New Internet Radio Show & New Website

Hello and yes, it's been a while since I have been here.  Lots of exciting things have been going on.  I have created a new website to promote my fellow authors at Publish America.  Publish America has a wealth of talented authors out there who need to get their names out and their works known.  I have created the website at http://www.publishamericaauthors.com/ to do just that.  Also, an internet radio show at www.blogtalkradio.com will be starting May 4th at 6:30 p.m.  I will be interviewing PA authors about their books, how they got started writing and how they feel about Publish America.  The link for the show is http://www.blogtalkradio.com/publish-america-authors/2011/05/04/author-michael-walsh
Please feel free to stop by and give us a listen.  The author that will be interviewed on May 4th is Michael Walsh.  He has four books published through Publish America; Kaleb's Dad, Eddie's Method, Just Some Old Man and Whetstone Chronicle.  It's sure to be an interesting interview. 

Writing a good book just doesn't seem to be enough these days.  Unfortunately, so many authors feel that once they have written their book and a publishing house has accepted it, the hard work is over.  Sorry to say it "just ain't so".  As an author, you need to promote your book and yourself as an author.  There are many means to do this.  Blogging is one of them.  The big publishing houses are taking on new authors less and less.  The market is saturated and unfortunately, the bigger house are just not going to take a chance on losing money with an unknown or beginning author.  There has been a big movement of Indie author in the past couple years.  Being an Indie author DOES NOT mean you are going the way of the vanity press.  What it does mean is that you, the author retain complete control of your book.  With this, of course, means you have more work to do promoting and marketing yourself and your work. 

Whether you decide to go the route of an Inde author or go with a publishing house, be ready to do a little leg work, a little computer work and a whole of promoting.  I wish you the best of luck with your projects.  And again, please stop by the radio show and give us a listen.  You may learn something! 

What Motivates You To Wirte?

I would like to know what motivates you to write?  I am currently having extreme difficulty motivating myself to write.  My characters are running around inside my head doing all kinds of "good" stuff.  My problem seems to be that I cannot make myself sit down and write. 

A prime example is this blog.  I have not touched it since beginning it.  It's not a matter of having writer's block.  I just can't seem to make time for my writing.  Does anyone else have ths problem or am I just lazy?  I do work a full-time job but my evenings are free.  So why can I not spend time with my writing?  Perhaps it's the fact that it only took approximately four months to write my first novel, Deadly Shamrocks.  Maybe I thought it would always be that easy.  I must admit, I spend a lot of time marketing Deadly Shamrocks and I have several book signings scheduled so I have been quite busy with that. 

Whether you are an Indie writer or published through traditional means, you are going to spend a lot of valuabe tiime marketing your book and making personal appearances.  When do nationally known, best selling authors have time to write and what motivates them to write?  I know money is a factor but they still have to have the desire to spend time with their writing projects.  Am I not devoted to my writing?  The thought has crossed my mind.  Do I have ADHD and cannot sit still long enough to work on my writing?  I have been working on the sequel to Deadly Shamrocks since September 2010.  I now have five chapters completed.  That is NOT acceptable! 

Oh well, I shall put this off and think about it tomorrow (as Scarlett would say). 

New Author Here To Blog

This will be my first time blogging here so please be patient with me.  My name is J.B. Reed and I am a newly published author.  My novel, Deadly Shamrocks, was released 09/20/2010.  Deadly Shamrocks is an Irish tale of romance, murder and revenge.  The setting is Hell's Kitchen, New York City, early 1960's.  The heroine of my story is Vivian Clancy, a nice Irish girl, brought up on the streets of Hell's Kitchen.  Vivian has five brothers and sisters and two loving parents whom she cherishes.  Vivian learned from childhood that you do not mix with those not of your own kind.  You see, bigotry was deep rooted in those days.  Unfortunately, Vivian also learns that even those of your own kind will harm you, if given the right opportunity. 

I began writing in my early twenties, but writing had to be placed on the back burner as my time was at a premium.  Divorced and raising my daughter alone, working a full-time job and with her school activities, I found there were demands on my time that would not afford the luxury of writing.  After my daughter became an adult and had children of her own, it was spending time with my grandchildren that became my priority.  At the ripe old age of 53, I finally decided it was time for me to start writing again.  After my mother passed away, I wanted to do something to honor her.  Mom was of Irish lineage and proud of it!  I decided, when beginning my book, that my major characters would be Irish.  The Irish people are proud and strong and never back down from a fight. 

Anyone interested in learning more about Deadly Shamrocks can read a blurb on my website, www.authorjbreed.yolasite.com.  It's also available for purchase on my site as well as Amazon.com, Borders, Books-A-Million and Barns & Noble.

I will be back soon to blog more about the book, what's going on in my life and general topics of conversation.  If anyone has a question for me, you can contact me at authorjbreed@gmail.com.