Ep92: Gratitude for the Author Life (plus Covers and Cohesion)

Writer Craft Podcast

Hello Writers and Crafters!

I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 92 of the podcast and it's November 23, 2022 as we record this.

Main Topic: Gratitude for the Author Life (plus Covers and Cohesion)

PATREON:

No new patrons this week,

• A big squeezy hug and Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.

This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a shout out on the podcast and we can make announcements for you on the podcast. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.

Comments:

• Update:
• Got the Library of Congress number for my hardcover
• Updated the backlist files with updated links, and the first chapter of relevant books.
• Cover options came in; want to get feedback first before I respond.
• Announcements: Tickets for the Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop go live today. Priced at $900, but patron price is $825. Monthly payments are an option. Send me a message [e-mail] for a unique PayPal link, or go to the shopping page on my website to purchase at full price.

• Writer Craft Writing Retreat is scheduled for next August 24-27, 2023. Tickets are $900 this year and include all lodging and gourmet meals, plus instruction and coaching and retreat time on the river, in Marcola, OR. Payment plans are available, and registration opens November 1st, 2022. Patrons receive a hefty discount AND can buy early, making their monthly payments even less expensive. Go to valerieihsan.com/retreat for more information.

Just finished: The Nesting by CJ Cooke Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

I'M READING: Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton, Confessions of a Bookseller (memoir/diary)

• Up Next: The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin
• Erick's Reading:
• All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Murder Bot series) Artificial Condition (Book 2)

• Deserter by Junji Ito (graphic novel)

Show Notes:

Relationships we make (camaraderie), learn about self (process) and other humans, anticipated gratitude, flexy schedule, doing what you love, get to be the cool/crazy person in the room, be your own Human Resources department, freedom, opportunity to "chart the course" of our careers,

Next Episode: Failing (to Suceeed)

Resources:

Raven Publicity (publicity for authors)

The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror

Contact Erick for business-starting advice.

Contact Valerie for book coaching for help writing your book.

Other Resources:

Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign

Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor

Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter.

The Author Life Community

Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIEO866

ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

Find Us:

Valerie’s Services: https://valerieihsan.com

Valerie’s Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com

Valerie’s Facebook Page and Instagram account

Erick’s Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com

Erick’s free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n

Erick’s Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com

Erick’s Facebook Page and Instagram account

Writer Craft Facebook Group

Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

Some of the Books We've Read This Year:South of the Buttonwood Tree by Heather Webber (magical realism) and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell (literary mystery)

Productivity for Creative People: How to Get Creative Work Done in an "Always on" World by Mark McGuiness

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

The Anatomy of a Bestseller by Sacha Black

• Dowery of Blood ST Gibson

Writing Scenes.: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/three-story-method-writing-scenes

• The Cloisters

Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor

• Death Masks by Jim Butcher

• Drinking Games

• A Prayer for the Crown-Shy.

• How to be a Good Creature

• Billy Summers by Stephen King

• The Dude and the Zen Master

How to Write Light Novels and Webnovels by R.A. Paterson

The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu

The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Lin

Run, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson

A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa

• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

• The Anatomy of a Bestseller by Sacha Black

• The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

• Summer Night by Jim Butcher
• The Strange Bird by Jeff Vandermeer

• The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey

• Newsletter Ninja 2)

Wintering by Katherine May

• Interview with a vampire
• Shadow over innsmouth h.p. Lovecraft

• Skippy Dies