Platform-Building and Marketing a Travel Memoir: A Guest Post by Sonia Marsh

“Traveling is like falling in love;the world is made new.” Jan Myrdal I am pleased to feature Memoirist/Motivational Speaker, Sonia Marsh in this guest post. Sonia will share her expertise and experience developing her author platform and marketing her upcoming travel memoir,Freeway to Flipflops: A Family’s Year of Gutsy Living on a Tropical Island. I think you’ll agree, she has a very ambitious and engaging author platform and marketing plan. Welcome, Sonia! I started blogging in 2008 because I hoped to become successful like Catherine Sanderson, an English expat living in Paris, who wrote a “gossipy” blog which landed her a book deal.   I soon discovered that blogging can play havoc with your emotions; it’s a bit like a...

Posted by on Apr 2, 2012 in Author Brand, Author Platform, Becoming an Author Enrepreneur, Book Promotion Activities, Marketing, memoir-writing, networking, Self-Publishing, Social Media presence, The Writing Life, Travel Memoir | 31 comments

Magic and Meaningful Connections at the Writer’s Digest Conference~ Believe in the Power of Your Own Voice

“Have faith,there’s someone out there who has waited their whole life to read your story. Give your reader your best.” Chris Baty, founder of NaNoWriMo in his closing speech at WDC,The Drive to Write. I just returned from the annual Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City. From Friday through Sunday, I was swept up in the exhilaration and enlightenment of learning from the experts: Jane Friedman, Chuck Sambuchino, Donald Maass, James Scott Bell,Nina Amir,Paula Balzer ,Chris Baty,Christina Katz, Dan Blank,Barry Eisler  and Jeff Gerke discuss the art and craft of writing, the current publishing environment  and the business of being a writer. The overriding message I took away was: The readers are still out there looking for a good...

Posted by on Jan 24, 2012 in Pitching a Memoir to an Agent, The Art and Craft of Writing, Writer's Digest Conference 2012, Writing in the Digital Age | 24 comments

Paying it Forward~The Irresistably Sweet Blog Award

“The miracle is this-the more we share , the more we have.” Leonard Nimoy     What a pleasant surprise to find that I had been awarded “The Irresistably Sweet Blog Award” by my fellow memoir writer friend, Ruth Zaryski Jackson. Ruth and I met at the Writer’s Digest Editor’s Intensive weekend in Cincinnati in 2009. We have stayed in touch through our blogs. Hop on over to her Family History Blog Memoir Writer’s World   to experience a fascinating step back in time through her past memories and family stories. The obligations of the award are to thank the person, tell 7 things about myself and pass on the award to other new bloggers. Thank you, Ruth, for nominating me for this award. I am so glad that our paths...

Posted by on Aug 19, 2011 in The Irresistably Sweet Blog Award | 21 comments

Diving into Your Dreams

” TO DREAM ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DREAM.THERE’S THE BEAUTY OF THE HUMAN MIND. TO DO ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO DO.THAT’S THE STRENGTH OF THE HUMAN WILL. TO TRUST YOURSELF TO TEST YOUR LIMITS.THAT IS THE COURAGE TO SUCCEED.”~ Bernard Edmonds.      Whenever I think about all the times I have wished for balance in my life, I feel frustrated and even defeated. Of course, I want balance. I have always wanted balance. I want to be able to do everything I want to do. And, of course, I want to do it NOW. There , I said it. So when I read Dan Blank’s  incredible post,” Stop Looking for Balance”, I felt an instant relief. What a refreshing thought. It seemed like he wrote that post just for me. I really liked his idea...

Posted by on Apr 2, 2011 in Author Platform | 14 comments

Building a Platform:Preparing For The Launch.

“ YOU SHOULD NEVER CONSENT TO CREEP WHEN  YOU FEEL THE IMPULSE TO SOAR.” Author Unknown      We all build platforms in our lives, whether it be as a parent, a professional, an athlete, a humanitarian, a missionary or any given mission we may define for ourselves.  It means establishing ourself as a voice of authority about a subject and then marketing that expertise to an audience. For instance, as a Family Nurse Practitioner, I have spent my entire career establishing my credentials so as to have the privilege of caring for adults and children who seek medical care. When I walk into a patient’s room, I am bringing with me many years of experience , education and a passion to make a  positive difference,along with an acute...

Posted by on Mar 5, 2011 in Author Platform | 14 comments