Okay, I'll admit it. I'm new to all of this. I pop off at the mouth sometimes. Let my emotions get the best of me. No I'm not a fan of the editing process, but I know it makes me a better writer in the long run. Yes I love my editor and Lea Schizas, she is the BOMB, THE BEST, she is pretty forward thinking when it comes to her company and doesn't rush anything which is why I see her house going far in this new age of publishing.
She focuses on the author and creating a 'family' for them to exsist in. In fact I'm learning a lot from her.
Which brings me to another person who helped me land three contracts in as many months with tweets like 'Pitching the Johnny Cash Way'. I wouldn't even know the difference betwen brand and product if it weren't for him. He shares his thoughts and while he isn't the only source I look to he is certainly someone who has his finger on the pulse of the publishing industry these days.
There is one thing people should know about me. I've always wanted to be a published novelist. It seems I excel in the short form. I remember a time when I looked down on epub myself. Now I see it as a land filled with opportunities. That is due in no small part to several people (Pamela Turner, fear not, I have not forgotten you ;) But I have to admit, seeing Bob's success made me want to take the necessary steps to stake my own path to creative freedom and control I might not otherwise have.
I love MuseItUp Publishing and I certainly wouldn't have any idea what I was doing without them in the cover art and editing arena. (Although, I always had a good cover artist in Elise VanCise. Now I'm doubly blessed with Delilah K. Stephans. I have options that I didn't have before.)
So Bob Mayer is awesome because he shares his knowledge and views as someone who's lived it, breathed it, and done it. I liked the term he used the other day too, author-centric. Success may not be guaranteed, but how you define yourself and work for it says a great deal about who you are as a person. I believe I drank the indie kool-aid a long time ago. I've just finally embraced it.
5 comments:
Great posting. Muse is the greatest!
I love Muse!!! Lea is so awesome there are no words to describe her properly without sounding a little crazy. But she is truly a very special and amazingly astute person about what is right.:) When I am not sure I always defer to her judgement, since she simply knows what to do.We are very lucky to be here. I will check out this guy, though I am wary of any person who is on the internet for business. It always involves money!
Bob Mayer is an international best selling author. He is behind the Area 51 books and his series Atlantis is currently number 4 on the kindle list in the United States and only second to Game of Thrones in Europe. He also co-writes with romance writer Jennifer Cruisie. He's a successful indie writer. And I've had the pleasure of meeting the man. Yes, Lea is da BOMB as I said. She knows what she's doing. But so does this guy. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Mayer.
Bob Mayer is not all about money. He's about helping authors. I took a free pitch workshop from him via Savvy Authors. He's tough but fair. He's a former Green Beret who wrote Who Dares Wins and Warrior Writer. He also has a blog Write it Forward. Yeah, I'll admit I wanted to yank my hair out during that workshop but I have a lot of respect for the man.
If you've never had the opportunity to attend one of Bob Mayer's workshops, here's a bit of advice--forget your pen and pad and sit up front with your recorder. Bob drops his pearls of wisdom on you faster than you can possibly take notes! After having caught he and Jennifer Cruise's workshop at nationals (so hilarious), I *won* his "Who Dares Wins" all-day workshop in Dallas. Outstanding! After several RWA and other conferences, we've become what you might call good, want-to-go-have-a-drink-at-the-bar buddies...and if there's anything...anything! you want to know about self-publishing, Bob's the guy to go to. http://writeitforward.wordpress.com
Joelle Walker
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