Online Press Kit - The Complete Process

This post marks the 6th month since I began posting about Online Press Kits. I could have done in about 10 weeks, but I wanted to have book reviews mixed in each month. If you have continued to work on your Press Kit in small bursts with me, congratulations! You have a completed Press Kit.

If you are just starting, I thought I would provide you a completed list of posts in a list below.

1. Info - Press Kit
2. Preparing Your Press Kit
3. A Quick Look
4. Author Photos
5. Biography and Writing It
6. Book Info - Gathering
7. Book Photos
8. What is a CV and why not a resume?
9. Creating a Downloadable CV
10. Press Releases

I am super excited to have this task accomplished. I hope that you found these blog posts useful in creating your own Press Kit. Please link them in the comment section and I will take a look at what you created!

If you would like to look at mine closely, you can find it HERE.

Here's a quick glance at mine:

As of right now, I do not have any other series planned. If you have any suggestions or requests, leave me a comment or contact me through social media.

Press Releases - A guide for the Press Kit

Two years into my writing career, I came across an online press kit of an author and realized I didn't have one. Included in their press kit was a press release for each publication. Not only had I never thought of using a press release as part of my book promotion, but I found it a completely foreign aspect of self promotion.

I will even admit that I still do not use this aspect of promotion all that well. As an Indie author, it may be an important part of promotion as you can send it to locally for a closer source of potential support.

I left this portion of the Online Press Kit until last for the fact that I feel out of my depths. If you are interested in a template that goes in depth, I would suggest All Freelance Writing. This seems like a very good option.

What I am going to show you in this blog post is me setting up a press release for my upcoming book Mountain Momma. During this experience, I would suggest that you type in the words book press release into a search engine and take a look at the images. There are many versions of press releases that seem interesting. I have figured out two I like and created two templates of my own. One is a modern version. The second is a more traditional version.

If you are looking for a modern press release, please check out my newest template. This template can be changed and adapted to your own personal needs for Press Releases.

Here's a glance at what it looks like:

If you are looking for a more traditional press release, please check out this template. It is simplified and easy to use.

Here's a glance at what it looks like:

I know there is a lot of conversation about press releases and the power they have on self promotion. I do not know the statistics of authors who receive more marketing potential with the use of press releases against those who do not. What I do know is that it has the potential for local and national exposure if used correctly. What does it hurt to include this in your normal round of promotion?

If you have questions, please post them below. I will do my very best to help you.

Creating a CV - Press Kit

Creating a CV is relatively easy. You need access to all your publications, awards, and achievements. You also need to write a small, or long, biography to include. In this post, I will be updating my own CV to a more streamline CV.

You can view my previous CV by clicking HERE.

If you would like a template, please visit Annie Neugebauer's Blog post Writer's Resume Template.

What you see in my CV is a small biography, the list of my publications by Genre, and a listing for Other Publications. I submit my poetry to literary magazines and anthologies. If I had won awards for my work, I would also include that.

Here's a list of what you should include in your CV:

• Biography
• Education
• Work History
• List of publications
• Awards and Achievements
• Memberships

You can also include: specialization and social media presence. These may be important to any perspective agent. As an Indie author, social media presence can make or break getting an agent in the future.

Here's a view of the CV I created on Word:

As I read through my old CV, I noticed that I didn't include my newest releases. What I have to do is add the information for these publications. I also noticed I didn't have any work history, education, awards, or memberships included. Some of that is because I do not belong to any writing guilds. I have also not received an award or achievements at this point in time. This doesn't mean I cannot add them at a future date.

Using the new template, I changed my CV.

Here is the updated CV:

If you have word, you can export this as a PDF. You do this by clicking File, then Export on the left side of the navigation. It will bring up the Export options.

Select Create PDF/XPS Document, and then click Create PDF/XPS. It will bring up a save screen so you can name your file. Do so, and the document will come up as a PDF.

You have now created your CV. If you have been creating the page on your website for your press kit, you can take the time now to add the file into your website to be downloaded. If you are creating a page specifically for your CV, you can copy and paste the whole document into the page.


One thing I would suggest is to keep the original Word document in the Press Kit file you created so that you can easily update this with each change that happens like a new publication. Not only does this ensure that you are keeping it up-to-date in your own files, but it will prompt you to change the new file on your website. The more you use this system of organization, the easier it will get to update everything.

Stay tuned for the wrap-up of the Online Press Kit series next week.

A Quick Tip for Authors

Hello writers! If you are reading this, you are likely participating in my press kit project or are interested in keeping your information kit up-to-date. I thought I would provide a small tip to help you have a more organized future. On May 10th, I will be posting a how-to on creating a CV. This post already includes a template for you to input the information, but you still need to gather some. Yes, I know. It takes time. So to help yourself in the future with updating it, please look at the following photo.

In this photo, I have begun compiling my publications in reference form. It has likely been a while (if ever) since you created a reference. Typically, references are used in essays, research papers, and using quotes to avoid plagiarism. Throw back to middle school, high school, and college or Non-Fiction writing. This long task is important to your CV and Press Kit.


Here are some examples of how to create a quick reference:

“Poem 1,” “Poem 2,” “Poem 3,” The Literary Magazine  Fall/Winter 2012

“Short Story,” Anthology, Publisher, 2011

"Flash Fiction," Fiction Blog, June 2011

"Novella," Small Press, June 2011 

“Poem 4,” "Poem 5," “Poem 6,” Prize Poem Anthology, Big Organization, May 2011 

“Micro Fiction,” Well-Known Blog, March 2011

“Creative Nonfiction Short,” Prize Winning Anthology, Credible Institution 2010 

Spend some time gathering your publication information and inputting them into reference form. I have mine in a separate file in my Press Kit to ensure I can quickly update both documents. It does require me to make a new PDF file every time I update the word document; however, that is a small price to pay.

I hope this small tip helps you create a master list of references for your own publications. A writer's job is never done.

Mountain Momma - Early release

Hello friends!

I am currently sitting in my living room surrounded by boxes of my mother's material possessions. Part of me feels completely overwhelmed. Part of me feels sad. The last part of me feels somewhat at peace with having the things she wanted me to have so close. I am not sure I have posted about the title of "Mountain Momma" yet. So I wanted to share.

Mountain Momma was my mother's CB name. Yep...the redneck cell phones. LOL! She used to talk to my step-father on them when he got off work and was on his way home. When I was thinking of my next volume of poetry, that name stuck in my head and wouldn't let go. So, I named this volume of poetry after her CB name.

It is not extremely hard to see how much of my emotions go into my poetry. I have always felt a kind of release in writing poetry. In fact, one of the days after we learned she had cancer, she said "I want you to write a poem for my funeral, Sarah."

The words out of my mouth were "I already have." And I did. I wrote the poem "Unanswered" for her within 24 hours of knowing she would be leaving soon. Her other request of me was a crocheted rose for her hands. My only regret is that my poem wasn't read at her funeral. But I know she heard the words.

Tonight, I wanted to share that and the fact that Mountain Momma has an early release as an e-book on Amazon. I have the proof for the printed release on the way. That one should be available soon.

Click me to purchase as an e-book

What is a CV and why not a Resume? - Press Kit

This is a question that even I found myself asking. The word resume is easily noticeable and recognized at least in America. There is no second guessing what it is and what it is used for. But what exactly is a CV?

CV stands for Curriculum vitae. This type of document doesn't just list your education and job experience. It goes further. It includes awards, achievements, and publications. It includes all the information that is important for an author and for any potential agent you may try to get. In most cases, the CV is mostly used inside the academic realm. As a writer though, you have all the required information to include in a CV. Once you have two publications, you need to start one. Simple as that.

CV's can be and are longer than the typical one to two page resumes. Mine only hits two pages, but I have seen some author CV's topping six pages. If you think of a well-known author and how many books they have written, you can imagine the length of their CV.

Do not be scared of creating your own. It isn't difficult. In fact, I have simplified mine. It contains some biographical information. It is not long, since that can be found in my press kit. It contains a listing of all my publications based on Genre. It also has a list of Other publications. As of right now, I do not have any awards to include, or that would have a place as well.

There is a spot for awards, education, specialization, social media, and memberships. These are optional and can be added or deleted as you grow as an author.

Don't worry! This week, you will have access to easy step-by-step instructions to help you create your own CV.

Here's a quick glance at mine before I update it to include all my newest publications:

Stay tuned to this blog for a template and the guide to creating your own.

Mountain Momma Cover Reveal

I have had this title listed on my TBA upcoming books for a while now. I knew I was going to make it into a poetry book, but I was unsure whether I would be including recipes and memories as well. At this point, I am 100% sure as I am still in the formatting phase.

What I am sure about is the cover art.

So I am going to share it with you. If you like my Facebook page, then you would have seen it already. If you haven't, here is a look:

I feel it is perfect. And I am SUPER hard to please when it comes to cover art. I will keep you informed on release dates and more information as it happens.

Book Photos - Press Kit

Another important aspect of any book is the cover art. Not only does it drawn in potential readers, but it could be the deciding factor of purchasing. I hate to admit it, but I love good cover art. It draws me in as it should! As an author though, I sometimes look through tons of pictures and feel sometimes lost in the abundance. So when I choose a photograph or graphic to use in my covers, I ensure that I create a file folder to house it. You may think this is strange, but it helps.

If you are a new author or an aspiring one, you may be wondering why. And I can tell you why. You use the JPEG of your cover SO very much. I have lost track of the amount of times I use the photo of my covers. Having these photos in their own file makes it super handy when completing projects like this. But, this blog post isn't about creating the folders. It is about creating the Online Press Kit.

The point of having your book covers in one place (like a press kit) helps you two fold.

1. If you, yourself, are looking for a particular title for use, having it in a press kit allows you to find it quickly. It is accessible anywhere and at any time.

2. In the case of your career, many people will need access to these. So it is only practical to have them in one place accessible to all those who need it.

Below are some examples of my book covers.

Now, I will admit that having them in a "Finished Book" folder allows for quick access anyway; however, what if I am not at home? I cannot access them readily unless they are available on my website through the Online Press Kit. I personally include the book cover JPEG on the information page for each of my books.

Make sure that the photograph that you use is at least 300 dbi. This is printing quality. If you are a self-published author, you already know about the use of a 300 dbi photograph for better quality covers. All the information someone needs is right on the page for your book. And if you include the book cover, they have everything available to them!

We are almost to the end of our Online Press Kit journey. Are you excited to almost being done? I sure am.

A Final Word - Book Information

I have eleven publications at the time of this blog post. One thing I know is that gathering the information early is the key to have a sane book release. Centralizing all the information makes things much easier. In the last week, I have gathered every scrap of information on my publications to include in the press kit and for website updates. I do not plan for this to be in vain.


Here's a few tips:

1. Use the Book Information Template with each publication. You can quickly input all the information and have it at your finger tips.
2. Create a centralized book information folder in your cloud or filing system. I use the cloud so it is accessible from any location.
3. Be prepared to use this system with each publication as it makes it easier.

I cannot count the number of times I have had to thumb through my files to locate something. This step has allowed me to rest a little easier.

Gathering Book Info - Press Kit

The longest portion of putting together your press kit will be, hands down, gathering the important information on each of your publications. It requires a lot of back and forth with the physical book, manuscripts, or websites. If you are like me and have the majority of your publications online, you can find most of the information where you published the book.

*Tip* Fill out this information when you are publishing your book. That way, you can go back to this information any time you need it.

If you would like a template, please click HERE. I created a simple document to use that has all the important information that you will need. It is the template I use to gather all the information required for this portion of the press kit.

Here's a list of what you need to gather:

• ISBN 10 and 13
• Release date
• Publisher
• Genre
• Pen Name
• Number of pages
• Publication date
• Summary

Start by opening up a document file. Name the file using the book or publication name.

If you are using the template, you will see that the template provides a simple listing of the information you have to gather as pictured below.

If you have chosen to make your own, write the name of the publication and skip a line. Copy and paste the list above or create your own. Begin filling it out.

I also chose to include the Amazon links and the format the books are available in - i.e. e-book and 5x8 print. Take the time to fill each category. Remember, you only have to do this once! You will have the information for the future in the Press Kit file.

The ISBN can be found on the copyright page of the publication. On Amazon, you can find that information by scrolling down the page until you locate the section titled Product Details. As you can see in this screenshot, it includes many of the bullet points you are trying to fill.

Once that is complete, you do that for each publication/book you have. Don't overwhelm yourself if you have multiple publications. You can do one or two a day.

Now you can include this individualized information on your web page for that exact publication. Congrats! You are one step closer to having a full press kit.

Writing a Bio - Press Kit

There are two types of biographies included in a press kit - a short biography like those found on your books and the long biography that includes everything from publications to your background and even awards. With the literary journals I have knowledge in, they allow 50-150 words for a biography. Typically, it is 50 words or less. When you think about that, it seems like a small amount of words to convey who you are as a person and a writer. That, unfortunately, is battle we have to fight each time we submit something.

Since this preparation is for your press kit, it isn't necessary to think of the long term; however, I am a practical woman. I like to prepare as much as I can in advance and help myself have a smoother time in the future. Think of it as writing a blurb about yourself. Frustrating, but necessary.

With the short biography, I suggest you write something like this:

Jane Doe lives in Appalachia with her husband, two children, and a cat. She has published many fictions including Just The Tow of Us (2017), Shame on Me (2018), and numerous poems in Notable Literary Magazine. 

This example has only 36 words. You can see how fast it adds up. I tend to want to add all my publications; however, it is unnecessary to include them all. So, I have shortened mine to include the last three publications. You can certainly include the most noteworthy of your publications.

The long biography is a catch all. This is the place to sell yourself. You can include every publication, every award, and every important aspect of your childhood you deem fit to include.

In short, these are the topics you should include:

• Where you were born
• Snippets from your childhood pertaining to writing
• Influences that led you to writing
• Your early works
• Your family life
• Information on your publications

If you need inspiration, don't be afraid to look at biographies online of writers you like to read.

Free for Limited Time: Just a Taste

Announcement

Just a Taste by Elly Abrams

Free for limited time

March 5-9 2018

Click Here to Purchase

Author Photos - Press Kit

Some people say that an important aspect of your writing career is your author photo. I don't think I agree to that declaration since your voice is most important. In fact, there are too many opinions on this subject including whether you should smile or not smile. I am not going to get into those opinions, or which ones make the most sense. What I am going to do is provide you with some tips from an Indie author standpoint.

These are my author photos at this time.

I use them without particular thought to which goes with what genre. I use them because I like the look of my face and the background.

These are not professional photographs. My husband, who has had photography training, took them. I edited them. It was a simple enough task and suited my needs. If you happen to have a friend, spouse, or loved one who does photography and can take photos well, ask them for help.

If you do not, here are a few tips:

1. Use social media or search to locate a local photographer. I can find multiple photographers within moments. Most of them have websites or social media pages to view their work. In some cases, you could get a mini session for less than $50.00 USD. If you are looking for someone who specifically takes author photos, you are likely going to pay much more than that.

2. Learn about photography and editing photos yourself. I cannot tell you how much this will help you throughout your career. As an Indie author, you can save a lot of money by editing your own covers.

3. Do not be afraid to smile or not smile. If you smile, you aren't going to be taken any less seriously by your readers. It is just other authors who may be judgmental.

4. Have a variety of photographs done. Go outside. Be in your kitchen. Stand in front of the stairs. It is your session. You pay for it. Get your photos. Just be natural. That is the most important aspect of any author photo.

5. Make sure your photographs are provided at 300 dbi minimum. 300 dbi is the minimum for covers, but you can use a photo with less dbi for your website. In the press kit, it needs to be 300 dbi so it can be downloaded.


Once you have a photograph you like, include it in your press kit at 300 dbi.

Here's an example:

This is a photo of my Press Kit. As you can see, I have my author photo on the right side of the page.

I have allowed my photograph to be downloaded. You right click the photograph and save it to your computer.

Save it where you want. I have saved mine in a Press Kit folder.

You can have more than one photograph on the page. I use the one I like the best.

Stay tuned for March 8th where I will provide a guide on your biography.

Book Review: If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss

If the Creek Don't Rise

Leah Weiss

Copyright © Leah Weiss

★★★★★

Genre: Fiction/Women's Fiction
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publish Date: August 22, 2017
Pages: 320

Description:

He's gonna be sorry he ever messed with me and Loretta Lynn

Sadie Blue has been a wife for fifteen days. That's long enough to know she should have never hitched herself to Roy Tupkin, even with the baby.

Sadie is desperate to make her own mark on the world, but in remote Appalachia, a ticket out of town is hard to come by, and hope often gets stomped out.  When a stranger sweeps into Baines Creek and knocks things off kilter, Sadie finds herself with an unexpected lifeline...if she can just figure out how to use it.

This intimate insight into a fiercely proud, tenacious community unfolds through the voices of the forgotten folks of Baines Creek. With a colorful cast of characters that each contribute a new perspective, IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE is a debut novel bursting with heart, honesty, and homegrown grit.

Biography: 
Leah Weiss is a Southern writer born in North Carolina and raised in the foothills of Virginia. Her debut novel IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE will be released in August of 2017. Her short stories have been published in The Simple Life magazine, Every Day Fiction and Deep South Magazine. She retired in 2015 from a 24-year career as Executive Assistant to the Headmaster at Virginia Episcopal School. She now pursues writing full time and enjoys speaking to book clubs. You can contact her on her website www.leahweiss.com

Purchase

___________________________________________

When I first began reading this book, I found the terminology difficult. This is partly due to me being a writer and partly due to the fact that I never quite fit into the Appalachian dialect category. Pushing myself to ignore the voice inside my head auto-correcting was the best decision I have made while reading. Not only is this a powerful book for women, it is a heart-warming, kind peek into Appalachia America. Leah Weiss did an amazing job with this book.

I fell in love with Sadie Blue. I could picture Baines Creek and the day-to-day life that these characters would have lived. And even more, I felt satisfied with the ending. Although I will admit, I did wish I knew what happened after.

I have given this book a 5 star rating. Please take the time to read this book! You will not regret it.

A Quick Look - Press Kit

Although a Press Kit can be a set of documents to pass on, it can also be made available online. Everything we do is available online. So why not your press kit? If you have a website, you are a step in the right direction. Creating a page dedicated to your press kit isn't difficult.

Here's a quick view of how I have set mine up:

It is straight forward. Each publication has it's own page that includes all the important information like ISBN, genre, page numbers, and summary. I also include a 300 dbi, downloadable author photo. It has links to the biographies, my CV, and any future press releases.

This doesn't have to be difficult or complicated. A simple list provides everything that is needed for those interested. And I assure you, taking the time now to do so will help you in the long run.

Book Review: A Darkening of Flies by D. Caldwell

A Darkening of Flies: A Collection of Short Stories

D. Caldwell

Copyright © D. Caldwell

☆☆★★★

Genre: Short Stories - Literary Fiction
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publish Date: August 11, 2016
Pages: 142


Description: This collection of short stories examines the dark underpinnings of hope, fear, and relationships. Ordinary characters move through a largely Appalachian setting, considering how to find the right language to connect with others and frame their lives.

Purchase

___________________

I could relate to these short stories. One in particular touched me to the core as a person who suffers from depression. D.Caldwell did a good job on these stories. I give it a 3 star review because the book format was a little unwieldy. Some of the short stories ended abruptly, causing me some confusion.

Preparing for your kit - Press Kit

Preparing the kit is a long process. So instead of spending hours in front of the computer, I am going to setup this guide as a way for you to do small increments of the kit at a time. It will be smoother. It will be less overwhelming. And, it will allow you to spend more time writing or doing something else.

So today, the goal is to setup your folders and yourself up to gather the information as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

First, you want to create a new folder on your desktop by right clicking and selecting New, then New Folder.

Once the new folder comes up, name it Press Kit.

Now, double click the folder and make a new folder for each of the following:

• Author Photos
• Biographies
• Book Information
• Book Photos
• CV
• Press Releases

It will look something like this:

This is such a small task; however, it will be ready for you when you are ready to work. In this folder, you will keep all the important information for the press kit. Having it in one place means that you can access it quickly, which is the main reason why you are creating a press kit in the first place. You are doing the work now, so you do not have to do it in the future!

Congrats! You just finished a small step toward the bigger picture. Stay tuned for the step-by-step instructions on filling these folders.

What am I up to?

What author wouldn't love to say that 23 days into a year they had finished a chunk of work? Okay! This author would love to say that. Unfortunately, I can't or I would be lying. What I have done is finish up a huge portion of the Press Kit blog posts, read a few books for reviews, planned upcoming reviews, and wrote a few poems for Mountain Momma.

As I wrote out the blog posts for the Press Kit, I was once again struck at the immense amount of work that is involved. This work isn't just for you. I am also compiling the press kit for myself. So, I have to go through and gather all the information. I have 11 publications now so it is a lot of work. Of course, I don't regret it. I figure if I get the work done now, I can have a slow addition for each future publication.

It has been so strange to schedule my work around the grief I feel and the amount of other things I need to do. That seems to be the plight of any author. Stay tune for more What am I up to posts.

*BOOK TOUR* Review: Tia Lee's Vermilion Tears

Vermilion Tears

Tia Lee

   

Copyright 2017 Tia Lee

☆☆☆★★

Genre: Paranormal/Contemporary Fiction/Gothic
Pages: 272
Publisher: Independently Published
Publish Date: July 19,2017

Author Bio: I'm author Tia Lee and I am a self-published author and live in one of the most humid places in the USA: Houston, TX, but I love it here (sans the humidity of course.). I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful kids. My passion is writing and I can't stop thinking of more stories for the future. My debut novel is Vermilion Tears. It is a Victorian Gothic paranormal, that starts out like any other boy meets girl book, until vampires, werewolves, and witches show up. I absolutely loved writing this book and it will always be my book baby. I am currently writing a novel about a self-absorbed mob wife, who has aspirations of being at the top herself.  Not sure when it will be out yet, it’s currently going through beta reads.

Blurb: Vermilion Tears is a Gothic paranormal novel set in Victorian times. Lydia comes from humble beginnings living with her family in New Haven. Her life gets turned upside down when she is on a train to New York City to start her new life. Lydia is attacked by supernatural creatures she didn’t even realize existed. Now a supernatural being herself, she finds herself fleeing from a brutal captor and trying to keep her family intact. Will she be caught or will she succeed in escaping and restoring her family?

___________________________________________

Dark, matte lips and downcast eyes with hair curling around her face. That image is the first draw toward wanting to know more. As I look at the cover, I cannot help but wonder what her story is and why, in her immense beauty, she has her gaze down. The lack of direct gaze intrigues me. To say the image is poignant would be an understatement.

Unfortunately, that first impression doesn't stand for the entire work. I received an advanced reading copy. I expected to have and read a polished manuscript. Instead, I received a work that had multiple errors in format, grammar, and spelling. The reason those errors are so stark is maybe because I am also an author and am used to picking out errors. What those errors did for my enjoyment of the book? Well, it made Vermilion Tears more difficult to enjoy.

The wonderful thing about Paranormal writing is the fact that the author can craft any aspect into some fantasy. Tia Lee does craft a unique spin on the vampire and werewolf. I love a world full of the paranormal. It is an interesting read if you can ignore all the errors. Think this book is for you?

Check out all the information here: Book Tour Information

*Book Tour* Vermilion Tears

•✰ Book Tour ✰ •

Vermilion Tears by Tia lee

Genre: Paranormal

BLURB

Vermilion Tears is a Gothic paranormal novel set in Victorian times. Lydia comes from humble beginnings living with her family in New Haven. Her life gets turned upside down when she is on a train to New York City to start her new life. Lydia is attacked by supernatural creatures she didn’t even realize existed. Now a supernatural being herself, she finds herself fleeing from a brutal captor and trying to keep her family intact. Will she be caught or will she succeed in escaping and restoring her family?

Buy Link #Free in #KU

 ➞ http://amzn.to/2FcVUOR

Add to your TBR

➞ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35706295-vermilion-tears

Author Links & Bio

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/tialee1869/?ref=bookmarks

Website: authortialee.wordpress.com

I'm author Tia Lee and I am a self-published author and live in one of the most humid places in the USA: Houston, TX, but I love it here (sans the humidity of course.). I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful kids. My passion is writing and I can't stop thinking of more stories for the future. My debut novel is Vermilion Tears. It is a Victorian gothic paranormal, that starts out like any other boy meets girl book, until vampires, werewolves, and witches show up. I absolutely loved writing this book and it will always be my book baby. I am currently writing a novel about a self-absorbed mob wife, who has aspirations of being at the top herself.  Not sure when it will be out yet, it’s currently going through beta reads.

#VermilionTour #QuillinkPR

Review: A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House

A Parchment of Leaves

Silas House

Copyright © Silas House

★★★★★

Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Algonquin Books - First Print

Pages: 285
Publishing Date: August 16, 2002

Description: Set in 1917, A PARCHMENT OF LEAVES tells the story of Vine, a beautiful Cherokee woman who marries a white man, forsaking her family and their homeland to settle in with his people and make a home in the heart of the mountains. Her mother has strange forebodings that all will not go well, and she's right. Vine is viewed as an outsider, treated with contempt by other townspeople. Add to that her brother-in-law's fixation on her, and Vine's life becomes more complicated than she could have ever imagined. In the violent turn of events that ensues, she learns what it means to forgive others and, most important, how to forgive herself.

As haunting as an old-time ballad, A PARCHMENT OF LEAVES is filled with the imagery, dialect, music, and thrumming life of the Kentucky mountains. For Silas House, whose great-grandmother was Cherokee, this novel is also a tribute to the family whose spirit formed him.

Author Bio: Please view Silas House's biography HERE.

Purchase

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I cannot begin to tell you everything I loved about this book. Like many of my other book purchases, I was drawn in by the cover. The woods. The leaves that have fallen. The fog. It paints such a picture in my mind. I can imagine myself standing and looking down that road. I can feel the sense of peace, trepidation, and coziness.

What the cover didn't convey, the story did. I connected with Vine on so many levels. I could stand in her shoes and view the world through her eyes. This story brought me to tears. Of course, knowing that the extraction of the Cherokee people was brought on by greed and the history of the Appalachian mountains made this story resonate so much more in my soul. Above that, it made me feel the sense of pride in being Appalachian with a Cherokee ancestry. House did an amazing job.

If you would like to read this book, I highly recommend it. Silas House has a wonderful voice. You will not be disappointed.

All information of this book has been taken from the Amazon page for A Parchment of Leaves. I do not own any copyright. I received nothing in compensation for this review.

An Online Press Kit

If I could list all the things I had to figure out myself as a new author, I would run out of room and you're eyes would be tired from reading it. Recently, I was scrolling down my Facebook news feed and found a post for authors about press kits. It sounds crazy to think this, but I was a little taken aback that I hadn't heard about it before. None of my favorite authors have one on their websites, and I chalk it up to having an agent.

As an Indie author, it is unlikely that you have an agent to provide that sort of information to perspective interviewers and reviewers. So I set out to find out what is in a Press Kit, and how other Indie authors are handling this.

What I found was not as fantastic as I would have liked. There is not that many authors that think to have a Press Kit. That seems weird.

If you got to this point, you may be asking yourself: So what is a press kit?

Well, a press kit is a collection of information and promotional material that is easily accessed by the media and other people who want/need the information.

For a new, Indie author, this seems like a strange thing to add to your website. "Why do I need that? I don't have media beating down my door asking for information." Of course you need it. First off, you centralize all the important information into one place for your own sanity. And what happens when one day, a journalist asks you for it? What are you going to do is berate yourself for not doing it sooner!

In the next few months, I will be providing a list of things you should be putting in your online press kit and helping you develop one of your own! Just in case...

Stay tuned!!!

January 9th - Celebrating a Life

A year and two months ago, my whole world changed. I sat on the edge of my bed and listened intently into the phone as my mom told me she had cancer. I heard her tell me it was bad. I knew a little about how she felt. See, she watched her father go through chemotherapy and wither in front of her eyes. She never wanted her family to go through that. It is a sentiment I share, if it ever comes to that.

I supported her. I celebrated the little time I had with her. I helped her. I was her strength. And I worked my behind off to make sure she died peacefully. One year ago, she died in a hospice bed in her home. It was a quiet and muted by snow night.

I decided a few weeks ago that on her anniversary every year I wanted to celebrate her life, not her death. I bought myself some flowers, because she loved flowers. I chose yellow roses in remember for her. I made a chocolate pie, because we shared a love of chocolate pies. We hid them every holiday so we could eat them together.

I took time to go through some old photos and enjoyed seeing her face. I enjoyed the memories.

Today, I take joy in getting to know my mother. And not only that, but having her as my friend as well. There comes a point in all our lives. A transition between immaturity and maturity. One where we move from contempt, embarrassment, and disdain for our parents into the one in which they become our friends and confidants. She was my friend. I can look around and point to things in my home she had given me, but they are nothing compared to the memories we had together.

Of hitting curbs with the tires because we were laughing too hard to pay attention.
Of eating swiss rolls after a long day of errands.
Of having iron chef competitions any time we cooked together.
Of redecorating and waking up my sister as we laughed so hard. (Sorry Em)

Those memories stick with me. In remembering them, I am celebrating her life, her love of her family, and her persistence in being kind and understanding to everyone. Thank you for celebrating her life with me.

Review: Beyond These Hills by Sandra Robbins

Beyond These Hills

Sandra Robbins

Copyright - Sandra Robbins

★★★★★

In the recent months, I have been looking for Appalachian literature that captures the essence of living in Appalachia. When I picked up this book, I fell in love with the cover. Those mountains are mountains I live in and look out at every single day. It immediately connected me to the story.

As I come from this area, I am always emotional when it comes to the history of the Appalachian people. I can feel the emotions of this book. The fear. The struggle. The anger. And unfortunately, those feelings are still very present in Appalachia. What Sandra Robbins did in this book is create a realistic view of the emotions surrounding the creation of the park. It ruined the family lives of so many, but it protected our mountains for the future.

I give this book at 5 star review. If you want a sweet love story with a little bit of history, this book is for you!

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Genre: Christian Fiction
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Description: It’s 1935, and Laurel Jackson fears the life she’s always known is about to become a memory. The government is purchasing property to establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and nearly all the families in Cades Cove have decided to sell. Laurel is determined to save the land her family has lived on for a hundred years.

Andrew Brady, the son of a wealthy Virginia congressman, arrives in the Cove to convince the remaining landowners to sell. Sparks fly when he meets Laurel, the outspoken young woman who is determined to thwart his every effort. Will they ever be able to put aside their differences and accept what their hearts already know?

In the third and final book in the Smoky Mountain Dreams series, acclaimed author Sandra Robbins brings a dramatic conclusion to the story of the families of Cades Cove.

Author Bio: Sandra Robbins and her husband live in the small college town where she grew up. Until a few years ago she was working as an elementary school principal, but God opened the door for her to become a full-time writer in the Christian market. When asked what she writes, she replies, "Christian fiction--Southern Style."

Her books in both romantic suspense and historical romance with settings in the South have been recognized in the Daphne du Maurier Contest for excellence in writing mystery, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence for writing romance, the Holt, and the ACFW Carol Awards.

Sandra enjoys hearing from her readers. To find out more about Sandra and her books go to http://sandrarobbins.net or send her an email at sandra@sandrarobbins.net.

All information of this book has been taken from the Amazon page for Beyond These Hills. I do not own any copyright. I received nothing in compensation for this review. I simply borrowed the book from my local library and chose to write a review.