Guest Post from JG Summer

Guest post from AUTHOR JG SUMMER who is the writer of A Shot in the Dark!

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About JG Sumner

1. JG Sumner has seven books that will be released this year in addition to a short story that will be part of anthology.
2. JG Sumner has three boys, three dogs, and a tortoise.
3. She is an outdoor enthusiasts.  She loves hiking, running, snowboarding, camping, and just about anything else you can do outdoors.
4. JG left the city to live in a rural mountain town. Even though she has shoveled an immense amount of snow this year, she doesn’t regret it for a moment.
5. All of JG’s books are romantic suspense.
6. JG loves to support other authors and provide any advice she can offer.
7. JG loves to hear from her readers and would greatly appreciate any feedback.
8. Red wine is a favorite.
9. Dan Brown has provided much of JG’s inspiration. She loves to learn while reading and tries to incorporate something factual in every piece of work she does.
10. Dark chocolate is her favorite treat.

Why are book covers so important?

This is such a great question. I have seen firsthand what the difference in book covers can mean. I published A Shot in the Dark with two different covers. One under my pen name and the other under my real name. While the first edition sold very well, when I was at book signings, it didn’t get any love at all. At my most recent book signing, people couldn’t keep their hands off the book. The cover was really intriguing to them and it started plenty of conversation. I have even noticed that I get far more compliments and attention online than ever before. So, whether or not someone buys your book, the cover at the very least needs to be eye-catching and a conversation starter.

Starting out as a writer (5 Things You Should Know)

1. Stay out of the drama that surrounds the author world. It can get really negative, and you don’t need that to distract you from what is important.
2. Network with bloggers. Start putting together a list of blogs, their sites, and their email. That way when you have teasers, sales, or information to put out, you have a list at the ready.
3. Network with other authors. Having a circle of author friends can help you learn about takeovers, events, signings, and other pertinent information that will help you promote yourself.
4. Spend at least fifteen minutes every day promoting your work. The more people see your title, the more likely they are to purchase the product.
5. Most importantly, remember why you started writing. Sometimes, rejection and the lack of sales can bring you down. Remember that you write because you enjoy it!

How to Meet Deadlines and Remain Sane

One great thing about self-publishing is you can set your own schedule for writing and release. If you’re published, many editors and publishers will come up with a schedule for edits and release and check to make sure you can meet the deadlines. Either way, it’s important to be self-disciplined to meet your projects goals. If you’re not disciplined, this process can take months and even years. I’m currently in the midst of several editing, writing, and proofreading projects. Unfortunately, the book that I’m almost done with has been put on the backburner for the last four months. Fortunately, no one knows about this project or I might be in some trouble.

So, how do you fix this problem? Prioritize your projects. Get a calendar and put together a schedule for yourself. Before you plan to have a project done by a certain time, make sure it’s doable.  If you have two books to edit, another book releasing, and a short story to write, you will quickly find yourself overwhelmed. Believe it or not, when the book is released, that’s when the real work begins. You have to spend an enormous amount of time promoting your book. So, make sure your expectations are realistic.

Next, make sure to write every day. Even if it’s only fifty words. If you put your project down for too long,  you’ll forget the story and have to go back and reread, taking up more of your precious time. Further, you might just end up not picking it up for a couple more months. Because whether we like it or not, life gets in the way. If you miss a day, don’t beat yourself up. Just make sure to find time in your schedule to make up for the time lost and whatever you do, don’t pile on too many days. With these strategies, you’re sure to be successful and remain sane at the same time.

Authors who have inspired me

1. Dan Brown-I learn something every time I read one of his books.
2. Jamie McGuire-She’s a huge advocate for indie authors. In addition, I love her Beautiful Disaster series.
3. E.L. James-Love her or hate her, she’s opened up a whole new genre. She made women more comfortable with their sexuality and okay to write and read about it.
4. Stephen King-When I was a kid, I love reading his books. They always had me guessing what was going happen next. I love the element of suspense.
5. Aleatha Romig- She’s such a wonderful humble author, and I can’t wait for every book she releases. She makes me want to be a better writer.