Tag Archives: author
The Stuff That Binds
You need something to bind your story together. No I’m not talking about adding more fiber to your literary diet. What I’m talking about is the thing that makes your story stand out in a field of similar work. There are a finite number of story lines and when you filter down to stories within […]
Guerrilla Marketing
Guerrilla Marketing is the new anti-spam If you choose to release your book through a traditional publisher, or you are the author-publisher, you are the one who will bear the responsibility for marketing your work. Traditional publishers may provide an initial push of the fledgling novel from the nest, but unless you learn to fly […]
Little River Giveaway Coming Soon!
I’m planning a giveaway to celebrate the release of the print edition of Little River, a human trafficking thriller set in Jamaica. Little River is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Ingram connected bookstores everywhere. I want to thank everyone for their encouragement and support during the e-book’s release and to celebrate this milestone […]
What Writing Your Novel and Dog Training Have in Common
When I’m not writing, a good chunk of time is spent training our dogs, two Pembroke Welsh Corgis. They are (most of the time) good little pups, who compete in American Kennel Club sanctioned Obedience and Rally trials. Writing and dog training are more connected than I first thought and there are five principles that […]
Snakes On A Plane – Or In Your House
I had a paranormal experience this week. I channeled Samuel L. Jackson from his infamous role in Snakes On A Plane. There shouldn’t be snakes on a plane and there shouldn’t be snakes in my house. First off, no this wasn’t a venomous rattlesnake, the variety that slither about in the foothills where we live. […]
Print Tales – Six Lessons Learned on E-Book to Print Conversion
Uploading two PDF files to IngramSpark didn’t sound too daunting. I took on the challenge, converting my e-book version of Little River to print, because I encountered a significant number of readers who asked for a physical book. SALT Media Productions, my publisher, and I worked out an amended contract to speed up the print […]
To Print or Not to Print – No Question
Converting an e-book to a conventional printed version is a no-brainer. Well, that’s what I thought when I decided to take Little River from the e-book only world to print. With an old-fashioned book in your hand, I find that you can reach more readers and potential readers than with the electronic version alone. I’ve […]
Human Trafficking – Progress or Pitfall
Human Trafficking Rampant in the Caribbean The small geographic region in the tropics boasts some of the most beautiful beaches, sunsets and resilient people on Earth. It’s also home to six nations on the U.S. State Department’s Tier 2 Watch List of nations failing to make significant efforts to curb human trafficking (Barbados, Guyana, Haiti, […]
Another WTF Moment
I’m a creature of habit. I have my routines and my way own peculiar way of doing things. I’d like to say I’m the kind of guy who can “roll with it,” as things come along. I’d like to say that – but that wouldn’t be true. Maybe, I used to be that guy, but […]
Traveling (and Writing) with Your Dogs
A getaway to finish a revision on a manuscript seemed like a good idea. Revision and edits on a manuscript are moving along well, but slower than I hoped. Constant interruptions from phone calls, doorbells, and the siren’s call of unattended yard work, lure me away from the pages. A couple of days on the […]
James L'Etoile 