Virtual Author Visit with Jaidis Shaw

[Bobbie Crawford-McCoy]

A warm welcome to author, Jaidis Shaw!

 

 Author Bio: Jaidis Shaw resides in a small town in South Carolina with her husband and beautiful daughter. With a passion for reading, Jaidis can always be found surrounded by books and dreaming of new stories. She enjoys challenging herself by writing in different genres and currently has several projects in the works. When not reading or writing, Jaidis is the Book Tour Coordinator for Nurture Your BOOKS™, and enjoys encouraging her daughter to let her imagination run wild.

 

Creating an Author Platform -- Is it Important? by Jaidis Shaw

Creating a solid platform for your author name is a necessity. Here are my reasons why I believe it to be true.

 

With self publication becoming a popular method for authors, the importance of creating a solid platform is increasing. Without the support of a publisher guiding new authors along the publishing path, authors may be left wondering how to get their name out to the masses. I do not believe that there is one certain path to follow; the experience and results may be different for everyone. Being a newly published author, I would like to share my experiences with you so that you may decide if your path is similar.
Having lacked in the confidence department for several years where my writing was concerned, there was no need for me to create a base because I did not anticipate that my writing would go anywhere. I was just a shy girl with a notebook that was filled with unfinished stories. Soon I reached a point in my life, around my 25th birthday, that I decided I would go for it. I would not only focus more on my writing, but I would take a chance and let others read it as well. What did I have to lose by putting my stories out there? Some may love it, others my hate it but at the end of the day, it is something that I enjoy.
What is the best way to start? Should I dive into publishing a novel? Do I want to self publish or try going a traditional route? With so many questions swarming around me, I wasn't sure which was the best way to get started. As I was tuning in to an episode of the Flashes in the Dark show on blogtalk radio, hosted by authors Lori Titus and Tonia Brown, they got on the topic of publishing. I do not recall the publisher that was being interviewed but I do remember the mention of tips for those thinking about going the traditional publishing route. It was discussed how some larger publishing companies like having an author with a resume. It was said that rather than taking a chance on an unknown author, they prefer for the author to have numerous short stories published through other companies before considering them. Great! I had a place to start. Whether that is true with all publishers or not, it sounded like a great way to get my feet wet before jumping in the deep end. I stumbled across an open call for submissions into an anthology by Wicked East Press and that was the opportunity I needed.
So I've just sent off my first short story for consideration...now what? Not being the type of person to just sit and wait, I was excited to get my name out there. I created my blog, Juniper Grove, as a place where I could share my adventures of trying to become published. I already knew that if my blog was just going to be about my writing, it would be rather boring since I was a new member of the writing world. So I opened my blog up to book reviews so that I could share my thoughts on other author's works while waiting for word about my own story. Within a few short weeks, my name had been broadcast everywhere. I had a steady flood of book review requests coming in and people were starting to know me by name. My blog has been open just over a year now. In that year, I have created a circle of authors, book bloggers, publishers, agents and other contacts in the book industry. Not only was my first short story accepted and is now published, but I will have a second short story coming out in 2012. I was able to expand my love of books and helping authors by becoming the Book Tour Coordinator for Nurture Your BOOKS™. I have a solid foundation to stand on and I am confident for the future.
If you are wanting to become a published author, this is my advice to you. All authors will at some point need a way to interact with potential readers. You may have just self published the next best seller, but how will anyone know if you don't talk about it? There will need to be some leg work involved to market your book before people will take notice. Social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter are an excellent place to start. Take some time to know the people around you. If you take an interest in others, they will hopefully do the same for you. Please remember that it is essential, at least in my opinion, to be mindful of everything that you say and do when trying to promote your author name. Not only are potential readers watching your behavior, but so are others - potential publishers, agents, editors and the like included.

I would love to hear any advice from published authors about your experiences on the importance of creating a platform before becoming published.

 

Twisted Fairy Tales, Volume 2

Fairy Tales are a part of everyone's life-from childhood sitting in bed while mom reads to the days when you become the parent reading to your children. These are NOT your average Fairy Tales, these are for grown-ups. These nineteen stories take you behind the scenes of classics and show you the other side.

Stories included by: Jocelyn Adams, Shannon Connor Winward, Michael Andre-Driussi, Rachel Ayers, Shiloh Carroll, Tony Peak, L.M. Magalas, Lawrence Vernon, Heather Whittington, Ashley Hendricks, Sylvia Hiven, P.L. Dugand, Arthur Bangs, Sally Anne Croft, William Knight, Sarah Penny-Flynn, Jaidis Shaw, Alison J. Littlewood, and Justin A. Williams.

 

I would love to hear from readers:

• Do you enjoy getting to know and interacting with authors before you read any of their work?

• Would you prefer to read a story first and then learn about the author?

 

You can pick up a copy at:

Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Pill Hill Press

 

Links to visit:

• Author Blog: http://junipergrove.wordpress.com/

• Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JaidisShaw

• Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jaidis-Shaw/208652099174548

• Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4338594-jaidis-shaw

 

Thanks for visiting with us, Jaidis!

[Bobbie Crawford-McCoy]

Hi Jaidis! :-)

[Jaidis Shaw]

Hey Bobbie! Thank you for allowing me to make a virtual author visit <3

 

[Bobbie Crawford-McCoy]

My absolute pleasure, Jaidis. :-) I'm happy to have you here!

[Shanda Hahn Kinkade]

Hi, Jaidis!!!

[Jaidis Shaw]

Hey Shanda! Are you enjoying the 2nd annual event so far?

 

[Shanda Hahn Kinkade]

I am. Just trying to make the most of it. Love the prizes. :)

[Jaidis Shaw]

The prizes are pretty great! I had a ton of fun organizing them <3

[sue brandes]

I have found many new authors through either a blog, Facebook, Twitter, word of mouth, or newsletters. It's a great way to get your name out for sure. I love when I can interact with authors. It's fun to get to know how they think and how their stories come about. And it's fun if they just share I dropped my coffee this morning. Then they seem normal like us readers. LOL. Grown up Fairy Tales are always fun.

[Jaidis Shaw]

I agree with you Sue. I have met so many wonderful authors via social media. Posting updates about their writing is great but it is good to know that writers are just like everyone else. Maybe a little more eccentric at times, but normal just the same ;)

[Helen Hanson]

[Helen Hanson]

Hey Jaidis!

Congratulations to one of the nicest and hardest-working lady authors! May your books fly off the shelf. And not just from little fairy wings!

All the best!

Helen

[Jaidis Shaw]

Thank you Helen!