How to begin writing your book: openings that hook readers’ attention

All good books start with a murder. While that probably isn’t the golden rule of writing, for many types of novel, beginning with murder, death or at least the threat of it is a must. In a mystery, the murder happens first and the detectives have to sort it out. In a thriller, the murder The 3 secrets to book marketing, and a haunted...

Using your blog and Twitter to promote your book: tips from bestselling author John Locke

Recently I read John Locke’s kindle book, “How I sold 1 million ebooks in 5 months.” It’s well worth reading so you should check it out. Locke reveals exactly what his title promises. A few of my favorite tips are below: 1) You need to have more than one book. A complex marketing strategy to The 3 secrets to book...

Harry Potter and Vladimir Tod: How to write a YA fantasy novel series in 7 steps

A few years ago I read the YA series “Chronicles of Vladimir Tod” by Heather Brewer. While no JK Rowling, the books nevertheless have many eerie parallels to the magical world of Hogwarts – except that the secret society of magical people are vampires, not witches. I’m not accusing Brewer of plagiarism; she’s...