You’ve dreamed of writing novels since you were a nipper. You were probably the only kid who shouted ‘Hooray!’ when your teacher announced a creative writing exercise. How can that translate into a successful author brand for you? Oh, you’d be surprised. But seriously. A lot of authors don’t want to touch branding. It’s the kind […]
How to edit your author photo just using a smartphone
Writers know there are plenty of things they’ll ultimately need for their marketing efforts. And the author photo often strikes fear into many hearts, despite it being one of the most important. But Icy! I hear you cry. Surely the books are far more important? Meh. Yes and no. Plenty of people will buy books […]
Author brands and social media: How not to be a tool
In 2018, social media is no longer a new platform. It’s developed rules and etiquette that seem to change every other week. But combining author brands and social media needn’t be difficult. It can even be fun. Some authors refuse to use social media. They’re still living in the 1970s, when publishers still handled marketing and […]
Fuchsia Folklore: The Secrets of these Common Garden Flowers
Few flowers brighten a garden quite the same way as the fuchsia. The beautiful pendants come in a range of colours, though my favourites are the deep, dark pink variety. While I’ve often focused on toxic flowers such as foxgloves or daffodils, this humble plant comes with a few of its own folktales. Some believe […]
Do you need to buy your own author domain name?
For many writers, having an author domain name is a nice idea, but not essential. Like owning a brand new Mac so you can use Vellum. Or talking about your books on The Graham Norton Show. And in the early days of your career, you want to bootstrap things as much as possible. But. You’re in this for […]
#FridayFlash – The Unsaid Warning
The young man shuffles into the workroom wearing the familiar despondent look. He looks at the floor and fiddles with the cuffs of his frock coat. Delta looks him up and down while his attention is fixed on the rug. His fine clothes and tidy hair give him away as a visitor to the Underground […]
