Hello fellow authors,

I am grateful to Christine and Patch for allowing me to blog for this great company. Let me begin by sharing what makes me qualified to offer my advice. I have been writing for over fifteen years. During that time, I have studied both the writing “craft,” and other authors who have a successful reader following.

While touring with my first book, In the Garden with Billy: Lessons about Life, Love & Tomatoes, I met many fledgling authors who all had the same question, “How can I increase book sales?” In most cases, those asking the questions were self-published authors. They had invested a chunk of their time and financial resources. They had purchased a truckload of books that now sat stagnant in their basement. They were desperate. At other events, authors approached me, thrust a copy of their title into my hand and said, “Go on Amazon and write a review of my book.”

All this and more lead me to write Stress-free Marketing: Practical Advice for the Newly Published Author. Instead of planning book tours like with the first book, I offered workshops to booksellers, corporations and writing groups. These intense workshops teach authors about both the business side and marketing side of being an author. My workshops simplify the process in a way that doesn’t cause stress - I promise.

In the coming weeks I will offer basic tips. Desperate authors make career-damaging mistakes. Purchasing a basement full of books and believing that Amazon reviews sell books are two of the most common mistakes fledgling authors make. My blog will teach you what you should and should not, do. Perhaps the most important topic is patience. Never be in a hurry to make a mistake.

I will also speak about perfecting your manuscript before you self publish or submit your work to an agent or publisher. Find an editor. Listen to your editor. Limit exclamation points, repetitive words and anything else hidden in your manuscript that screams, “Amateur.”

For a sneak peak of what is forthcoming, please listen to this podcast. I also love hearing from fellow authors. Feel free to send me your questions. I promise to answer each one to the best of my ability.

Thank you for reading and remember, never give up on your dream of becoming a successful author.

Renea Winchester is an award-winning author of In the Garden with Billy: Lessons about Life, Love & Tomatoes. She recently formed Make Your MarkPublishing, LLC, which released Rucker:The Lost Country Dog. When she isn’t writing she is shelving books at the local library or volunteering at the local high school. Her agent is waiting for her to complete In the Kitchen with Billy. Visit her at
http://blogthefarm.wordpress.com