Video: The Rise of Self-Publishing

For anyone looking to dive into the self-publishing industry, here is a motivating video to encourage your endeavors.Wishing all aspiring authors (like myself) much success! 

Watch the video, "The Rise of Self-Publishing" from the CBS News Sunday Morning show, below.

God Bless!
T Denise Clary

Five Reasons Why You May Never Get Published

Five Reasons Why You May Never Get Published

Literary Agent Steve Laube, with the Steve Laube Agency, recently blogged about reasons why a person may never get published. I thought I'd share this informative information in hopes that you find it helpful. I know I did! Click on the link below to access the article at his blog site:

Five Reasons Why You May Never Get Published

God Bless!
T Denise Clary

How a Book is Born, LOL!

I know that many of you may have already seen Mariah Bear's infographic she created recently illustrating the publishing process. For those of you who have not seen the chart, I thought I'd share so that you can get as much of a laugh out of it as I did. Titled "How a Book is Born," below you'll find a funny, yet somewhat accurate assessment of a book, as it makes its way through the publishing process.

God Bless!

T Denise Clary

"HOW A BOOK IS BORN"

One Year Anniversary Month!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

The month of June marks the one year anniversary that my ebooks were first independently published.  What a blessing this past year has been for me. Although my numbers pale in comparison to many other indie-authors, I am proud to say that I have sold over a thousand ebooks in the past year. Yay!!

Many thanks to everyone, especially my husband Joel,  who has stuck by me and continues to support my dream!

God Bless!
T Denise Clary  :-)

NITTI GRITTI SMITTY
Published June 20, 2011

MY FORGIVEFULLNESS
Published June 21, 2011

VINNY VAIN LIKED TO COMPLAIN
Published June 21, 2011

MR. PITT & LICKETY'S SPLIT
Published June 21, 2011

Writing Contest for Self-Pub Authors ~ Writer's Digest

If you are a self-published author and interested in entering your FABULOUS BOOK in the Writer's Digest annual writing book award contest, please click on the link below for more details and entry guidelines.

Writer's Digest Book Awards Contest LINK

Good Luck & God Bless!
T Denise Clary

My Addiction to Online Social Media Sites vs. My Writing -- Which One Will Prevail in 2012?

2012 is the year that I told myself I would get back to writing more, and less blogging, tweeting, and facebooking...

Well I'm definitely off to a rough start. Let's see. What have I accomplished thus far...

Writer (me) in deep thought,
"Where's my computer??
...I need a fix"

As far as my online presence --

In the past 10 days (since 2012 began), I have been doing a lot of blogging (or should I say visiting other blogs), tweeting, and facebooking. Also, communicating with others through various online sites and threads. Visiting other blogs (I think I mentioned that already) and websites. Well, not surprising! Online social media is so addicting!!

As far as my writing is concerned --

I haven't done much in these past 10 days. Quite frankly, I haven't done much writing since I began this blog, joined Twitter, and created a facebook page for my books! I have spent the past several months trying to market my books and simply get the word out.  I have completely neglected what I was passionate about...WRITING!

Blogging, tweeting, facebooking, and other online quirks are so addictive that I liken it to a drug, at least for me! And I can't say that I don't enjoy the marketing aspect of writing, I absolutely love it!! However, I can recall when I had that same 'addictive' behavior and love for writing children's books.

So my plan is to get back to writing!! I'm not abandoning my online presence, but just stepping back a little to concentrate more on writing. I'll still be blogging and floating around in the digital world, but hopefully not as much!  We'll see...I have a feeling this will need some God given will-power and prayer to pry me away from online social media sites! LOL!!!!!  But at least I know I am capable of turning away. I found this Bible verse to remind me of such;

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." -- 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

Yes Lord!!! I will need LOTS of ways out!! LOL :-))

God Bless!

T Denise Clary

REFLECTIONS of 2011

2011

REFLECTIONS

As I look back on the year 2011, I can only say that I am truly humbled by the journey the Lord has taken me on...

It was only in 2007 that the Holy Spirit gave me the inspiration and words to write my first three children's books (Frog on a Log, Baby Beetle & the Sun, and My Forgivefullness). By 2009, three more books were completed (Nitti Gritti Smitty, Vinny Vain Liked to Complain, and Mr. Pitt & Lickety's Split). 

It wasn't until 2011 that the Holy Spirit prompted me to publish my manuscripts through digital media (Amazon) and it has been a whirlwind of an experience ever since! In the short time of just a little over 5 months, I have learned so much about the publishing world that I never knew before. This journey has really opened my eyes and life to a world of creativity and imagination.  I have met some truly wonderful people in the book industry and have opened myself up to a world that I never knew before.

And as far as my books...

Out of the six books I had written, four of the books were published as eBooks and placed for sale on Amazon. Well I am happy to report that the four books have been doing well in their short publishing life. Collectively, I have sold close to 400 books and the number continues to rise. One of my books rose as high in rank to the #4 slot on Amazon!! Yay!!!! ("Heaven is For Real," published by Thomas Nelson and, "The Beginner's Bible" published by HarperCollins, took the #1-3 slots respectively. And a book by Max Lucado was ranked in the #5 slot). To say that one of my titles was right behind those popular books, and close in rank to one of Max Lucado's books, is truly a gift from God! I can only hope and pray that the momentum continues.

My goals for 2012: Write more books (I have started three more books, but they have yet to be completed). Publish the remaining two titles that were written in 2007 that I have yet to publish as eBooks. And turn all my digital eBooks into hardcover/paperback form.

I would like to say thank you to all who have made this journey fun, exciting, inspirational, and possible! Special 'shout-outs' to Editor Jennifer Moody for perfecting the words and style of my books and to illustrator Jeffrey Duckworth for all of the cover designs. And a special thank you to my husband, kids, family, and friends for their ongoing and endless support! Even if I had not sold one book, my experiences and meeting so many new and exciting people have been worth any struggles I have encountered while on this journey. Now that 2011 is almost a thing of the past, here's to another year of new beginnings, new challenges, new successes, and meeting more creative and inspirational people! I pray the same for you!!

And of course, thanks be to God for directing my steps and making all of this possible! Looking forward to what He has in store for me in the New Year!

HAVE A VERY MERRY AND BLESSED 

NEW YEAR!   

In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps, Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

God Bless!

T Denise Clary

How To Write A Children's Picture Book

In lieu of 'NaNoWriMo' going on this month, coupled with the fact that I have written several children's books (although they lack illustrations at the present moment), I thought I'd post an article I found on the internet regarding how to write a children's picture book. The article is written by author Jacqui Robbins. Please click on the link titled, How to Write a Children's Picture Book, to be re-directed to the author's blog site to get an in-depth explanation for each point below numbered from one to eleven. I am not certain if my current books follow all the rules the article lays out, but I think they come pretty close!  Happy writing! :-)

God Bless!

T Denise Clary

HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK   

by Jacqui Robbins
(Author of “The New Girl…and Me” & “Two of a Kind”)

1. Read 100 first.

2. Picture books have 500-700 words. Or fewer.

3. Picture books are 32 pages long.

4. Each page much have something newly illustratable.

5. The text of your story must stand alone.

6. Don't talk down to children or moralize to them.

7. Your story must have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

8. Your story must have a conflict or a problem, and that problem must be solved by the kid.

9. Show, don't tell.

10. If you write in rhyme, your rhyme and meter must be perfect.

11. Forget numbers 2-10 until your story is written. Just start writing. Worry about the rules later.

Just have fun!