"Marketing Matters" and Other Fun News!

​Dear Friends,
 
I hope this note finds you and your family well and excited about the summer season now upon us.  I hope authors continue to be successful in their creation and sales, and I hope readers discover a little something they didn't know existed before, and enjoy the journey of storytelling.

​First, some SILLY NEWS!
I'm trying to plan a thing... So often, we authors get together at festivals, or at conferences, or zoom meetings and talk about how much fun it would be to just hang out with each other and have a little time to know each other better without the stress of sales pitches, teaching, or learning.  Just talking with each other like people might be a fun idea.  So, that's the plan.  If you're an Indie Author, and you think this is something you might enjoy, please follow the link and let me know your thoughts.  On July 5, I'll look over your responses and see if there's enough interest.  And, of course, my feeling won't be hurt if you all decide this is not what you want.  I live my life on the premise that "You can't say YES if I don't ask the question." :-)
http://www.dkpwriter.com/september-shenanigans.html

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Now for the RELEASE NEWS!
I'm excited to announce the release for my new book, Marketing Matters for Indie Authors.  This is the first of five books in my new series, the Passionate Plotter Guidebooks.   The series is a self-directed writing workshop that helps adult writers along the path to becoming Independently Published Authors. 

Designed for writers from grade seven thru adult, each book in the series takes the writer on a deep-dive adventure into the five primary stages of the writing journey  Written in a highly accessible, casual, and conversational tone, each book in the series includes specific Reflection Prompts with writing space, to help you discover the ideas you didn't know were waiting.  As you work through the program, each chapter will enhance your understanding of writing fiction, non-fiction, memoir, and children's books.

The Passionate Plotter program provides an engaging and entertaining strategy that will support your publishing goals with practical instruction and step-by-step guidance inside a program you'll want to use again and again.

Each book also includes a Special Secret QR Code which leads to the Online Access Portal for all of the Reflection Prompts as Supplemental Worksheets in Microsoft Word, in a fillable format.  These worksheets are provided to you to aid in your writing quest, adventure after adventure!
 
The book is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1628282665?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860
 
Or you can buy a signed copy from me directly when you visit me at any of the fairs and festivals this year.  Visit my website for a list of the events I'll be attending at http://www.dkpwriter.com/
 
I have also written a children's workshop workbook, The Passionate Plotter Kids, which is intended for children from second thru sixth grade, to discover the wonderment of a writing adventure.  You can learn more about that book at http://www.dkpwriter.com/the-passionate-plotter-kids.html

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FANTASTIC PODCAST NEWS!  As our audience grows, I am expanding the podcast to offer more support for Indie Authored Books!  This program is not just for authors anymore!  The goal of the podcast is to help Indie Authors share their work with greater reach.  To that end, I am now inviting Indie Authors, Illustrators, Adult Fans, and Young Readers to share their favorite Indie Authored books!

Indie Reads Aloud Adult Reader Edition: I've heard from listeners that they have discovered a great story written by an Indie Author, and they would love to read a bit of it on the program, as a way to help that author gain more exposure.  I think that's a fabulous idea!   So now, Indie Authors, Illustrators, and their Adult Fans are all invited to share Indie Authored books on the program... not necessarily written by the Adult Reader, themselves!  You can read almost any genre on the podcast... Novels, Poetry, Non-Fiction, How-To, Memoir, Children's Fiction... the works!  I know some of you aren't comfortable reading "on the air", but if you've got an adult friend who would love a shot at micro-stardom, this is their chance!  This is also a great opportunity for you, as an Indie Author, to share the love, and perhaps read a bit of an author friend's work, to help them reach more readers.  Remember, we are all colleagues, not competitors! I am now scheduling recording sessions for late autumn air dates.  Find the sign up form for the Indie Reads Aloud podcast on my website.

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​Indie Reads Aloud Young Readers Edition.  I am inviting Young Readers to come on the podcast and Read Aloud.  Reading is one of the most valuable skills young people can acquire, and I want to support their growth in literacy.  Giving Young Readers an opportunity to Read Aloud, and share why they enjoyed a book is a fun way to encourage them to become life-long readers.  I know a lot of you Indie Authors are introverts, and you're not tremendously comfortable reading aloud.  But, I also know a lot of you have young readers in your lives who are extroverts and would love the opportunity to share their theatrical and reading skills on the podcast to support your writing career.  So, this is their chance!  Young Readers must be between 10 and 18 years old, and the book they read must be written by an Indie Author. ***One safety note: Young Readers must have a parent or guardian present during the recording session. I am now scheduling recording sessions for late autumn air dates.  Find the sign up form for the Indie Reads Aloud podcast on my website.

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​But Wait!  There's More!!  I'm also adding another layer of fun to the podcast, Indie Reads Aloud Conversations. 
Sure, I LOVE hearing your stories, but I also enjoy talking with authors and illustrators about their craft.  I love hearing about where you get your ideas, how you go about your process, and why you choose the genres you write and illustrate.  So, this is my chance to have those discussions, and indulge myself in learning more about you and your process, while having a bit of fun.  ​The idea is to pre-record these sessions, and invite readers to join the conversation, too.  Perhaps we'll give away books or other nifty stuff with the Spinny Wheel of Happiness... Perhaps we'll play games, and Read Aloud a little.  The program is completely unscripted... so as long as we keep it all family-friendly, we could have a really good time!  I'm scheduling recording sessions now, to air in late autumn and into next year.  So, if this sounds like fun to you, too... Sign up using this form on my website and join the Conversation!  If you've already read aloud on the podcast, join us for Conversations.  If you haven't read aloud yet, that's okay, you can start with a Conversation and then Read Aloud on another day!

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​Writing Hermitage 2022!
I'll be away at my little cabin in the woods from the middle of July through the middle of August on a Writing Hermitage.  This is time I get to devote to almost nothing but writing, and it's glorious!  During this year's hermitage, I'll be working on completing three novels... a western (Splinters), a paranormal (Tears Remember), and a suspense (Anonymous).  I'll also be spending a bit of time working on the edits for the collaborative novels our community has been writing, helping a few authors edit their books, as well as catching up on my evening reading with my Indie Reads Challenge.  I'll be home briefly, at the end of July for the Sterling Fest, and then returning back to the cabin the very next day, for a couple more weeks.  I'll check in on Facebook and my Blog Thingy when the Internet cooperates.  The cabin is literally in the middle of nowhere, so I make no guarantees on communication, but I'll try.  I'm really looking forward to this time of concentrated writing, reading, hiking, and kayaking with Charlie.  I'll see you all again in late August.

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Where To Find Me At Events...
Saturday, July 30, 2022; 10:00AM - 4:00PM
SterlingFest Local Author Fair
40255 Dodge Park Road  Sterling Heights, MI  48313

Friday, August 5, 2022 12PM - Midnight
Saturday, August 6, 2022 10AM - Midnight
Timberfest - Art on Kneeland
Lewiston Chamber of Commerce Park
2946 Kneeland Street  Lewiston, MI  49756

Friday, September 9, 2022  12:00PM - 7:00PM
Saturday, September 10, 2022  10:00AM - 7:00PM
Sunday, September 11, 2022  11AM - 4PM
Charlotte Frontier Days Festival
Eaton County Fair
1025 Cochran Avenue  Charlotte, MI  48813

Sunday, September 18, 2022  10:30 AM - 5:00PM
KerryTown BookFest
Morris J. Lawrence Building at Washtenaw Community College
4800 E. Huron River Drive  Ann Arbor, MI  48105
 
 
Thank you for your continued kindness and support, and have a spectacular summer!

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