Is your book worthy of the ad budget you’re about to spend?
By: Ginger | Posted on November 27, 2020
Nothing burns through ad dollars faster than trying to sell a book that no one wants to buy. But even if the story is great and an author has done everything right inside their book, that doesn’t necessarily mean they haven’t gone completely off the rails on everything else. And unfortunately, it’s the ‘everything else’ that drive readers to click the buy button. In this next installment of Ginger’s continuing series on turning your writing dreams into a reality, he dissects one of his early publications in which he made just about every mistake possible, all so that you can learn from his missteps instead of making them on your own! The question I get asked most often by other authors is: “How can I advertise my book?” The more important one can sometimes be: “Should I advertise my book?” So, you want to be a successful author –… Read More >
Author Spotlight Interview: Tudor Robins
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on November 24, 2020
Today we’re sitting down for an interview with author Tudor Robins. Tudor writes “stories to make you smile”, and lately, we could all use more of those. That’s why we are so thankful for the opportunity to chat with her about her inspiration, life outside of writing and her latest release, Before & After: a Pandemic Novel. HG: How would you describe yourself to somebody who isn’t familiar with your writing yet? TR: Did you have to start with the hardest question? Well … I guess my tagline gives the big-picture idea: “Stories to Make You Smile.” Several readers have told me that when they finish my books they spend the rest of the day in kind of a happy daze. That’s exactly what I’m going for – especially these days – trying to give readers a break. HG: Haha! Definitely what everyone needs these days! Are your novels… Read More >
US Copyright FAQ: Your Questions Answered
By: Nate | Posted on November 20, 2020
A couple of weeks ago we went over the rules around copyright and designers as it pertains to your cover design, but what about when it comes to your actual book? One of the questions authors often ask is whether they need to copyright their book in order to protect it. Unfortunately, like that last article and pretty much everything else related to self-publishing, the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. It really depends on a variety of factors, which is why Nate is back to go over what you need to know. Howdy, y’all! Let me preface this by saying that while I am pursuing a law degree with certification in intellectual property, I am not a lawyer, and I don’t really ever intend to practice. Nothing in this thread should constitute legal advice, and I would advise everyone to always engage a law professional in your jurisdiction… Read More >
5 Steamy Romance Reads to Heat Up Your Winter
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on November 17, 2020
Light up the fireplace, grab your favorite blanket and get ready to melt with these steamy romance novels that were popular among Hidden Gems ARC readers who recently got to read them first, and for free! There’s a romance for everyone on this list, but be warned, they might keep you turning pages and skipping sleep. Protecting His Brother’s Babies by Katie Knight and Leslie North With an average 4.5 star rating and over 150 reviews on Amazon, USA Today Bestseller Leslie North and Katie Knight invite you to indulge in a heart-pounding military romance with a hot, super-alpha Navy SEAL protecting the woman he loves at all costs. “This book is gripping, captivating and draws the reader in with lots of intrigue, action and suspense and succeeds in keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, captivated and with baited breath,” writes Texas Customer in their 5-star review…. Read More >
When to throw out your first draft?
By: Ginger | Posted on November 13, 2020
For some authors, the common advice to “throw out your first draft” is the stuff of nightmares, but it should only be that scary if you’re taking it too literally. It’s rarely (if ever) necessary to just toss your book out and forget about it altogether! The point is more about how an author must sometimes be willing to tear their first draft down completely and rebuild it into a better or more marketable book. But the question is, how do you know when that’s needed? In his continuing series on turning your writing dreams into reality, Ginger lays out when and why you may need to go this route. If you’re serious about becoming a successful self-published author, you have to make some serious decisions about what you’ve already written and published; and sometimes, you’ll have to go right back to the drawing board. Ernest Hemingway warned authors… Read More >
Author Spotlight Interview: Tessa Layne
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on November 10, 2020
Today’s Author Spotlight Interview is with USA Today Bestselling Author Tessa Layne. Tessa writes steamy contemporary romance with swoon-worthy happy endings that fans go crazy for. Today she’s celebrating the release of her latest novel, Ride Rough, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with her about her books, inspiration and life outside of writing. HG: How would you describe yourself to somebody who isn’t familiar with your writing yet? TL: I write stories with strong emotional arcs, themes of redemption and unconditional love. My stories are often a mix of humor, tears, angst – the full breadth of emotions. I think I gravitate to these stories because I recognize that as humans, we’re all broken – some more than others – and we’re all seeking the assurance that we’re lovable and worthy of love. I write strong characters and model healthy relationship behaviors because I discovered… Read More >
Copyright and Cover Designers
By: Nate | Posted on November 6, 2020
Many authors believe that if you hire a designer to do your covers, you’re free to use the finished product however you see fit – including resizing, zooming in on, or cropping out parts of the images to use in your ads or other promotional material. But be careful, because in many cases, doing those things may actually be in violation of your license agreement. Just because you paid a designer for a cover or purchased some stock images doesn’t mean you’re free to use them however you please. That’s why Nate is here to go over what is and is not allowed across the various scenarios. You’ve invested a ton of time and energy into making your story perfect, but without an eye-catching cover designed to communicate to your intended audience, you’ll be at a major disadvantage when the time comes to hopefully see some returns on your investment…. Read More >
5 Political Fiction Reads to Add to Your TBR List
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on November 3, 2020
It’s election day in the United States, and in many ways this year seems like something out of a political thriller. So if you’re looking for an escape from reality, we’ve rounded up these gripping, thought-provoking political fiction books that were under the radar this year. Hidden Gems readers got the chance to read several of these first (and for free!) and they recommend them to anyone that loves a story with political, military and/or conspiracy elements. World War O by James Ward World War Offshore…it’s the biggest anti-capitalist demonstration the world has ever seen. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators spread across six continents, demanding an end to the “non-accountability of the 1%”, re-regulation of the world’s financial services, and a new era of social justice. In this fictional tale, James Ward tackles one of the most hotly-debated topics of recent times. Taxation and corporate wealth. Just what, if anything,… Read More >
