The Zombie Effect on audible

 UGH...the dreaded C-WORD that overtook the world in January 2020 has put a damper on every aspect of our lives. Including believe it or not - Audible! 5 long months later and my book is here. Check out the 5 minute sample and the incredible voice of Nathan Tarantla. Not only does he narrate, but he adds sound effects too.

Get your Audible today

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Zombie-Effect-Audiobook/B08G5B7XXP

https://theresajcbs.wixsite.com/authorpage

Let Life.

Emerging artists of any kind have to live in multiple realities.

The Day job

The parent role – or pet parent role for some.

The artist

And unless you are superhuman, we must sleep at some point too!

There are times where you have to let life happen, and ignore the art. Yes, I said it! Ignore that little voice calling – come and create me – and it’s not easy to do.

And now my dog is pacing to go run, so with a full schedule this weekend, I must bid you Au revoir and hope for a more evolved post next week. 

Yesterday was my Debut book signing at my local @Chaptersindgo store.

 

One of the questions that many new writers ask is, how do you get a signing? The answer is simple, you call your local bookstore and ask if they allow indie authors to sign there. Luckily my local Chapters did - for a cut of course.

However the benefit of this, number one: EXPOSURE! 

Number two: Some venues have a rule, if you sell enough that day, your book goes on the SHELF! 

I'm extra lucky that my name at this store come right after Joe Hill! Hazzzah!  

I was also able to have a professional photographer there for a short time, and they captured some perfect shots for me. 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Teela DHMedia https://www.facebook.com/DHVideoPhoto/

https://www.dhulster.ca/

All my books are available here: 

https://www.amazon.com/Theresa-Jacobs/e/B01BAS13T2

Antisocial Media

 As an indie writer, our jobs are not only to write, but to market, and network, to build a solid community around us. There are days, however, when being "on" through social media can become overwhelming. 

Many writers use their personal, and author accounts, as one. I do not, I keep mine separate. I do share some personal details on my writer's account, but I try to stick to human interest style posts. I share the mundane daily stuff or any political, or religious believes with my family and friends. As a writer, I feel that the public only truly wants to read my stories, not know that I have dinner plans with friends, (unless their famous people perhaps).

But there are days when the thought of more marketing can be overwhelming, or just plain boring. So I just don't do it that day. Some sites say you must be present online every day. We have many hats to wear and life is extra busy when you are working, raising a family, writing, marketing, and seeking other avenues of promoting your work.
It's enough to drive a person mad.

I say nope, I need me time TOO! 

Stay sane, be happy, be creative, and stay healthy. Happy writing folks. Theresa

http://theresajcbs.wixsite.com/authorpage

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B786Z7K

(.99 cent sale)
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/596600

Darn it ... what was my blog?

While blogging weekly can be a daunting undertaking, most of us find something to talk about. However when you have a brilliant flash of a blog mid week but neglect to write it down – that’s a pisser!

I awoke this morning to blog and had absolutely no idea what my mind-blowingly-thousand-likes -blog was going to be!

I did my chores, walked the dog, had some lunch and tried not to think about it. Maybe it would sneak back into my consciousness if I avoided thinking about it altogether.

Clearly, via the state of this Blog, that did not happen. Perhaps next week I’ll have that showstopper. But for today you are left with this –

Debut Novel, 5* reviews https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B786Z7K

When you Hit THE END

The day you type "the end" in your novel is a joyous release. You can relax for a bit, let it rest, get some distance before re-reading and beginning to edit.

The next day you feel lost, you know you have to write, you've set yourself to a schedule. You go to your computer and it hits you, that piece you been working on for a month, a year, ten years, is done ... now what. 

You feel empty.

Sure it's time to start something new, brainstorm, plot, plan, world build. But it's weird. You are connected to those old characters, you feel like you've lost a friend. Maybe they're thinking of you too? 

Okay probably not, or you've created a new reality and we'd all better run!

This is how I handled it, I took the week to focus on marketing. And I began jotting notes for my next novel. I tweaked a kids book I had written in the spring and sent it off to a publisher - fingers crossed.

I read three books for reviews and sent out a ton of emails requesting my own book to be reviewed. This is always time-consuming and lacks results. So if anyone has good tips there I'm open...

As soon as this blog is typed I shall begin writing the next novel. When you are a writer there is never a lack of things to do, only the desire. What's your excuse? It's your book waiting to be written, get to it.

Happy writing folks, Theresa Jacobs

http://theresajcbs.wixsite.com/authorpage

Write, Edit, Format - Repeat

Write, Edit, Format - Repeat 

Sounds easy, doesn't it? 

Writing I can do. 
Idea's - yes - bucket loads. 
Editing, I loathe but it's a necessity. 
Formatting and I am ready to toss the computer out the window!

Oh, sure there are all kinds of websites that tell you step by step how to properly format your manuscript. I've spent hours reading and applying the technics. I even had to go so far as to have the steps open along with my manuscript side by side. I thought I had it all down. Then I need to make one little change and the process goes wonky. 

I always try and complete my own work and learn new skills along the way. However, when it comes to formatting, I may be throwing in the towel. 

Ironically a fellow writer whom I connected with on G+ recently listed that he is now offering editorial and formatting services. So unless my friends out there have some life saving quick tips for me, I'll be paying someone.

Or if you need someone too, I'm recommending his service, as I know from his work, he is a perfectionist. 


https://israelfinn.com/formattingediting/

So stay tuned, Cataclysm is coming Oct 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuANlx0ENyo

Take the Leap

Many times, over the course of our lives we let fear hold us back. Even in writing. Which is silly to think about, but I’m sure you’ve done it too. Whether it's fear of being ridiculed, fear of failure, or even fear of success.

I am no psychologist, so I’m here to talk about taking new leaps.

Along with fiction writing, I am also a contributor to the online magazine 1428elm.com. For those who don’t know, it’s a horror news magazine. 1428 Elm is the fictional address of Freddy Kruger, Nightmare on Elm St. Recently I have been writing about the TV Series Z-Nation – based on zombies – if you’re into that sort of thing. As season three ended, and we are waiting for the next to begin, I got the brilliant idea to see if I could interview the shows creator, Karl Schaefer.

That’s when the fear gripped me. I mean seriously, zombies, pssh they don’t scare me because they are not real, but trying to reach out to a creative genius and talk to him! Now that’s frightening. 

So, I told myself all I can do is try to find him at this point. Chill, this could be a search in vain. How do I even find a show writer/director/producer? And I won’t bore you with all that – but I did find him. Then I buckled down and asked if he would be interested in doing an interview. Because really all he can do is, #1 completely ignore me (perhaps block me) or #2 Say no. And what is going to happen to me from these results – NOTHING!

When Karl responded with a YES and here’s my personal email, I was on cloud nine. I mean seriously, I had an idea, I did some research, and I followed through.

What was there to be afraid of? I got results, and it was fun. You can read that interview below if you want to see how it went.

Bonus, my dear friend, and writer extraordinaire Susan Leighton was lucky enough to wrangle in the big cheese (or should I say big chin?) none other than Bruce Campbell himself. I’ve posted that interview as well.

So, what’s holding you back? Get out there and have fun writing.

Z-nation Interview:

https://1428elm.com/2017/08/21/znations-own-karl-schaefer-tells-all/

Bruce Campbell Interview:

https://1428elm.com/2017/09/08/bruce-campbell-interview-meets-eye/

Gather Writing Support

As you dive into the world of writing, you will find supporters. The encouragers, the people who cheer you on and tell you that you are doing well. Or that they are proud of you, go live your dream. These are generally friends and family and as you grow, fellow writers.

You will also find teachers. People that may slap you on the wrist and say this is wrong, that’s wrong, why did you write it that ways. The natural instinct is to defend yourself. To baby your project and say, well that’s the way I want it to be so that’s how it’s going to stay. Stop and think about what they are telling you.

We need both types of people in our lives. The ones that make us feel good, that we are achieving a dream. This pushes us to want to move forward and to be ourselves. 

However, the teachers are just as important. Perhaps even more so, they make us question everything we do. They will help us improve and think about how we are presenting ourselves to the world. They too will help us move forward and move upwards.

Celebrate every achievement with your supporters and revel in the fact that you have written something – anything – it’s not an easy task.

Silently rant and rave at every misstep pointed out by the teachers, and then go fix the problem. Ask for help, get advice, and never stop trying. And then they will help you celebrate your wins.

Don’t be afraid, if anyone reaches out to you with advice, use it. Be tough, keep writing and be happy.