When To Put On Your Grown-Up Shoes?

Do we decide when is the right time to step into our grown-up shoes? You would think as a wife, mother, and (young) grandmother, I would already consider myself a “grown-up”, but I don’t. An adult, yes, sometimes, when I have to, but I never really considered myself that way.

As an angst-riddled teen I scribbled on my homework. I filled up more notebooks than I could count. In my late teens/ early 20’s I used to journal, still do. Birth of a Vixen’s first draft took about a year to complete. I was 27 years old when I knuckled down.

I have learned so much since then. SO MUCH. That is what I spent most of my time doing. Learning. Researching. Discovering as much about the publishing industry. That is the cool thing about the writing community. The moment you announce you are a writer you aren’t an outsider. The world opens up.

Even as I kept editing, kept tweaking, I spent seven years very slowly growing my brand because I was unsure about when I would put Birth of a Vixen out. I traveled to conferences and conventions. I became a sponge.

Now I wouldn’t pat myself on the back and say I’m any more a grown-up than I was when I started. As I type this I am also watching Marvel’s Jessica Jones, cuddling with River, and dunking chocolate chip cookies in milk. Then again being in touch with my inner child may be just what the doctor ordered.

Which leads me to my announcement. I am an author. I am an entrepreneur. To truly combine the two I have opened a boutique-publishing house: 

The biggest difference about DHP is what we plan to give back to the writing community. You may have noticed a new author name at the top of the page, Kirstin Rowan. She will be posting book reviews for authors outside of the company here. If you would like to have your book reviewed by Mrs. Rowan email delphianhopepub@gmail.com with Book Review in the subject line. She will post reviews on Thursdays.

We are not taking author submissions until January after we square away the final details. When we become open to submissions those details will be posted here and on our Facebook page.

In the future we plan on growing bigger, expanding the fandom to levels that would make everyone’s inner child squee.

We are really pumped about this idea and hope you are, too. Please let us know what you think. If you have any questions feel free to ask. We’d love to answer anything to the best of out ability.

None of this would be possible with you. THANK YOU!

~Colleen Tews

colleentews.com

Handling 2016's Final Stretch

As September comes to a close we have to look at the final stretch of months full of holidays and frivolity. October is nothing but candy and costumes. During November we will slaughter thousands of turkeys. December is so full of holidays it may explode from love, joy, and laughter! 

Am I right?

Sort of.

Ask most adults and they will tell you how much they want to bang their heads against the wall from the stress the Holiday Season brings to mind. There is an endless list of things to buy and crap to do. How can we help release some of that tension? 

We need to remember to find time for ourselves. If we don't take care of ourselves first we cannot take care of others. We can't follow our dreams. We won't be able to enjoy the good times. Breathe in the love.

Stop worrying about the fact that you are in the final quarter of the year. It is set. Schedule things accordingly. Don't bite off more you can. If you can't do something now then it will wait until the first quarter next year. That it is how it was supposed to be then. 

As for the holidays...You enjoyed them when you were a kid, right?

Recapture that feeling. Hold it tight. Wake up every morning and recall what it was like to put on your favorite costume, to delve into smooth pumpkin pie coated with whip cream, and to rush into your parents room in the wee hours of morning, jump on their bed, and wake them by pouncing upon them heads shouting Santa had arrived. 

Do you have plans for the holidays? Halloween is right around the corner. 

Dream Prophet: Awakening comes out October 15th Free for our Halloween Special.

Thank you,

Colleen Tews

colleentews.com

The Force Awakens A New Hope

What is it about Star Wars that keeps fans begging for more?

TNT ran episodes 1 through 6 all weekend in honor of Mark Hamill's birthday. Starz is running Force Awakens nonstop. DisneyXD has Star Wars Rebels. Rogue 1 opens in December. There are decades of books, the previous cartoon –Star Wars Clone Wars, a roleplaying game, a (gulp) Christmas Special, toys, lunchboxes, clothing line, and the list goes on. All of those items can be found in my house in some form or another.

 

But, why? I love Star Wars. I grew up with it. My daughters love it. Even River loves it. Unless Emperor Palpatine comes on the screen, then she runs under the bed. Seriously, the first time she did this I laughed my butt off. I laughed hard the second time, too. My husband is the BIGGEST Star Wars fan I have ever met. He has collectibles from the 1970s. Why can’t we get enough?

Is it Harrison Ford’s scruffy, nerd herding good looks? Is it James Earl Jones smooth, but ominous voice? The golden bikini!?! The buns!?! What is it???

It is intelligent without being arrogant. It doesn’t talk down to its audience, heck they laugh with their fans at themselves. And the story is classic.

Lets break down “classic” it gets tossed about easily. Classic, to me, means timeless. I can watch the movies a zillion times, leave the room, come back, know all the lines, and still be enthralled by half-ass watching it.

Luke Skywalker is today’s Hercules without the alcohol. I have heard some refer to the Star Wars Sage as a Space Opera and I can see that. When it came out though I think it gave hope when there was none. Today’s generation has known only war. When my youngest saw Force Awakens, turns to me and said, “I want to be Rey.” I was reminded that it is not a Space Opera, but our generations Greek Myths.

There is a reason superheroes are doing as well as they are doing at the box office. This is why Disney reached for both Lucas Film and Marvel, because they know people need dreams, they need hope. We are begging for A New Hope.

I look forward to your comments below. Whether you are a fan or a trekkie. I love Star Trek, too. So, please no hate mail. Speaking of mail, I am starting a private newsletter. You can fill out the contact info form on my website. I swear on BB8 I will never give or sell any personal information. I worked for a telemarketing company once that bought huge lists and the practice disgusts me.

May the Force be with you.

Colleen Tews

colleentews.com

Burning The Candle At Both Ends

Some of you may remember the big boom of eBusinesses that came and went in the late 1990’s/early 2000’s. I fear that same mindset may be happening due to the constant bombardment in ePublishing. You’re probably thinking this contradicts my push from my last post. To that I say nay nay. 

What this means is we have to shift gears. The market is changing. More people are purchasing online than ever before. Which is great for us. The ability to self-publish will not go away, but the way we will have to fight to get our name, our brand, out there will be ten times harder. Not that it would be any easier going with a traditional publisher, but that was Monday’s post. (see Why Become An Author Entrepreneur)

I recently read a post by Melissa Flickinger. She begged the question about “The Decline of the Book Blog Tour Era”. This was a nifty way for authors to market their books. Yet this well is running dry. I recommend reading her blog.

Another thing I have noticed is that I am preaching to the wind. I have joined Facebook groups, used all the right hashtags, and threw a Facebook event, too. The problem…I’m selling to my friends, to authors who are also trying to sell, but not to my market group. For that I need to reach my client base.

This month I am shifting gears. Not only am I writing Dream Prophet: Awakening for Halloween, but I am taking every class I can to better myself, better my business, and better serve you. I know enough to know what I don’t know. It is time to fill in the gaps and grow. No more burning the candle at both ends and praying I sell a book or two. It isn’t healthy for me. And it isn’t fair to all of you.

If you have any questions about this post please feel free to ask. Don’t give up on your dreams. Make them reality. Whether it is writing or growing an urban farm or whatever. I hope you can find inspiration from what I’ve said. I can be reached on Twitter @colleentews, Facebook, and Instagram.

Thank you,

~Colleen Tews

colleentews.com

Why Become An Author Entrepreneur?

What is the definition of an entrepreneur?

Entrepreneur: (noun) 1. A person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so.

                             2. A promoter in the entertainment industry.

What is an author?

Author: (noun) 1. A writer of book, article, or report.

OR

(verb) 1. Be the author of (a book or piece of writing)

Now when we combine those we get today's published writer. Most writers are not going with the big publishing companies. Why? Well, there are a lot of reasons. There are hoops upon hoops and far more promise of rejection. You'll still have to do 98% of the marketing yourself, if not 100%. They get the rights to your work. Which I believe is the biggest reason of all.

Lets break this down. You've slaved over your book. You sent it out to beta readers. You saved up money for a professional editor. Worked through the edits. Made it as perfect as you can. You crossed your Ts and dotted all the Is.

Next step: You break out the trusty excel spreadsheet and search every agent (or as I call them the first gatekeepers) the represent your genre. You research this for days. You create a special query letter, follow their rules, make certain every gender if addressed properly, and every Ms is not a Miss or a Mrs or vice versa. You cross your fingers, pray to the writing gods, and send. 

Many years ago some would write back with a thoughtful message thanking you. In most fields there is a phrase “no news is good news”. Not in publishing. Agents are so inundated with query letters that if they don’t want you they reject you by simply ignoring you. Which I believe it poor business. I understand why they say they do it, but I wouldn’t accept it from any other company. Why should they get away with it?

Moving on. Big publishing companies like to stay with authors they know will make money. Understandable. But this keeps them away from bringing in new names. Their fear has caused businesses like Amazon to grow in leaps and bounds. 

The promise of an advance is minimum. The money you get you’ll need to use to market yourself. The percentages you get from sales are split between the publisher, all their departments, the agent, and then you.

Heaven forbid you have a falling out with your publisher and you are halfway through a series. You have plans to go to another publisher or start your own company. You need your rights transferred for new editions published. Guess who needs a lawyer?

These are some of the reasons I have chosen to pick the route of an author entrepreneur. Less outside muss. Less outside fuss. More $$$ in my pocket overtime. Is it easy? Heck no. But it is worth it. If it were easy I don’t think I would do it. I like a bit of a challenge. This combines my love for writing and getting the books out there. 

If you are an independent author please tell us why you picked that route. If you’re a writer on the verge of publishing and have any questions please ask away. You can find me on Facebook and Twitter. The links are in the bar at the top of the page. 

Hope this was helpful. Thank you.

~Colleen Tews

colleentews.com