Dick or Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. Although these classics—as well as books by Jack London, John D. McDonald, C. S. Forester, and Patrick O’Brian—undoubtedly hold a prominent place in the genre, […]
Cashing in on the BookTok Boom
Authors Can Still Clock Huge Sales Thanks to TikTok’s Reader Community In the past three years, TikTok, the wildly popular short-form video sharing platform, has become a powerful tool for authors to connect with bookish communities and establish their brand. Just as the platform itself has seen its popularity grow since the app became available […]
Q&A: Joanna Penn Shares Lessons Learned on the Path to a Creative Career
Award-nominated author, podcaster, and creative entrepreneur Joanna Penn is a force to be reckoned with in the world of writing and publishing. Writing under the name J. F. Penn, she’s a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Thrillers, Dark Fantasy, and Crime. Her popular ARKANE Action-Adventure Thrillers, Brooke & Daniel Psychological Thrillers, […]
(Artificially) Intelligent Advertising
What You Should Know about AI as a Marketing Tool Alexa. Google. Bixby. Siri. The automated voice that directs you when you call a business. Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere, and it’s growing. Can it help indie authors market their work? Absolutely! Are there some caveats? Absolutely. Despite some authors’ hesitations regarding AI use in […]
How Your Characters’ Needs Can Make Them More Human
I opened the revisions file from my editor on my latest work in progress and was surprised by the number one item on her list. “The protagonist is launching a business!” she wrote. “Why isn’t she working on her website, having business cards made, handing out flyers—anything?” I was slightly insulted. Of course, my character […]