Story Bibles And More - Bound By Books Podcast Episode 64

 

Keeping track of your story details is sometimes the hardest part of writing a series. Marianne Morea and Danielle Bannister are sharing how they keep track of all the character and plot details in their stories in this week's Bound by Books Podcast.

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Writing A Serial Series - Bound by Books Podcast Episode 59

 

 

Danielle Bannister and I are sharing our experiences writing serial series in today's Bound by Books Podcast.

 

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Finding The Right Reader - Bound by Books Podcast Episode 58

 

 

 

Not sure if you need an Alpha Reader, Beta Reader, or Critique Partner? Danielle Bannister and Marianne Morea are comparing the different types of pre-release readers and helping to breakdown which ones will be best for you and your stories.

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Finding Your Focus - Bound by Books Podcast Episode 53

 

 

Do you ever have trouble finding the time to write? Do you have dedicated time for marketing? I'm talking this week with Danielle Bannister about how each of us balance writing and marketing with a day job.

 

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TikTok - Tips, Tricks & Trends

 

 

 

Are you on TikTok? Thinking about it? Tina Moss and Danielle Bannister talk all things TikTok in today's episode of Bound by Books.

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Do I Need A Newsletter - Bound By Books Podcast Episode 47

 

 

 

This week I'm talking with Danielle Bannister about newsletters. We're discussing why it's important for authors to have a newsletter and some of the things we do to bring value to our readers.

 

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To Pen Name Or Not - Bound by Books Podcast

 

 

 

Danielle Bannister and Marianne Morea are talking all about pen names on this week's episode of the Bound by Books Podcast. They both have experience with pen names and they are sharing their wisdom with listeners.

 

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Choosing The Right Publishing Option For You

In this week's episode of the Bound by Book Podcast, Tina Moss and Danielle Bannister broke down the pros and cons of self publishing your own story and going the more traditional route. Both Tina and Danielle have experience with both, as to quite a few authors in the indie sphere. For a long time, there was a stigma with self publishing that it was only for those writers who couldn't get a deal with one of the big guys, but that isn't the case anymore. A lot of authors, specifically romance authors, are choosing to self publish.

 

My journey to self publishing began way back in 2010. I was trying to polish a story I'd written and get it ready so I could start querying agents. But before I'd sent out the first letter, I was approached by a small publishing house. They'd read some of the fan fiction I'd posted online and wanted to know if I had anything I was interested in publishing. Two weeks later, they'd read my manuscript and offered me a contract. That story became my first ever published novel.

 

I was with that small press for five years and while with them I published eight novels and a short story. It was a good experience and it helped me learn a lot about marketing and publishing.

 

Small presses still fall into the bucket of traditional publishing even though they tend to be more approachable than the big five and you often don't have to have an agent. Authors still have to submit their manuscripts for consideration, especially authors new to that publisher. The turn around time to get an answer, however, tends to be much quicker than that of the New York publishers. Instead of waiting years to find out if your book will be picked up and published, you will often know in a matter of weeks.

 

Part of this is because small presses, because of their size, can change and adjust to the industry a lot faster than the big houses. They can adjust their marketing, jump on trends, and even focus on niche markets that can give their authors an advantage. 

 

There are small presses that only publish erotica. Other presses focus on cozy mysteries and sweet romances. These publishers know those markets and they know them well, which means they know how to find those readers. That can be a huge advantage to authors, especially if they aren't great at marketing themselves.

 

So why self publish?

 

While some authors do choose to self publish because they haven't been able to land a publishing deal with one of the big houses, a vast majority do it because they want to. Self publishing gives the author complete and total control, but with that comes a lot of responsibility.

 

When you publish through a publishing house, large or small, that publisher covers the cost of the cover design, the editing, proofreading, and formatting. They might even do a little marketing. If an author chooses to self publish, then all of that is on them.

 

Some authors thrive on this type of control. For others, it stresses them out. They'd rather focus on the writing and leave all the rest of the behind the scenes stuff to someone else and they're willing to give up some of their royalties to do it.

 

When the owner of the small press I was published with decided to close their doors, I had a decision to make. I could seek out another publisher for my books, or I could self publish them myself. 

 

I went back and forth, weighing the pros and cons before finally deciding to go all in and self publish both my previously published titles and the ones I had planned for the future. It was a huge decision and a big shift for me. I used to be able to write the story, and then turn it over to the publisher. The book would be assigned to an editor and they'd keep it moving from there. Sure, I had to go through edits, look at cover designs, and participate, but they kept things on track. And they paid for it.

 

One of the most difficult things I've found in transitioning from a more traditional route to self publishing as been the lack of accountability. I'm my own boss. I set my own publishing schedule. And while that can be great, it's easy to let days go by without writing anything. Days turn into months and before you know it, it's been two years and you haven't published anything new.

With self publishing, you really are running your own business. Because of that, you have to run it like a business. That means setting deadlines and sticking to them. It means finding people to help you produce a quality product for your readers. It means marketing your story.

 

Want more insights into the pros and cons of traditional and indie publishing? Click HERE to listen to this week's Bound by Books Podcast.

Indie Vs. Traditional - Bound by Books Podcast

 Are indie books as good as traditionally published books? This week Tina Moss and Danielle Bannister are comparing self publishing and traditional publishing. Which is better for you?

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Co-Writing With Different Writing Styles

 

 

 

Danielle Bannister is joined this week by guest host R.J. Keller and they are talking about co-writing. Whenever two writers mess their writing styles, there are bound to be obstacles. Danielle and R.J. discuss their experiences with co-writing and how they've overcome these challenges and turned them into benefits.

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Hostage Deadlines And Writing Resolutions

 

 

 

It's a new year, which means more books to write! This week Marianne Morea and Danielle Bannister are talking about writing multiple projects at one time, deciding when to publish, and balancing writing and marketing. Learn some of their tips, tricks, and learn from some of their past mistakes.

 

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Planning For 2022: Writing, Planners, And More

 

It's a new year and that means setting new writing and business goals. This week's podcast is a special one. Tina Moss, Danielle Bannister, Marianne Morea, and I are all coming together this week for a fun conversation talking about what we've learned in the past year and our upcoming projects for 2022.

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Looking Back On My Favorite Reads For 2021

The first book that has to make my favorite's list for 2021 is Filthy Rich Revenge by Lynn Raye Harris. 

 

I'll be honest. I'm not a huge fan of the enemies to lovers trope, but I picked this one up because it was Lynn Raye Harris and I love her stuff. She didn't disappoint. I LOVED this one.

 

These two characters pulled me in from the start and didn't let go. I would highly recommend this if you're looking for a great enemy to lovers story with a sexy billionaire hero.

 

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The second book to make my best of 2021 list is All That Matters by Erin Nicholas.

 

I'm not sure there's a book this author has written that I haven't liked. I don't think so. And this year, I read several of her stories. This one, however, is at the top of my list. I loved the story from start to finish and found myself picking it up every chance I got.

 

This is the third book in a series, and while it can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading them in order. We meet the heroine as a fourteen year old girl in the first book, and the hero is introduced in book two. Seeing these two progress was part of the fun!

 

 Amazon | Nook | Kobo

 

And my biggest surprise find for 2021 was a book by a new to me author. She also happens to be one of my co-hosts in the Bound by Books Podcast.

 

I wasn't sure what I was going to get when I started reading The First 100 Kisses by Danielle Bannister. She warned me it wasn't going to be as spicy as my stuff, but that there was some steam. What I discovered was a fun story about exploration and lots of sexual tension.

 

If you're looking for a book filled with angst, this is the book for you. This is a friends to...sort of lovers...romance that is full of angst.

 

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The Year In Review: 2021

 

It's time to say goodbye to 2021 and hello to 2022, but not before we take a look back at some of our favorite moments.

 

This week's podcast is a little different. We've each selected clips from our favorite episode to share. 

Click below to listen.

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10 Gifts For Booklovers

 

Not sure what to get the book lover in your life? Want to treat yourself this Christmas? This week's podcast is for you! Danielle Bannister and I are talking holiday gifts for those who love to read.

 

Click below to listen to the podcast, or go to www.boundbybookspodcast.com to find out more about the show and more about all our hosts.

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Writing Lessons From The Marvel Cinematic Universe

 

This week Danielle Bannister and Tina Moss are continuing their discussion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What lessons can writers learn about characters, world building, and writing from this multi-layered franchise.

 

Click below to listen, or go to www.boundbybookspodcast.com to find out more about the show and more about all our hosts.

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