My Updates 12th September, 2015

Hi All,

It’s been two months since I’ve written an actual ‘update’ on where I’m at with finding a US agent and building my writer’s platform.

Before I move on to agents and platforms, I have to give a HUGE shout out to Kim Stait who recently completed a beautiful pencil drawing of Grace to use in the mock up cover of Gracie’s Girls.  I swear Kim has managed to make my Gracie look like a genetic blend of my mother, daughter, sister and myself…hmm, I’d kill for her slender nose and full-ish lips though haha.

I’ve backed off a little on sending out queries and focused more on building my writer’s platform. That said, I’ve continued researching and adding more agents to my ever expanding list. I intend to begin a second round of querying between now and the end of the year. I’ve recently decided if I don’t have an agent by mid 2016 I’ll take a serious look at self publishing BUT only if I really HAVE to. Self publishing isn’t the dirty word it used to be, however, for me, it’s not the preferred option at all…sooo wish me luck!

Thankfully, I’ve had quite a bit of success building my writer’s platform with an additional 150 facebook likes (almost 400 and growing) and even my Twitter followers are mysteriously increasing (from 5 to a whopping 15…please stop snickering behind your collective hands). I say mysteriously because I still have no idea how Twitter works…shameful, I know.

It dawned on me recently that I need to start interacting with other authors/writers. I mean, surely other wordy, likeminded people, will be far more interested in what I have to say about books and writing than the glazed over eyeballs of my supportive friends and family, duh. So, with this revelation in mind, I’ve searched for and joined a number of writer’s groups. I try to post on those sites once or twice a week and have quite enjoyed interacting with some of the banter and reading lots of new information now showing up in my feeds.

I’ve also advertised the desire to do a beta reader exchange with someone who has a completed manuscript and just wants another author’s eyes on it while they’re getting ready to query etc. I haven’t found anyone yet but since my middle name is Persistence, I have no doubt the right beta reader will eventually drop into my lap. I’m also keen for ANY beta reader (not just exchange critiquing) so if you love reading and you have some time up your sleeve pm me!

Here’s a list and links to my top 4 writer’s groups:

Writers Helping Writers

Writer’s Group

The Write For Life Community

Aspiring Authors

So it’s back to the ole query process for the next few weeks. I’ll also continue building my author’s facebook page and my Twitter and I may even look at Pinintrest (gawd help me – all I need is another social media page to manage along with all of my bands – for those of you who don’t already know my ‘day job’ is band manager). I’m also going to work on plotting and research for the second book in the series while I’m looking for the perfect beta reader/s for the first one.

Ugh, I guess a writer’s work is never done!

Have a great week all, take care, Viv