An Inside Look at the Working Indie Author: Connections vs. Marketing

I think we probably all have a different idea of what networking, connections, and marketing mean to us as individuals. I personally do not believe it is a one-type-fits-all program as we each have different ideals and goals. Thus, we each have to determine what strategy works best for our individual needs and go from there. It is my intention to give you a glimpse at my own personal viewpoints and hopefully you will find something of value to take away from this article.

First off, I would like to address networking vs. connections. I grew up in a family owned business. From very early on I would go to trade shows, set up booths, and have to network with customers. If there is one thing I know about myself is that I can handle this situation with a smile, a pleasant exchange, and promote a line. It is fast-paced, get people in and out, hand out a business card, get the order, and "move on to the next customer type atmosphere." Being able to effectively handle a situation and enjoying the process are two different things. This is not me. I like making connections. When it comes to my own writing, I'm not networking. I am out to make a genuine connection. I want the people I'm reaching out to, to know that I have a vested, personal interest. I care about what my readers think, about helping teachers, and how my young readers are going to respond. I want to know that when I let go of a young adult novel that I am hitting my target audience's interest and for them to know that I care about their feedback. To me, networking is cold-hard-business whereas making connections is about true human interaction. I can do both well, I just prefer one over the other.

My first book released in December 2013. Now eight months later, I haven't even begun the marketing stage. I have used my time to make connections. I have wanted people to get to know me, my writing style, and my books. I do not even want to think about marketing until I have at least three books in my children's series on the market. Why? How many children do you know that have a lot of patience? If they like something, and it is part of a series, they want immediate gratification. They don't want to wait months for the next release. A prime example of this was after I released my first book and my second book was under production. I received an adorable picture of a little girl from her mother along with a note. To paraphrase, the little girl was anxiously awaiting the second book of my series and since it was not available, she decided to do a daily countdown to the scheduled release date. It was incredibly sweet, but at the same time I hated disappointing the little girl. Another example came from the U.K. A little girl who professes to be Dani's #1 fan read the first book and desperately wanted the second book for her birthday. Her mother wrote me a note asking me if it would be done in time? Again, how can you let a child down? I had to kick it up into high gear. These are two real-world scenarios I have experienced. So although I have released two books, I have not yet done an all-out marketing campaign. Think of it more as a very slow, soft release of my series. I'm building a foundation on which to later base a promotional marketing strategy.

Right now I am happily spending my time making connections. I especially love working with teachers. To date, I have "adopted" a few classes where I have donated books, bookmarks, resource materials, etc. They will be receiving all the future releases of the Dani P. Mystery series. Now, some might actually construe this as marketing. To me this is making a connection because, again, I have a personal interest in the individuals I am working with.

When it comes time for me to begin a marketing campaign, I will tackle it with a business-like mind. After all, I was raised that way. That will be the time to focus on press releases, sending out book flyers, arranging book signings, contacting books stores, setting up school visits, etc. This stage opens up a whole new set of tasks for a writer to consider and takes time away from the actual writing process. Will you want to handle your own marketing campaign or will you want to hire out this work? Can you afford to invest your time in marketing your own books or do you have the financial means to let someone manage this aspect for you?

In the meantime, until you are ready to begin a full blown marketing campaign there are certain things you can prepare for in advance. Begin by setting up a website, an author Facebook page, a book/series Facebook page, Twitter account, a blog, etc. Bear in mind that social media is not necessarily going to equate to book sales, but it does help in making connections and letting your future audience get to know you and your work as a writer. You can also have business cards and bookmarks printed and start handing those out now. Again, this is making people aware you are a writer and not necessarily marketing yourself. I do not get pushy with the business cards. If I'm chatting with someone and making a genuine connection, I'll hand out a card. When it is time for me to market, I'll push the business side not the individuals. You want to gain readers, not alienate them. Marketing is for business---connections are for people---and if you are conscious of your actions, you will do both gracefully and professionally.

While you emerge as a writer, keep in mind that you are but one of many struggling to surface in an industry that is abundant in both books and authors. Do not let anyone's success mar your own, or let yourself become envious of another's accomplishments. Instead, buoy their achievements. There will never be enough literary options to satisfy the reader. It is more important to help one another to succeed, because ultimately, if your writing is worthy of a readership it will find a home.

Wishing you all a little mystery & adventure,

K. Lamb

Ask Me!

I am currently taking questions on Goodreads and I thought it would be interesting to share my answers on my blog as well. Do you have a question? Ask me on:  Goodreads.com

How many years have you been writing?

K. Lamb Hmm, I'm not quite sure I want to answer that question at the risk of making myself appear old. In all seriousness, I've been writing since I was quite young. I've always enjoyed making up little stories and writing poetry. I was lucky enough to have someone encourage my imagination.

There have been times in my life off and on that I have stopped. Life gets busy raising a family and working. Priorities take precedence. Somehow I always find my way back to it. I think when something provides us joy we will always gravitate toward it, writing is no exception.

Children have a way of growing up and leaving the nest. Suddenly you find more and more time on your hands that you didn't have before. Once again, I found myself writing. It filled my hours and brought me comfort. I hadn't thought about publishing in a long time, not until my husband and daughter challenged me. They wanted to know if not now, when? It was the right moment and the perfect opportunity. I spent about a year just researching, reading, and learning the endless plethora of information. It boggled my mind--it still does--at what I have to learn. However, I didn't want to someday look back at life with regrets.

So, to answer your question, it has been a life-long quest! One I have enjoyed immensely. I'm not exactly sure where it is heading, but I'm looking forward to the adventure! No one knows what tomorrow will bring, after all, what is life without a little mystery?

Wishing you all the best,

K. Lamb

Ask Me!

I am currently taking questions on Goodreads and I thought it would be interesting to share my answers on my blog as well. Do you have a question? Ask me on:  Goodreads.com

Hi! Do you visualize the entire story in your head before you begin writing, or do you write the story as you go? Hope to hear from you!

K. Lamb Thank you for your thoughtful question, Gomee Girl!

My process varies to be truthful. When I come up with an idea it really depends on how I came up with it. What I mean by that, is sometimes I'll come up with an idea for the beginning of a story---or the end---and sometimes even both at one time. It will just "pop" into my head. Then it is a matter of connecting point A to point Z. This was the case for my upcoming young adult novel, Max Donovan. I immediately knew how the story would start and end.

Other times I may just come up with an idea for a story, and then I will go into my storyboard mode where I outline the entire story. Although, I do believe it is important for authors to allow themselves to deviate from an outline should your story demand it as it is being written.

Then there are those times that I just like to sit down in front of a keyboard and start tapping away. This kind of writing can be indulgent, because I have no idea where it is going but I am enjoying the journey. It feels good and I love watching as the story unfolds.

Again, thanks for taking the time to post a question. It has been a joy answering it!

Wishing you all the best,

K. Lamb

Ask Me!

I am currently taking questions on Goodreads and I thought it would be interesting to share my answers on my blog as well. Do you have a question? Ask me on:  Goodreads.com

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

K. Lamb I am currently working on two different books. I am working on my third book for the Dani P. Mystery children's series and a young adult novel.

The idea for Dani and the Rocking Horse Ranch came from several places within me. I am blessed with memories of my childhood adventures with my pony, Maple. My parents also have a ranch and it was a way of doing a tribute to them. Finally, my young niece is absolutely wild about horses and is currently taking riding lessons. This book was meant to be written for all those reasons! My niece's excitement is well worth it alone. She and her sister love Dani's mysteries and mischief!

My novel, Max Donovan, was originally supposed to be a "grown-up" young adult version of Dani. However, after much internal debate I decided this was not a good idea for many reasons. Mainly, I was afraid that this novel would end up in the hands of children. Since it is a grisly tale of murder, that would have been highly inappropriate. Therefore, I went back to my storyboard and made some changes while trying to keep the main plot points the same to hold on to the integrity of how I meant the book to be written.

Ask Me!

I am currently taking questions on Goodreads and I thought it would be interesting to share my answers on my blog as well. Do you have a question? Ask me on:  Goodreads.com

What is your level of knowledge required to format a book properly?

K. Lamb My level of knowledge is limited to the two books I have formatted to date. I think it is important for any prospective author to research this topic before trying to format a book, even if they contract this out to someone else. There is a wealth of information available on the internet and on Amazon.

If you are a publishing a book then I'm going to assume you are also an avid reader. Go to your library and start looking at the books you own. How do they look compared to the one you formatted? Here is one rookie mistake: Did you indent the first line in a new chapter? You did? Oops--that shouldn't be indented! What about widow-orphan lines? Do you know what those little buggers are? If not, it is time to do some more research! I read an excellent article back when I was researching, I wish I could remember where, about some of the most common mistakes made by new authors. I'll have to go through some of my research articles to see if I can locate it. It pinpointed out how to easily tell the difference between a professionally formatted book and one done by an inexperienced amateur.

Then there is also the consideration of the font you will use. Again, there was a great article I read chock-full of information about fonts, their sizes, what types for different genres, book sizes, etc. All of this is invaluable information to know prior to beginning the formatting process.

Now all of this is based on formatting a print version of your book. Formatting an ebook is a whole other process. As I said before, I was responsible for formatting both of my books. I did them both in print and on the Kindle platform. Did I make errors? I'm sure I did! Will I get better as I move forward? I certainly hope so as I continue to learn and gain experience. The most important thing is start off putting your best foot forward. After all, you don't want to be the one that someone can easily pinpoint as an inexperienced amateur.

Wishing you a little mystery & adventure,

K. Lamb

Ask Me!

I am currently taking questions on Goodreads and I thought it would be interesting to share my answers on my blog as well. Do you have a question? Ask me on:  Goodreads.com

What is the average time consumed on editing and overall on publishing one of your books?

K. Lamb I don't have an "average time consumed" on the editing of my books. It truly can vary depending on the amount of time I have to devote to working on any given project. One of the biggest benefits of being an indie author is that the only deadline you have to meet are the ones you impose upon yourself.

I can tell you that my first children's book took about a year from beginning to end as I was doing a lot of research. My second book came out 5 months after my first. My third book will probably average about the same, 5-6 months. A lot of this is also dependent upon how fast my illustrator is able to turn around my job requests.

I can tell you that I do spend an exorbitant amount of time on the editing process. I will admit I am not a grammar queen so I want to ensure that it is done to the best of my ability. I do not think it is fair to an editor/proofreader to turn over a problematic manuscript. I believe an author should make their best effort to clean it up prior to submitting it for review. (Although, this is probably due to the fact that my daughter is my editor/proofreader and I see what she has to go through when she receives a poorly submitted manuscript from someone.)

I hope this information helps. Thanks for all of your thoughtful questions, Raul!

Wishing you a little mystery & adventure,

K. Lamb

ADDENDUM: The best motivator I have for imposing my own deadlines are the letters and photos I receive from children. Their pleas for the next book will spur me into action faster than anything else and will keep me working late into the night to meet a deadline. For example, I had a mother write to me from the U.K. Her daughter read the first book in the series and was asking for the second book, yet unreleased, for her birthday. How could I not meet that deadline? Children are definitely my greatest motivator! 

Ask Me!

I am currently taking questions on Goodreads and I thought it would be interesting to share my answers on my blog as well. Do you have a question? Ask me on:  Goodreads.com

Hello! One more question if you don't mind, please. :) Could you please tell me what your opinion is regarding the point of view in a story... do you think that writing in the first person (vs. third) creates more of an impact on the story? Have you found that a certain point of view is better for different types of stories? Thanks so much for all of your insight and expertise! :)

K. Lamb Thanks for another great question, GomeeGirl!

If someone were writing a book for the very first time, I would recommend the point of view they are most comfortable using.

For those that are not familiar with different POVs, let’s keep this simple. Without going into the different types of third person POVs, the third person narrative is the author telling the story using the pronouns he, she and they.

I have always used the third person POV because that has best fit my audience, which is children. They easily understand the storytelling mode of a narrator. It is easy for them to envision.

For the first time I will be utilizing the first person POV for my newest young adult novel, Max Donovan. I want this book to be poignant. I want YOU to feel the pain and anguish the main character is going through. This can best be told by utilizing the first person.

To answer your question, ultimately I believe it really depends on the story you are writing, the audience you are addressing, and how you want your readers to relate to your main character. Do you want your reader to have a safety net or to feel every emotion on the journey? Only you, the writer, can decide.

I hope this answered your question. If not, please feel free to give me a follow up question and I will try and clarify further.

Wishing you a little mystery & adventure,

K. Lamb

Ask Me!

I am currently taking questions on Goodreads and I thought it would be interesting to share my answers on my blog as well. Do you have a question? Ask me on:  Goodreads.com

What is the process of editing your books?

K. Lamb Everyone has their own way of going through the editing process. For me, I obsess over it.

I will go through the story maybe once or twice on the screen to change any major points that I see. After that I start printing out the manuscript—let me just apologizes now for my lack of being green when it comes to editing. There is just something about being able to edit on paper versus a computer screen that brings errors more in to focus.

With a red pen I will go through the manuscript and mark any changes. Afterwards, I will go make the necessary changes in the computer. Next, think of it as washing your hair: Wash, Rinse & Repeat! This cycle will continue until I can completely go through the story and find no errors and no content I want to change. I will then read the story aloud and see how it sounds to my ear. Does anything sound clunky? Does it not flow properly? Oops---better change it now! I will then repeat this process. When I am finally satisfied, I will send the manuscript off to my editor/proofreader.

When it comes back with THEIR red marks and love notes, I start implementing those changes. It is important to listen to your editor. However, I don’t always take every bit of advice. Sometimes there may be a scene that I am adamant about not changing and I’ll leave it. After all, it is YOUR story. Your editor is responsible for giving you their best advice. You are responsible for the end result. You choose what is appropriate and what is not.

After those changes are made, I begin the process all over! It is amazing how an editor’s comments may make you look differently upon certain aspects of your book. I will re-work and re-write sometimes just because time has passed and a new idea has struck. When I can no longer find any additional changes I want to make I will send it back to my editor for one final review prior to publication.

What a lot of new writers do not understand is that the editing process is much more difficult than the writing process. Are you on target for your age group? Are you keeping the same POV throughout? Are you in the same tense? All things you will start to pickup on during the editing process. Your editing skills will also improve as you become more used to the process.

One of the biggest mistakes you can do when publishing a book is releasing it before it is properly edited. It isn’t likely you’ll catch 100% of the errors in a book, even after an editor has gone through it, however, one of the biggest frustrations to a reader is finding a novel that has errors and inconsistencies littered throughout it.

Remember, it is your reputation on the line. How do you want to be perceived by the world?

Wishing you a little mystery & adventure,

K. Lamb

Ask Me!

I am currently taking questions on Goodreads and I thought it would be interesting to share my answers on my blog as well. Do you have a question? Ask me on:  Goodreads.com

What are the main problems or issues that normally occurred when writing one of your books?

K. Lamb Honestly, I think the most difficult issue I have is finding the time to write. As an indie author, it is up to me to handle all aspects of my books since I am not hiring out any of the work except for my illustrations. To further compound this problem, I work. Therefore it is imperative to balance my time wisely--well--at least attempt to balance it. Like all aspects in life, things never quite seem to go according to plan. There are always interruptions, tasks to be completed, social media to be maintained, etc. You get the idea.

Finding time to write was a lot easier before I ever released a book for publication. After my first book came out I had a whole new set of tasks that I had to do on a regular basis, which limited my available writing time. I hear similar tales from my author friends. I think one mistake aspiring indie writers often forget about is the time commitment. There are many nights that I do not get to bed until well into the night and even then my head is racing with the thoughts of the things I still need to get accomplished. Luckily, before I ever released a book I spent a year researching and learning all I could so I was prepared for this scenario. Yet, what I have learned isn't even equivalent to a scratch in the surface of it all. To add to that, I have not even begun to market my books. I will be doing a new segment on my blog series, An Inside Look at the Working Indie Author, on Making Connections vs. Marketing that relates to this topic. Right now, I am merely in the stage of making myself known.

I wish it were so easy as to write a book, publish it to the world, and watch the sales roll in. The simple truth: It is not that easy! I encourage all new writers who have a story to tell to pursue their dreams, but hold on to their realistic expectations.

Wishing you a little mystery & adventure,

K. Lamb

Ask Me!

I am currently taking questions on Goodreads and I thought it would be interesting to share my answers on my blog as well. Do you have a question? Ask me on:  Goodreads.com

What motivated and inspired you to start writing?

K. Lamb I think many things played a part in inspiring me to write. A key player is having a love of literature. I believe that eventually blossoms into one's own development and desire to write. I can thank my grandmother for this gift. She truly opened up new worlds to me by always having books available to me in all my favorite genres. Children do not need to be pushed to read as long as you make a wide variety of books available to them. They will gravitate toward them if you allow them that opportunity and rein in some of the other outside influences, i.e. t.v., computers, gaming systems.

There was also this moment that dates all the way back to elementary school. We were having a parent night and one of our class projects was to write a story that we turned into books. We made hard covers for them covered in fabric and used labels for the titles. I was so excited by the project that I asked the teacher if I could make two books. I can't remember my teacher's name, or even the grade, but what I won't forget was her leaning down to me and saying, "You're going to be a writer someday." It is amazing how a few simple words of encouragement can stick with a child.

Finally, I think there is something that is just inherent in an author that makes them want to write. A thought or plot just pops into their mind and you have to put pen to paper or tap it out on a keyboard.

I want to encourage everyone to write. You don't have to become an author if that is not your calling, but writing can be beneficial to everyone even if it is a daily journal. There is just something so comforting about putting your ideas down on paper and seeing it as a tangible element you can physically hold on to.

Thank you for your question, Raul! I look forward to answering your remaining ones.

Wishing you a little mystery & adventure,

K. Lamb

Ask Me!

I am currently taking questions on Goodreads and I thought it would be interesting to share my answers on my blog as well. Do you have a question? Ask me on:  Goodreads.com

Any special interest in writing?

K. Lamb Good question! I think we all have our favorite genres and writing styles. For me, I like to focus on children's stories and young adult.

I enjoy writing for children because it is very rewarding. I have a strong belief in promoting children's literacy. A child needs this educational basic foundation for a strong, fulfilling life as an adult. I truly believe that early readers make better students, which in turn, helps them attain their life-long goals.

To be honest, writing for children is not my strong suit. I do find it a difficult format to write in. Many may think it is easier, however I do not. I am constantly having to make sure I rein myself in and write at a specific grade level. Regardless, it is a task I take on lovingly and willingly because I do have such a strong belief that children need books, especially early chapter books, that will capture their hearts and imagination while challenging them at the same time! Children have a far greater capacity to learn than we sometimes give them credit for. Why not allow them that opportunity?

My favorite genre to write, from a selfish standpoint, is young adult. I get lost in my own writing as I tap on the keys. I do not have to worry as much about what may or may not be appropriate for a young child. It can be a bit edgier, have more bite. There is a very personal satisfaction writing for this genre that fulfills the creative side within me.

Thank you for asking what my interests are in writing. It was a thoughtful question!

Wishing you a little mystery & adventure,

K. Lamb

Nostalgia for days gone by...

The sad thing about youth is that you don't always realize and appreciate a special moment. Then one day you grow up, look back, and you smile fondly at the memory of something you once dismissed as child's play.

The last couple of days I have been feeling very nostalgic over the past. Perhaps it is because yesterday was my grandmother's birthday and I miss her. As I have written many times before, I was blessed to have grown up living next door to my grandparents. I didn't have one home, I had two.

My grandparents' home was a large, three-story, brightly colored Victorian. The bottom floor was below street level and accessed by stairs. It was what we lovingly referred to as the "popcorn kitchen." To us, it was our playroom. It had awesome bunk beds hidden behind doors in the narrow stairwell, which opened up to a small living room. It also housed a full bedroom, bath, and kitchen---hence the name, popcorn kitchen. Care to guess how it got that name? It was where we would bring our neighborhood friends when we wanted to play or flop down and watch cartoons.

Upstairs on the main floor the most wonderful aroma of cookies would fill the air. My grandmother baked the most heavenly delights--all made to order of course! She was always sure to have your favorite on hand, at all times! The walls were covered with her beautiful paintings that she was never quite satisfied with, but I loved. Off the main kitchen was the den where I spent many days curled up with my grandmother watching spooky old black & white horror movies such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Blob. She knew I loved them. It was also our reading room where we would each snuggle up with our favorite books and read to our hearts' content. One of my favorite things was sitting down on the floor as she gently brushed my hair with such tender care and soothingly talked to me about my day.


On the very top floor were our bedrooms. Yes, I even had my own bedroom! I spent many a night there being tucked in with a bedtime story and a song to send me off to dreamland. The last ritual of the night was always my grandmother tucking me in and placing a kiss on my forehead. It didn't matter how old I got, the routine was always the same and I cherished it---even more so now.

These have been my rambling thoughts the last two days. Then this morning, I recalled a special moment with my grandfather. He was a gentle giant. At over 6' 2" he towered over my petite frame. He had a gentle spirit and doted on "his girls." One special day, when I was sixteen he brought me home a new doll. He was so excited as he handed me the gift he had bought. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I hadn't played with dolls in years and that I was more interested in dating than I was pseudo Barbie dolls. However, as I looked at his face there was such a genuine show of love that I found myself sitting down on the floor and opening the box that contained my new Tiffany Taylor doll. To this day I have no idea where he found her. She was produced in 1973, but he had handed this pristine doll in a new unopened box and sat down in his chair to watch me play--and play I did--for hours. I made her hair turn from blonde to black and back again. I walked her around the floor and made up little stories that she acted out. At the time, I was giving back to my grandfather the gift of love he had shown me. I had no idea, decades later, he was giving me his true gift:  a moment in time.


Life is full of mystery. It gives you gifts you don't always understand in the moment, but you realize their full value far into your future. Cherish these ripples in time as they quickly fade until they return to you in the form of a nostalgic memory.

Be well, be happy, and always be blessed.

~ K. Lamb

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Photo credit:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lomolomo/2636725335/

An Inside Look at the Working Indie Author: Illustrations and Cover Art

I hope you remembered your water-wings, because we are going to be diving head first into this topic!

Unless you are blessed with a natural artistic talent as well as being able to pen a delightful story, you are going to need an illustrator. My artistic talent is limited to a box of Crayolas and a coloring book. Well, unless you like scribbling. I can do that quite well, too!

Before you begin the search for an illustrator, you first have some housekeeping to do and I don't mean dusting and laundry. I live in a very practical world surrounded by contracts daily. I knew before I contacted anyone, I needed to protect myself and my characters. Therefore, I began researching Work-For-Hire contracts as I knew this was the route I wanted to go. I found a few contracts I liked and then adapted them to fit my needs. You may want to research what type of relationship you want to have with your illustrator, i.e. work-for-hire, profit sharing, etc., and determine which works best for you.  

Next we have to face the ugly reality of a budget. I know--this is your baby and how can you put a price on it? Well this is the real world, and unless you have a never ending cash flow, you need to set your emotions aside and start sharpening your pencil and do some number crunching. What you want and what you can afford may be two different things. Once you have a total budget in mind based on how much you can pay per illustration and the number of illustrations you want to include in your book, it is time to move forward.

If you are writing a picture book, then as the name suggests, you need pictures! Okay, so that is pretty obvious and you already know that or you wouldn't be reading this information. If you are doing an early chapter book, again, illustrations are imperative.

If you are like I was, you might be feeling a little out of your element. When I started this process I had no industry resources and didn't have a clue as to the next step. However, the one thing I am good at doing is clicking away at the keyboard so that is where I began. I started searching illustrators online. I found a couple of interest, but I wanted to see how they would portray my characters. I definitely had my opinions on how I wanted them to look in my mind and I wasn't prepared to settle.

To be truthful, I like having all of my ducks lined up in a row. I don't like surprises. Therefore, I do this process concurrently with the writing process. At this point, I was well underway with my illustrations. Here's the moral to the story:  a little preparation in the beginning can go a long way to make your journey smoother. However, if you haven't started yet--don't worry! It will just take a little longer before you introduce your book to the world.

With a signed contract in hand, I zeroed in on the illustrators I was interested in. When I first began I typed up the description for my cover art and and sent it out. I'll never forget the moment I "knew" I had found my illustrator. It was a Saturday morning and I was out and about. I decided to check my phone for email and saw I had received a message from one of the illustrators. I opened up his attachment and saw the picture to the right. I could not stop grinning. My illustrator had almost perfectly captured my characters and scene as if taking an image from my mind and magically transforming it into the vibrant illustration before me.

Here's a fun fact:  Chloe was supposed to be a brunette, but my illustrator made her a blonde. I couldn't bring myself to change her. She reminded me too much of my nieces when they were little. I ended up going back and re-writing Chloe's description in the book. I believe things happen for a reason and seeing how Chloe was depicted in the illustration made the book even more special to me personally. This is one of the reasons I like to do the illustrations as I write, because it is easy to modify your story of any small changes along the way. Also, I want to advise you to be flexible. If your illustrator inadvertently modifies your description and it doesn't change the integrity of your book, go with it. It is easier to rectify a small change in your book than to wait weeks for a correction to the illustration.

When it comes to cover art there are a couple of options. You can hire it out or you can do it yourself. If you have a basic working knowledge of Photoshop it is pretty simple. I do my own covers once I have the illustrations or photographs. In fact, doing the covers is something I do immediately before I start the writing process. It gives me that little motivation of how I envision my book and sets the mood.

If you are not doing a children's book, the cover art is pretty easy. I don't even utilize the expensive version of Photoshop. I use Photoshop Elements along with licensed photographs. It is important to realize that you cannot use any photograph you find online because you do not have ownership rights to those photos. (i.e. when I use photos for my blog posts I always give credit and reference to where the photographs were found because I do not own them and I don't know who does. You should always make your best effort to cite references and content.) When it comes to publication, this is not enough. You must either own the rights to a photograph/illustration or have licensed the material you are going to be using. You can license photos at such places as istockphoto.com, dreamstime.com and shutterstock.com.

Your cover art doesn't have to be complicated. It just needs to be compelling. Here is the cover to my upcoming young adult novel Max Donovan. The artwork for the back of the book is actually the photograph I am using for the banner of my blog. It is eerie and conveys the message I want to get across about my book--all while leaving you with wanting to know a little more.

Please bear in mind that all the information I am giving you is based on my personal experience, as a new author, and is based on my utilizing the Amazon digital and paperback platform.

I hope you will join me on my next segment: An Inside Look at the Working Indie Author: Making Connections vs. Marketing

Wishing you all a wonderful day full of mystery & intrigue,

K. Lamb

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Photo credits via Google:
http://www.vedros.com
http://www.virtualstafffinder.com
http://www.accuplan.com
http://www.ducksinarow.com

An Inside Look at a Working Indie Author: The Writing Phase

Being a working Indie Author is not an easy task. Now one might assume by "working" I mean full-time as an author. Alas, I do not. Many Indie authors write in addition to their regular jobs and I am no exception. Recently during a conversation with an author friend she suggested that I would make a good guest blogger on the subject. It is a thought I would love to explore, but in the meantime, I thought I would give you an inside glimpse of what it takes to be a writer in today's working world based on my own experiences.  Thus, a new series of blog posts are coming your way.

First and foremost, organizational skills are a must! Dividing your time between working, writing, marketing, and running a family is not an easy task and there will be days you will fall into bed exhausted. I am not saying this to deter anyone! I only want to give future would-be authors a realistic look at what is to come should they choose this path. It is definitely one I wouldn't change. It has been an amazing experience!


I'm sure you've heard this all before, but writing is the easy part. If you are an author it is probably because it comes as naturally to you as breathing, you have cultivated your art, or you have something inside that is demanding to be put down on paper. After months--sometimes even years--of slaving over your computer, you finally take a sigh of relief. You have now put in your time and you have a neatly printed stack of paper before you. At this point you are probably feeling pretty smug. I know I did.


Well, it's time to knock yourself off your pedestal, pick up a red pen, and look at it from an editor's point of view. Slowly and methodically you work your way through your stack. When you are done, if you are like me, you won't be feeling quite so smug any longer. With a deep breath you start inputting the changes back into your document file and re-print the stack. Now what? You start all over with your red pen! You continue this process, past the point of thinking you can no longer read the same story "one more time,"  until you can go through your stack with a completely objective outlook and no longer find any changes.

Do you think you're done? No. Now you turn your "baby" over to a proofreader/editor; someone who can look at it without sentiment and make the proper changes and suggestions. Don't feel disheartened when you get it back! This is their job to help make your story better! Some of the changes you may agree with and some you might not. Do what feels right to you, while maintaining your objectivity. Do not let sentiment stand in your way!

Now it is time to start the editing process all over again with your red pen. If you do major changes, you will need to go back to the proofreader/editor. When it is all said and done, does it still read and feel like your manuscript? What can you do to make it better? How can you modify it? Does it make you feel good the way it is? This is your last chance to put your finishing touches to your story before you are ready to release it to the world. Are you proud of what you have accomplished? Is this how you want to promote yourself as a writer? If so, it is time to move on.

Please be sure to come back and join me as I continue the next segment in this new blog series: An Inside Look at a Working Indie Author: Illustrations and Cover Art. 

Wishing you all a little mystery and intrigue,

K. Lamb
Author of the Dani P. Mystery Series,
and my future young adult novel:  Max Donovan

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Photo credit:
http://g-ecx.images.amazon.com
http://trudydoyle.files.wordpress.com
http://crissitherese.files.worpress.com

Summer Reading Giveaway: Dani and the Haunted House

By now summer vacation is well underway, which means your children may (or may not) be getting a little antsy and bored. Now is the perfect time to get them reading! If your children are always on-the-go, full of energy, you may wonder how to even get started. How about packing up a picnic and taking them to their favorite local park? When you first arrive, let them play and scamper. Watch as they have fun on the monkey bars or race across the green lawn as they laugh under the watchful summer sun. Let them romp and embrace being a child.

When they tire, and they will, have them come and relax on a blanket under a large, old oak where the shade gives them a cool place to relax. They will be sure to appreciate the picnic lunch you have so thoughtfully brought along to feed their hungry tummies. When they have eaten to their hearts' content, they may begin to get a little sleepy, which is the perfect time to pull out that book you sneaked into the picnic basket. Begin reading to them and watch as they snuggle down; perhaps laying their sleepy heads upon your lap. Engage them in the story as you read by asking them questions or making little commentaries. Eventually, they may drift off into slumber and that is okay! Now is the perfect time for you to pick up that second book hidden in the picnic basket. Settle back against nature's favorite chair and take a deep sigh. This is your time. With a smile on your face, lose yourself within the pages of a beckoning friend, and enjoy the tranquility of the moment as all is right with the world.

To jump start this lovely scenario, I will be hosting another free book giveaway this summer of Dani and the Haunted House on Amazon.com. Be sure to download your free Kindle copy on Friday, July 18th! I hope you will join Dani on her adventures!

Remember, you have to plant a seed today if you want to promote growth tomorrow. Wishing you all a lovely summer full of reading,

K. Lamb








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Photo credit: http://www.justtherightbook.com