Category: Authors
What I Learned From Toni Nelson
Yesterday November 5, 2016, I had the pleasure and opportunity to be interviewed by Toni Nelson. Build Authority Coach, Writer, Author, Speaker, Award-winning Videographer/Photographer.
After she approached me about being interviewed I had to say yes. A chance to get one talking about my newly published book, Terror In The North Tower wasn’t going to be turned down.
I expected Toni to offer insights as to marketing, improvements I could make with my marketing strategy, and what she did plus more.
Topics Discussed
The main reason for writing the book, are marketing strategies, self-published versus traditional publishing, challenges, and staying focused.
Toni made me feel at ease. It was as if I was sitting in her kitchen having coffee and just chatting away. Before I knew it thirty minutes had gone by and we were saying our thank yous and goodbyes.
What I Will Remember
The one thing I will remember most about the conversation that took place after the recording was her insight on how to improve my website Author Alicia Osmera.
Oh if you don’t know the book is called Terror In The North Tower.
Suggestions for holding book signings, speaking engagements, and sale, sale, SALE!
Using The Interview
I know what you are thinking. Where is the interview and can I hear it? Soon it will be released on ITunes and I will let all my readers know just as soon as I have a release date.
I have already started to implement some of the suggestions from Toni and I can’t wait to see how the rest will play out.
As always I welcome your comments.
Gain The Advantage,
Alicia Osmera
Have You Published A Book
If you are an avid reader of my blog then you already know that I wrote a book.
Terror In The North Tower came from my background as a respiratory therapist. This is a suspenseful fictional thriller with more twist than Grey’s Anatomy .
The Challenge To Edit And Publish
After much searching, phone calls and email I was starting to realize publishing wasn’t going to be so easy. Through the Power Affiliate Club I met Monna Ellithorpe. Known as The Blue Jean Writer, she helps other author’s edit and publish wonderful works of words.
Once she was done with editing and I approved it we set out sites on self publishing through Amazon.
Purchase Terror In The North Tower here.
Publishing hasn’t come without it’s challenges.
1. Marketing – self marketing is hard work . Researching places that may or may not put your book in their businesses .
2. Social Media – getting the word out on social media is a time saber and huge benefit. According to Search engine land
Social media marketing refers to the process of gaining traffic or attention through social media sites.
The Hubspot shows marketing statistics
- 61% of global Internet users research products online. (Interconnected World: Shopping and Personal Finance, 2012)
- Using this blog is one way of using social media. Your reading this post right now. Is it making you think?
- Lastly blogging
Blogging gives the writer a chance to express themselves, showcases thoughts and ideas . Yes I’ve published my first book and I’m working hard to market it.
Have you ever published a book?
Gain The Advantage,
Alicia Osmera
I Wrote A Book
The journey that led me to write comes from a deep passion for reading and writing.
I started writing this book in 2011 after getting laid off from my job with a DME (Durable Medical Equipment ) company after twenty-something years in the medical field as a licensed respiratory therapist.
What does a respiratory therapist do?
Respiratory Therapists are important to patients that have trouble breathing. Lung diseases like Asthma, Emphysema, and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) just to name a few. The main responsibilities are to keep patients breathing. They perform anything from a nebulizer treatment to administering a Bipap or Cpap therapy, as a major part of a person’s care in the intensive care unit.
Now, where was I? Oh, that’s right I was telling you about my journey to writing my first book, Terror In The North Tower. One day I sat down and just started typing on the computer. Words just seemed to flow onto the page. Then after about six months, they stopped. All in all, it took me a year to write this work of art. The writing wasn’t that hard, it was finding a publisher I could afford.
Publishers cost money!
Zondervan and Xulon Press are just a few that I checked into. They both said; “Oh yes, we can help you publish your book but it’s going to cost $$$ dollars”. I didn’t have that kind of money? Finally, after four years I had the opportunity to meet Monna Ellithorpe. She’s a member and co-founder of the Power Affiliate Club PAC and a published author herself.
What an amazing experience it has been working with her to make my words come to life. Publishing on the Amazon Kindle platform.
What’s the book about?
It’s a science fiction, murder mystery, and love story with a twist that the readers won’t see coming. This story’s main theme is about a respiratory therapist in a hospital setting. Many books like this one are written by a doctor or nurse, never by a respiratory therapist.
Now I want to make something very clear. This fictional thriller is just that. Fiction!!!
I love my profession as well as my peers. And the men and women that have a passion for it also.
***Terror In The North Tower was released on Saturday, May 28, 2016. Purchase the book here.
I hope that the person reading this blog post will order the book, read it, share this article, and spread the word.
Gain The Advantage!
Alicia Osmera
Writer’s Block How Does One Get Through It?
I was sitting down at the table looking at a blank piece of paper wondering what to write down. Nothing was coming to mind. Could it be that I have writer’s block?
Writer’s Block How Does One Get Through It?
Why do we get stumped with writing? Have we used up all the creativity in our brains?
I recently read an article by Maria Konnikova titled “How To Beat Writers Block”.
In it she states that; “Writer’s block has probably existed since the invention of writing, but the term itself was first introduced into the academic literature in the nineteen-forties, by a psychiatrist named Edmund Bergler”. Edmund studied writers who suffered from “neurotic inhibitions of productivity,” in an attempt to determine why they were unable to create—and what, if anything, could be done about it.
Basically “neurotic inhibitions of productivity ” is a scientific name for writer’s block.
Throughout the year’s many studies have been done by psychologists to determine why and how writers become unproductive.
The Center For Writing offers suggestions to aid writers with breaking the cycle of blockage and keep the creativity flowing.
Taking Notes — Keep a notepad handy at all times. Jot down ideas when they pop into your head. Look at your list, gather the information and start creating.
Brainstorming — Just as you did in high school or college, begin the habit of brainstorming thoughts. Eventually, the best ideas will pop out at you, allowing the next article to be written.
Piecework – It might be easier to get started if you are jotting down the beginning, middle, and endings to an article or a book that you are wanting to write. Once you’ve gained the confidence back, picking up where you left off becomes easy.
Tricks To Use – Start keeping a journal by your bed. Pull it out whenever the words start coming into your head. Just write down whatever comes to mind. Once you start reviewing it, there may be a storyline or other things you can find to write about.
When does the mood strike to write anything down? In the morning, afternoon, or evening. What distractions are you facing? Cell phone, TV shows, children, spouse? Try to create some time out of your schedule to just sit down and write.
My desire is to provide valuable information to my readers. If you find value in my blog please comment.
As Always,
Gain The Advantage!
Alicia Osmera
