Wednesday, April 6, 2016

IWSG April: I Have a Website!

Hi all of you IWSGers! I can't believe it's already April, and while most of you are kicking it with the A to Z, I'm neck deep in all the fun and exciting stuff that goes along with publishing your first book. For those of you who haven't been around in a while, I recently signed with Clean Teen Publishing to publish my debut novel CATALYST, a YA near-future thriller. And obviously, I'm THRILLED!!


Since then, I've created an author website, which you can find HERE, I've started a newsletter sign-up which you can find HERE (don't you want to sign-up to receive the latest info on cover reveals, book releases, giveaways, and general awesomeness?? Of course you do!) :) And I've been working with the designer on my cover. *insert squeal* It all feels so surreal that after wanting this for so long, it's finally happening! 

Sure, I could easily get caught up in the "but I didn't get an agent" or the "but I didn't sell to a major publishing house" but in the end, does that REALLY matter? I'm bringing my book baby to the world and that's enough for me. I love the publisher I went with (everyone has been amazing so far!) and I look forward to writing many more books for them.

Speaking of which, I have my first deadline! They'd like the sequel to Catalyst by the end of August! I've been working hard and thankfully, the words are coming, but I know it's gonna be a beast to revise.

On another note, how do you go about securing blurbs from authors? My publisher would like me to ask established authors to read an ARC and provide a little blurb to be used on the back cover or the first couple pages of the book. Obviously, I can ask CTP authors, but if I wanted to branch out, do you think most authors would be receptive? I had a friend tell me that big name authors like James Patterson actually have people pay him to do a blurb for them. Is that something I should try to do? Secure a big name YA author and pay them???

Also, has anyone ever hired a publicist? I'm trying to decide if the cost would be worth it.

Give me your thoughts! :)

This post is brought to you by the IWSG. A big thank you to Alex Cavanaugh, the brain child of this group, and all his co-hosts for this month. It's never too late to join this fun, supportive group. Click HERE if you're interested.

Happy Wednesday!!


23 comments:

  1. Love the website! Great job!!! (I'm still fiddling with mine. lol)

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    1. Thank you! I love how yours turned out too! Yours was one of the ones I checked out when I was trying to figure out how to do mine. :)

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  2. So happy for you! Wishing you continued success!

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  3. Is that Miley Cyrus? We were watching The Voice last night, and she was on there helping out the contestants. She looked so...strange. And she used to be so cute! Okay, that was random!! =D It's been so much fun seeing this all coming together for you!!

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    1. It is! Back when she was sweet and innocent as Hannah Montana. Yeah, she looks VERY different now. I thought the same thing when I found that happy dance GIF. :) And I love that you've been with me every step of the way! Thanks for being part of this journey! And for all your input! <3

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  4. Getting published is amazing. Spending time worrying about what you don't have isn't worth the effort. You're ahead of many of us.

    As for authors, I'd say just ask. The worst they could do is say no.

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  5. Glad you have a website now!
    I'd never pay for a blurb. Just ask around. Ask all the authors you know who write in your genre.

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  6. I've actually heard many people are MUCH happier with mid-sized publishers because it's a friendlier environment. I think that's the way to go. As far as endorsement blurbs, I wouldn't pay for them. On the publicist front, typically a publicist will charge $2000+ a month, and truthfully, you're not going to be able to support that in book sales. Not at first for sure. If you know of someone who will charge you less and just submit your press release to sources as a valid industry person, it might be worth the cost. Be careful with your pennies on a debut novel.

    Crystal Collier

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    1. Yeah, I'm loving working with them. Great group of women who KNOW their stuff! Especially when it comes to marketing. I feel so lucky! :)

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  7. Nice website Kristin! I'd never pay for a blurb, either. I have yet to publish anything, although my work is apparently good enough to steal and sell (long story). I've finally come up with a good idea for a story after 2 or 3 years writing a novel and half of another one that is basically just a bunch of people standing around pontificating, since what I do best is write rhetorically. Must. Get. Out. Of. That. Mindset! Anyway! you have a lovely website! Congratulations! Viola Fury, co-host, aka Mary

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    1. Thank you, Viola! I'm so sorry to hear someone stole your work! That is awful. But glad to hear you're back in the game and working on something new. Good luck with everything! :)

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  8. Enjoy the fantastic ride, Kristin! You have a lot to be proud of. I'm so glad you found a publisher that fits you. Wishing you continued success!

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  9. I don't think paying for a blurb is a good idea. I'd be happy to blurb you if you'd like! I'm not a big name, though. If you have any other friends that are published in YA or MG, don't feel bad about asking! I know some people in my local RWA chapter would get other RWA chapter members to blurb them...even bigger names. There was a sisterhood in that.

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    1. I would LOVE for you to do a blurb for me!! Thank you so much for offering!! And yes, you're a big name to me! :)

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  10. Congrats on getting a pub deal! I would try to find an inside connection to a bigger name rather than paying for a blurb. And all I can say about publicists is that they're usually really expensive! Does your publisher have one?

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    1. They do, but on a smaller scale, more online stuff. I'd love for someone who can contact local news, radio, talk shows, etc. just so that's one less thing I have to think about. But yeah, I don't think I want to pay a ton of money though! :)

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  11. Good luck with the blurb stuff - I have zero idea...

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  12. A huge congrats to you!! That's so exciting. Your website looks great, and I just signed up for your newsletter. Good luck getting blurbs! It's one of those things that was on my to-do list but I never did it. I'd say go ahead and ask people. They can't do any more than say no.

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