Tag: authors

A self-published author's diary, Self publishing, Self-pub corner, writing

The One With The Flashback Friday (and Q&A)

Elodie

This article is available as podcast episode on my podcast: “A Self-Published Author’s Diary”. My podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and more…

Before starting, I am very excited to share books I should be receiving very soon. I ordered them on One More Page Bookstore’s website and I loved the commented that those books are great choices. 🙂 I agree of course but it was a nice touch to see those words as I opened my email…

IN A BOOK CLUB FAR AWAY by Tif Marcelo

From the author of Once Upon a Sunset and The Key to Happily Ever After comes a heartwarming and moving novel following three Army wives—estranged friends—who must overcome their differences when one of them is desperate for help.

WILD WOMEN AND THE BLUES by Denny S. Bryce.

From the author of Once Upon a Sunset and The Key to Happily Ever After comes a heartwarming and moving novel following three Army wives—estranged friends—who must overcome their differences when one of them is desperate for help.

I’m currently still reading CINDERELLA IS DEAD (and loving it). Next, I have a loan from the library: PRETTY LITTLE WIFE and then I’ll read those two. 🙂

On another note: Did you know you can send me audio messages for my podcast via the message button on anchor.fm? That means you can also send me questions. Don’t hesitate. Or you can leave me a comment or send me an email (authorelodienowodazkij AT gmail.com).

Over the years, I’ve given quite a few interviews to bloggers, reviewers, even journalists (like the wonderful Brittany Britto when she worked for the Baltimore Sun). I still remember driving early Sunday morning to several gas stations to get copies. And yes, it hangs over the computer in our office.

I’ve also written quite a few blogposts so for a little flashback Friday, here are some of the questions I’ve received most often over the years.

What was the inspiration behind ONE TWO THREE?

If you do not know ONE TWO THREE was the first book I published. The tagline to that book is: When seventeen-year-old Natalya’s dreams of being a ballerina are killed in a car accident along with her father, she must choose: shut down—like her mother—or open up to love.

I used to love dancing ballet as a kid, and I won a writing contest to go see the Opera de Paris. We saw the dancers train, it was magical. Those moments stayed with me. Then, one day, I was talking about the movie Center Stage on Twitter and Natalya’s voice came into my head. At first, all I knew was that she was seventeen and an accident had killed her hope of becoming a professional ballerina…The accident turned into a car crash that also took her father’s life…

Her voice was full of longing and full of hope and I had to tell her story.

Tea or coffee?

I drink both. If I had to choose, probably coffee.

Dog or cat?

I will not choose.

Are your characters inspired by people in your life?

Ummm, yes and no. No and yes. Some things might be inspired by real life. The mom’s perfume in ONE TWO THREE is Chanel 5 which might be the perfume my dad has gifted my mom for many years. And the mom in ONE TWO THREE is named Natalya which is my mother-in-law’s name.

In FEAR ME, FEAR ME NOT the main character’s name is named Erin like one of my nieces and the book is dedicated to her. There may be a beagle mix in FMFMN. I have a beagle. In one novel, I think I named a dog Friday. And Friday was a wonderful lab. In A SUMMER LIKE NO OTHER, you meet Svetlana…which is my husband’s aunt’s name.

The siblings dynamics (the healthy ones), the ones I get complimented on a lot is inspired by both my sisters who I love very much and are amazing.

Oh and my husband will tell you he has inspired a lot of my characters.

And so much more. Really, I could share a lot more. So again it’s not really a moment, it may be a feeling or it may be something specific or an Easter egg.

In three words: what do you enjoy about self-publishing?

Flexibility, control and creativity.

When you think about writing, what three words come to mind?

When I think about writing, the three words that come to mind are: balance, patience and love.

And I am so so happy to let you know that in the coming Fridays, I will share interviews with wonderful writers at different stages in their careers. Some are traditionally published. Some are hybrid. Some are self-published. Some are not yet published…Some may not even think about getting published…

Next week, I will be chatting with the wonderful L. Penelope.

And on the podcast episode, you get to listen to a short preview of the chats I will have with L. Penelope, Mona Shroff, Katy Upperman and Megan Carter….

As always, thanks for reading and/or listening!

Don’t forgot that if you want to support me and my writing, you can pre-order #TheLeftoverBride on Amazon, Kobo, iTunes or add it to Goodreads!

I have two newsletters!

(1) My weekly self-publishing emails: A Self-published author’s diary…JOIN MY EMAIL LIST

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

(2) A newsletter for my readers: full of bonus scenes, updates on my books, shows I’m watching, books I’m reading, exclusive giveaways and more…

Click on this link and just add your email and you’ll receive access to a page full of exclusive content! Plus my emails include pictures of my cat and my dog…and they’re pretty adorable…:-)

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Ep. 9 – The One With The Flashback Friday (and Q&A) – A self-published author's diary

You can ask me questions about self-publishing, writing and/or my books by sending me an email authorelodienowodazkij@gmail.com or you can also send me a message via the anchor.fm website. I'll be answering those questions on the podcast! I'm also announcing Spotlight Friday with amazing writers!  The books I mentioned are: IN A BOOK CLUB FAR AWAY by Tif Marcelo. WILD WOMEN AND THE BLUES by Denny S. Bryce. All links (including to sign up to my newsletters) as well as partial transcript are available on my blog: https://elodienowodazkij.com/2021/04/23/the-one-with-the-flashback-friday-and-qa/ Social media: @enowodazkij Add my next book (rom-com) #TheLeftoverBride on Gooddreads. — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/support

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Elodie

Introducing a new newsletter! From me to you, every week, I will send you some behind-the-scenes info, musings about self-publishing, what I’ve learned, what has worked for me, what hasn’t and so much more…

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Motivation Monday

The One With The Coffee Mug Motivation…

Elodie

Would you like to receive my blog posts directly into your mailbox? Just enter your email address below. 🙂

Did you know that there is a page on this blog full of extra content, available only to newsletter subscribers? You can subscribe to my newsletter here to receive the password.

I love mugs. If you ask The Chemical Engineer, he might tell you we have too many mugs. I would disagree. We have mugs that are full of memories that make me smile. We have mugs that have sayings on them that make me smile.

I actually got the mug below for him. 😉 I do use it as well.

It’s official. You’re awesome.

I took the following picture sometime last week, and I thought I’d share it in case anyone else needs that reminder or needs a smile or loves mugs as much as I do. 😉

I shared it on Instagram this morning.

Oh, in case you’re wondering where I got it. It was at Target. They don’t seem to ship it anymore, but some stores may still have it. They do curbside contactless pick-up. 🙂

I have a lot of things on my to-do list for today and for this week, including:

  • Finish revising/drafting my first adult rom-com.
  • Getting the German/Italian version of ONE DREAM ONLY ready for publication. That means: work on the ebook cover, the paperback cover, upload it on different platforms.
  • Getting the Italian version of ONE DREAM ONLY ready for re-publication, as I’m getting the rights back this week. That includes: work on an updated ebook cover, an updated paperback cover, upload it on different platforms.

Do you have mugs that bring a smile to your face as soon as you see them? What do you have on your to-do list for today? Or for this week?

Would you like to receive my blog posts directly into your mailbox? Just enter your email address below. 🙂

Did you know that there is a page on this blog full of extra content, available only to newsletter subscribers? You can subscribe to my newsletter here to receive the password.

revising, rom-com, writing

The One With The Love List…

Elodie

Do you want to receive my blog posts directly in your inbox? You can…by just signing up below.

If you’d like to receive updates about my books and get exclusive access to bonus content, don’t hesitate to susbscribe to my newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/elodienowodazkij/website .

What is a love list? Honestly, you could do a love list for a whole lot of different things, but this one is about my manuscript. 🙂

Once upon a time, YA Highway (remember, YA Highway?)’s prompt for Road Trip Wednesday was: “What’s on your Work-in-Progress Love List?”

It was a summer day, forever ago (on August 22nd, 2012), when writers around the globe shared their love lists for their own manuscript. I did, too. Even if I did apparently forget.

Full disclosure: I actually remembered Katy Upperman’s love lists (for KISSING MAX HOLDEN which was then called CROSS MY HEART and another book which is full of hearbreak and emotions), which is how I found my way back to Googling YA Highway RTW Love List, re-read Dahlia Adler’s Love List for her manuscript which popped up in my Google search, and then re-found my own from August 2012.

That YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday prompt was based on a guest post by contemporary young adult author  Stephanie Perkins’ for author Natalie Whipple’s blog.

Whenever I begin a new project, I also begin a list called “What I Love About This Story.” I start by writing down those first ideas that sparked the fires of my mind, and then I add more ideas as I discover them during my push through early drafts. I use this list as a touchstone to remind myself during the hard times why my story is worthwhile. It’s easy to forget the GOOD STUFF when I’m wading through the muck, and the end is still months away, and it feels pointless and hopeless to continue. This list becomes a crucial reminder: Yes! This is a story worth telling! 

And as I’m about to go back into finishing drafting/revising my current work-in-progress, I feel like writing down this manuscript’s love list (in addition to my Pinterest board) will be helpful.

This is my first adult rom-com and I’ve only been sharing snippets of it with my critique partners.

So, here we go.

💕Love List 💕

Second chance romance.
Bucket Lists.
Lace. And tule. And wedding dresses.
Vintage clothing.
Old Bay.
Swans’ Cove.
Maryland Eastern Shore Little Town.
Holiday season.
Laughter.
Animal shelter.
Hockey.
Therapy.
Ice rink.
Self-confidence.
Therapy.
Friendships.
Giggles.
The sweet smell of cinammon apple pie baking in the oven.
The flavor of Julia Child’s Beef Bourguignon.
The sound of the waves.
Family dinners.
Support.
Chemistry.
Scenes full of sexy moments…including sizzling sexy moments and laughing sexy moments and full-of-emotions sexy moments.
and so much more ;-)…

Do you have a love list for your manuscript? Or maybe for your job? Or your day? Don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments. 🙂

Oh, and if you’d like to help me raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and #LightTheNight, please check out this link.

Do you want to receive my blog posts directly in your inbox? You can…by just signing up below.

If you’d like to receive updates about my books and get exclusive access to bonus content, don’t hesitate to susbscribe to my newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/elodienowodazkij/website .

marketing, newsletter

The one where I share what I learned about tags and journeys for newsletter subscribers on Mailchimp…

Elodie

…Yes, I know it’s a long title. 🙂

Long story short…

This is what I learned:

  • In Mailchimp, you can assign tags to new subscribers who subscribe from a landing page. The advantage? You know exactly where subscribers signed up from and you can tailor some of the emails based on that tag. In addition, you can then keep only one list with different automations.
  • You can then create a “journey” for them based on that tag.
  • At the end of the journey (since I have an essentials plan and not a standard plan), I add an additional tag to those subscribers.
  • They then start on the “regular” journey I have created for people who sign up through my website.
  • Let’s say, reader A finished reading FEAR ME, FEAR ME NOT and would like to read a bonus scene, he/she/they click on the link at the end of the ebook, subscribe(s) through the landing page (example here of said landing page) and then get(s) assigned the tag “FMFMN Bonus scene”.
  • Reader A then receives:
  1. The exclusive bonus epilogue.
  2. Then, an hour later, an other tag is added to Reader A through the “journey” called “Welcome emails”. Reader A then starts the “Welcome Emails” journey.
  3. Reader A receives about one to two hours later a Welcome Email with a password to access more bonus content.
  4. A week later, reader A receives another email with more info on the newsletter, info about free books, audiobook promo codes and pictures of Plato The Dog and Bobbie Voltaire The Cat.
  5. So reader A receives a total of 3 emails within a week.

Here you can read much more about tags, journey, landing pages:

Long story long:

Authors are usually told that newsletters are very important because, unlike social media, one keeps the contact info of people who subscribe and is not subjected to the whim of the ever-changing algorithm of social media.

What does this mean? It means that you can reach people without relying on them using social media. You also can reach people without boosting your posts, because you land directly in their mailbox. When algorithms change on Facebook or Instagram, it can affect how often your audience sees your posts…and then your audience may leave social media, but might keep their email address.

It doesn’t mean that it’s free. Hosting a newsletter can get costly, depending on which provider you decide to use.

The ones I hear most about are Mailerlite and Mailchimp. I personally still use Mailchimp. But it’s mainly for convenience, and I still have a plan from years ago with them, and I haven’t reached the number of subscribers that would make Mailchimp very expensive.

Because it can get expensive. Did I mention that?

If you’re interested in the different platform and their pros/cons, here are a few articles.

I used to have different mailing lists, depending on where I was getting my susbcribers. This made sending newsletters a bit cumbersome, and then I had some duplicate subscribers. So, I’ve been consolidating my newsletters into one. And that’s when I started looking more closely at tags, and journey, and automation, and …. and …. and…

I chatted with Mailchimp employees several times to understand fully what the best solution for my needs was and decided on creating different landing pages, depending on where subscribers signed up. That way, I can attach a tag to said subscribers and they can have personalized “welcome” emails.

I’m still working on some landing pages but here are two of them if you’re interested in taking a look:

FEAR ME, FEAR ME NOT exclusive epilogue (link is at the end of FEAR ME, FEAR ME NOT encouraging readers to leave a review, but they don’t have to leave a review to receive the epilogue…): https://mailchi.mp/elodienowodazkij/fearmefearmenot

Website subscribers landing page: https://mailchi.mp/elodienowodazkij/website

  1. Website subscribers receive a password to a bonus content page which has all the bonus content as their first welcome email.
  2. FEAR ME, FEAR ME NOT subscribers first receive the exclusive FMFMN epilogue and then another tag is added to their profile and they go on the same “journey” as website subscribers. Their second email is the password to the bonus content page.
  3. The last email both sets of subscribers receive as part of their “welcome journey” is more info about the newsletter, as well as pictures of Plato The Dog and Bobbie Voltaire The Cat, and info about free books and audiobook promo codes.
  4. FEAR ME, FEAR ME NOT subscribers receive three emails within a week. Website subscribers receive two emails within a week.

And this is it, today, for “The one where I share what I learned about tags and journeys for newsletter subscribers on Mailchimp…”

Don’t forget that if you’d like to receive my blog posts directly into your mailbox, you can sign up here (I blog more often than I send newsletters).

Audiobooks

Did you hear? Fear Me, Fear Me Not is coming soon as audiobook…

Elodie

Great news for fans of Criminal Minds, the movie Scream, and Lifetime movies…

FEAR ME, FEAR ME NOT which has been called “Chilling, in the best way” is going to be available soon as audiobook!

It is going to be narrated by the very talented Megan Carter. I mean just listen to the first 38 seconds below…

And here are a few extra fun things coming your way:

  • Audiobook Promo Codes (Audible): I will have some audiobook promo codes available (Audible – UK & US listeners), and newsletters’ subscribers will receive them first. So…if you’re interested don’t hesitate to sign up for my newsletter here.
  • Exclusive “Audiobook Only” scene narratated by Megan: An access code will be sent to both Newsletters’ subscribers and Google Form Sign-ups (see below).

If you don’t want to subscribe to my newsletter, you can just sign up below and you will receive only one email from me: to let you know when the audiobook is up for sale and that email will include a code to access one extra exclusive scene narrated by Megan.

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And if you want to help me spread the word:

  • Just share this page/post with your friends and family.
  • go over on my Instagram and like/share/comment on the video.
  • Or like/share/comment the video on Facebook.
  • Share the news on Twitter.
  • Basically, share, share, share ❤

FEAR ME, FEAR ME NOT is also available as paperback (Amazon – more links coming soon) and ebook for $0.99 (Amazon Kindle – iBooks – Google Play – Kobo – B&N – You can also request it on Overdrive from your library).

And it is available in other languages, including as audiobook in French (Amazon.fr ; Amazon.com)

French – German – Italian – Spanish

Uncategorized

Did you know that I have a newsletter?

Elodie

Real talk: I’m not the most consistent with my newsletter. This is an area I want to improve especially as I use Facebook less and am enjoying writing blog posts again.

Newsletters are great ways to share exlusive content and updates and random pictures of Bobbie Voltaire The Cat and Plato The Dog.

I mean clearly…Plato The Dog thinks you should subscribe. You can subscribe by clicking here:  eepurl.com/g_Qp4D

I have some audiobook news which I’m very very excited to share with all of you very soon (this week). And my newsletter subscribers willl find out first.

Clearly, that’s a reason to subscribe 🙂

You can subscribe here: eepurl.com/g_Qp4D
Uncategorized

Motivation Wednesday…

Elodie

Yes, those are my feet and my Bombas‘ socks 🙂 A little motivation Wednesday mainly as a reminder to myself. But also as a way to ask you: what made you smile today?
⁣
⁣And full disclaimer: a lot of those thought-processes are easier for me because of years of therapy and a lot of work 😉 And it doesn’t mean I don’t have moments where I focus on the fact that this used to be much easier. Just putting that out there. 
⁣
⁣A few days ago, I did a few relevés and elevés from first position. They were far from perfect. And I can’t stand on the balls of my feet for very long or all the way because I still experience neuropathy and cramping in my feet (and hands) in addition to needing to re-build (or build – ha) muscles.
⁣
⁣But as I did those exercises, I smiled. Because it felt like progress. 
⁣
⁣Kind of like when you’re writing a sentence that stays with you or when you finally understand your character’s motivation or simply when you write a few words in-between busy times or hard times.
⁣
⁣I enjoyed this moment when it happened. I smiled like I said. I think I even laughed I was so happy. And I smile as I post it even if my feet and hands are currently cramping. I know I’ll do this exercise again today. And I am revising my first chapters feeling grateful. A reminder to keep going, to keep swimming, to keep writing.

writing

My writing process…

Elodie

Today’s prompt for #ASummerInWriting is Plotter or Pantser.

A plotter is someone who plans their story before writing it. They outline. They usually know what happens in each chapter.  I wish I could underline “usually” because they are many varying degrees and ways of being a plotter or pantser.

When you’re a pantser, the idea is you sit at your computer and write without a detailed outline or a roadmap. A pantser is someone who “flies by the seat of their pants.”

There are a lot of articles detailing both processes as well as the way some authors can be pantsing scenes while plotting chapters or vice-versa 🙂 Jami Gold has a comprehensive article entitled “Pantser vs. Plotter vs. Something In Between” if you’re interested in learning more.

I am a little bit of both. 

I don’t have a very detailed outline. I do have a bit of a roadmap. I usually know how the story ends. I mean it’s a romance so there’s a happy ending, but I usually have the epilogue scene playing in my mind like a movie. I know some of the plot points. Buuuuut…I learn about the story and more about my characters as I start typing. Which means that things change. A lot.

Since I started using Scrivener, I write scenes out of order.

I revise them and re-write them as needed and so when I type “The End” on my first draft, it’s in a much different place than for my first novels.

Because I learned that if I just go to the end without going through that process, if I just push through and continue writing the story without going back to change some things, to polish other scenes, to get more into the head of my characters, I end up needing way more time to re-work said first draft. I’ve been known to completely re-write books because that first draft wasn’t working. And I found that it’s more motivating to me and less time-consuming if I write the scenes out of order, re-write them or delete them if they don’t work and if they do work, make them shine as much as I can before typing “The End.

That first draft is not my final manuscript. Far from it. Revisions still happen of course. But once I type “The End” on my first draft, it’s much much closer to being ready to be sent to my critique partners.

So now, my first drafts may take me a bit longer (depending on the novel but I should do another post on that :-)), but they require less work after typing “The End.

Uncategorized

Neues Hoerbuch (auf Deutsch :-)) – New audiobook (in German)

Elodie
Audible.de – Amazon.de – iTunes (coming soon)
Eine kleine Hoerprobe…

Sie hatte sich schon auf dem Weg zur Spitze gesehen…Innerhalb einer Woche aendert sich Natalyas Leben fuer immer.

Die 16-jährige Natalya Pushkaya hat nur einen einzigen Traum: die beste Ballerina zu werden, die es je gegeben hat. Das Tanzen hat schon immer bestimmt, wer sie ist und sie würde alles tun, um die Hauptrolle in der jährlichen Abschlussvorstellung der School of Performing Arts zu landen.

Aber…wird es ihr gelingen?

Audible.de – Amazon.de – iTunes (coming soon)

ABOUT THE NARRATOR

I was very happy to work with Kathrin Kana on this audiobook. She brings Natalya to life and am crossing my fingers she will narrate the follow-up as well 🙂

Award-winning bilingual voice-over artist w/ 18+ yrs. experience: commercials & industrials, language & audiobooks, etc.

Check out her website here: https://www.kathrinkanavoice.com/