0:00 Welcome

0:14 Page Four - Happy New Year!

0:38 Bit of Randomness

1:13 Beyond the Blurb Intro

2:08 Book Spotlight #1 - FIVE BELOW By Ashleigh King

Bio: I'm Ashleigh King, a licensed healthcare professional turned gay romance author from East Tennessee. I have a passion for writing stories that explore love and relationships within the LGBTQ+ community. In my free time, I enjoy listening to Taylor Swift and indulging in melodrama.

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/hYBw5sT

2:56 Book Spotlight #2 COWBOY KIND OF HOOKED By Becca Turner

Bio: Becca Turner was raised in Missouri except for a couple of formative years in SW Oklahoma that left her with an Okie accent. One day she was reading cowboy romance novels and wondered why they’re all set in Texas. Then she set out to do something about it. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two dogs. Find her social media links at linktr.ee/beccaturnerbooks

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/92wvNVC

3:46 Book Spotlight #3 WHITE SAND ROMANCE By Sue Langford

Bio: After 44 published novels, Sue is mid way through her bestselling Charleston series. Spicy, small town, millionaire/billionaire romances with friends to lovers and other tropes. The must read series of 2023-2024 and the romances that’ll have you booking a trip to Charleston in minutes.

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/g67iLeP

5:56 Author Update - Liv Macy

7:08 Episode Sponsored by - Liv Macy

8:13 Conversations around the Laptop - Interview with Nazarea Andrews, Publicist/Co-owner of Inkslinger PR

Bio: Nazarea is a self-confessed book addict. She has been the Events Coordinator at Inkslinger for six years, shaping the department and specializing in helping new authors find their audience. She’s passionate about stories and sharing them, connecting authors to the blogging community, and chocolate and kissing scenes, and Excel spreadsheets. When not creating tour schedules, Nazarea can be found working on her own novels, hanging out with her three kids, binge-watching TV, or curled up with a book. She loathes laundry and loves being distracted on Twitter @NazareaAndrews

Website: https://www.inkslingerpr.com/

34:39 Industry Information

36:49 Exit

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Spotlight Request Google Form

Welcome to Write to Read podcast,

a page in the life of an author.

2

I'm Liv Macy, and these are my pages.

3

Page four happy new year.

4

I did take last week off.

5

And so there was no episode.

6

On Monday, January 1st.

7

I am so excited to bring

conversations around my laptop today.

8

With the Saudia Andrews, who is

my publicist and PR Xtrordinair.

9

Today's bit of randomness is too.

10

Check on your author, friends.

11

Make sure that they're okay.

12

Some of them are perfectly

fine and still need to be drug

13

out from behind their desk.

14

They may need to see the light

of the sun for a little bit.

15

And.

16

It's a lonely business

writing is definitely lonely.

17

No matter.

18

How many online friends you have, no

matter how much support you have at home.

19

It is still lonely.

20

So just reach out, make

sure that they're okay.

21

We have reached the beyond the blurb

segment of the podcast, which is one

22

of my favorite parts of the show.

23

Here I can have the best of both worlds

to give my listeners the opportunity

24

to hear about books that may otherwise

not have crossed their path and also

25

to give authors a space to share their

book on a wide platform for zero cost.

26

But unfortunately it comes with a caveat.

27

There's just no way that I can read every

single book that has been highlighted.

28

Or ensure that the authors or the

works aren't problematic or offensive.

29

I simply don't have the time.

30

And as such, I must say that I do not

endorse any of the books within this show.

31

However, I do hope that

you find something amazing.

32

Happy reading.

33

Hi, my name is Ashleigh King.

34

I am a gay romance author.

35

I'm excited to share with you my debut

holiday short story, Five Below, which

36

was actually released on the 16th.

37

Five Below is a heartwarming second

chance opposite to track holiday

38

tale featuring characters named

Warwick Adler and Thomas Lane.

39

This story originated as a Wattpad

co write about six years ago and

40

has undergone extensive Extensive

rewriting over the past two

41

years to become what it is today.

42

Warwick and Thomas were once a

couple, but circumstances forced

43

them apart due to the interference

of questionable family members.

44

However, fate brings them back together

at an airport just days before Christmas,

45

sparking a chance for them to reconnect.

46

Five Below is a project that I am

incredibly proud of, and I am thrilled

47

to finally share it in the world and

have other people be able to read

48

this project that I consider complete.

49

Hi y'all, I'm Becca Turner.

50

I write closed door contemporary

and sweet historical romances.

51

Thanks for joining me here today.

52

I'm going to tell you about Cowboy

Kind of Hooked, my new release that's

53

coming out on January 16th, 2024.

54

It's the eighth book in my

Only An Okie Will Do series.

55

Bullfighter Chance Nash's life takes

a turn when he meets Isla Michaels.

56

Little does he know that Isla's

hiding her heart and a secret.

57

As the romance blossoms, she grapples

with the weight of her past and with

58

the choice that could alter her future.

59

Will love lift the shadows of

her childhood or will prodding

60

from her mother and brother carry

her in a different direction?

61

Cowboy Kind of Hooked is the tale of

love, family legacies, and choices that

62

will shape Chance and Isla's destinies.

63

Hi, my name is Sue Langford.

64

I have written 44 novels as of today

and I'm here to talk about my book

65

It's called White Sand Romance.

66

This one is book 3 in

the Charleston series.

67

This story is Has a little

bit of millionaire romance.

68

It has a little bit of friends to lovers

It has a little bit of second chance

69

romance and a little bit of small town

all mixed into one book This one is

70

the story of Lily and Emerson It's

obviously a love triangle, and not one

71

that was a really great love triangle.

72

Zack is absolutely head over

heels in love with Lily.

73

Except for the fact that Emerson has

known her longer than anybody else.

74

He's been in love with her

since they were 15 years old.

75

Actually 14 if you ask him.

76

He has a chance to finally

get her back in his life.

77

And When she actually says

yes, everything goes insane.

78

Zack loses his marbles.

79

Emerson buys his business out from

under him just to get rid of him.

80

Lily has a difficult time

regardless, but she is so happy

81

when she finally makes a decision.

82

The question is, does she choose

Emerson or does she choose Zack?

83

We all know Zack is a horrible person.

84

He's not the nicest guy.

85

The millionaire, okay, he has money.

86

But guess what?

87

So does Emerson.

88

And Emerson actually has double.

89

So actually, it's not just

a millionaire romance.

90

It's a billionaire romance.

91

No, he doesn't have the attitude.

92

No, he doesn't have the,

I'm better than you.

93

He has, I just want to be with you.

94

It doesn't matter what

we have to do to do it.

95

He's the kind hearted guy that

normally nice guys finish last.

96

But in this, he doesn't.

97

He actually has a chance to

get the love of his life back.

98

So this is a little bit of sappy romance.

99

It's a little bit of everything.

100

But this one also has spice in it.

101

That you totally would

not be expecting at all.

102

Uh, the old author update section.

103

Hmm.

104

Uh, you'll be happy to know.

105

I have been writing.

106

So progress is good.

107

But I am most excited

to talk to you about.

108

Not talk to you about share with you.

109

That I have been invited.

110

To awesome con.

111

In Washington, DC, March 8th.

112

2024.

113

It will be there all weekend.

114

And of course it is.

115

The season for events and book

signings and Comicons, and I

116

am all over the U S this year.

117

I believe I am at.

118

I want to say 13 events.

119

It's a lot.

120

Uh, I'm going to.

121

I think I'm thinking I'm

going to be a little burnout.

122

Uh, but at the end of the year,

But there's literally nothing

123

better than meeting fans and

readers and signing books.

124

And.

125

Interacting and talking with you all.

126

So I'm thrilled.

127

To be in Washington, DC.

128

This episode is brought to you by.

129

Well, if you guessed live

Macy, you would be correct.

130

Still.

131

Me myself and I.

132

I'm.

133

Not thinking I'm going

to get any kind of paid.

134

Sponsorship for quite some time.

135

I should probably.

136

Do a recording.

137

And upload it here, but

I, I kept them use myself.

138

In this little spot here.

139

Everybody's humor is different.

140

No judging.

141

But if you'd like to have.

142

An advert here.

143

And you would like to pay me for it.

144

Please let me know.

145

You can go on to live macy.com.

146

And there are Google forms there.

147

Along with, if you want

to have a book spotlight.

148

Or if you want to be interviewed.

149

Uh, if you want to have updates on.

150

What I'm doing.

151

Or podcast information.

152

You can follow me.

153

My handle is live Macy author.

154

On I missed every social media platform.

155

And of course I have my

website, which is livmacy.com.

156

And now please join me for a

conversation around the laptop.

157

Hi Nasadia.

158

How are you today?

159

I'm good.

160

How are you?

161

I'm doing well.

162

So I invited you here to chat with

me because I wanted to, not only

163

because I like to learn things, but

I think some of our listeners would

164

be really interested in hearing about

like Inkslinger and what you do.

165

Okay.

166

Yeah.

167

So I'm a publicist and co

owner at Inkslinger PR.

168

We are a literary PR firm.

169

Um, and that means that we

tell people about books.

170

Kind of a wide ranging, um, service.

171

My parents are like, what do you do?

172

And I'm like, everything, whatever

my clients really need me to do.

173

But we work on release launch for clients

and managing their careers, advertising

174

and backlist, just making sure that our

clients and their books are positioned in

175

the best way possible to be successful.

176

Wow.

177

Okay.

178

So that's, that's like a lot in one.

179

One introduction.

180

Yeah.

181

Okay.

182

So, uh, I, I mean, I love the idea

of like managing an author's career.

183

What does that look like?

184

Like as far as like, are you over here

going, you need to do this, this, and

185

this, or are you, you know, is it,

sometimes it is exactly what I'm doing.

186

Um, it really depends on the client and

there isn't a one size fits all for,

187

well, at least at our agency, there

isn't a one size fits all, um, service.

188

What we do is very tailored to where that

client is and what they need and what

189

kind of style they want to have with us.

190

Like some of my clients, I talk to once

a month and I tell them, Okay, this is

191

what I'm going to be doing this month.

192

And they tell me what they're

going to be doing this month.

193

And then we both go and

do our different things.

194

And we check back in at

the beginning of the month.

195

And that's great.

196

And then there are other clients

that I meet with once a week.

197

And um, So we go over, you know,

everything that you're doing and

198

everything that I'm doing and where

we are in various projects, you know,

199

if we need to pivot and it does allow

that kind of relationship allows

200

for, um, more management, a closer

look at your career and, um, changing

201

things if something is not working,

we're able to pivot more quickly.

202

So actually I feel like

your business model is.

203

It's very closely aligned with

authors in general, because I think

204

every single author is so different.

205

Every path that they take is different.

206

Every um, choice that they make

is different from someone else's.

207

So yeah.

208

Yeah.

209

That's great that, that

you're able to do that.

210

Um, actually I feel like all of

publishing is like that, not just author.

211

It is.

212

I mean, I've been in the industry

for a while and nobody is alike.

213

Nobody's path takes the exact same steps.

214

Um, I mean, I've worked with so

many authors and they're, they're

215

all on a very unique journey.

216

And so how we get to where they're

trying to go and where they're

217

trying to go can change too.

218

Like your goals are going to

be different than, you know,

219

my next client over's goals.

220

And that's okay because what you define as

success and what each individual defines

221

as success is a very personal thing.

222

Like knowing what that is and then

helping a client reach that is at the

223

end of the day what I'm trying to do.

224

So do you recommend authors kind of

already knowing what their success goal

225

is before they hire like your firm?

226

Or is that something that you guys like

to try to help, you know, figure out?

227

I think that, um, it can work either way.

228

A lot of times I've got people

who come to me and they're like,

229

I don't know what, what to do.

230

I don't like, I just know that

what I'm doing isn't working.

231

And I'm like, okay, so, and then

we, we sit down and we figure out,

232

okay, where do you want to grow?

233

Like, what do you want to see?

234

What are metrics of success?

235

Whether that be, um, social

media followers or newsletter

236

subscribers or how many releases

they want to have every, every year.

237

Um, those are all things that's.

238

The author and I can

control and, and achieve.

239

So, um, when, when I'm asking a

client, Hey, what are your goals?

240

What do you want to see yourself

in a year or five years?

241

Then I can help them figure out,

okay, here's the plan for how we're

242

going to get there and create little

steps for, for reaching those goals.

243

And sometimes a client comes to me and

they're like, I have a five year plan.

244

And I want you to help me get there.

245

I'm like, okay.

246

And I can work with either one.

247

It's just a matter of, you know,

where a person is, but their,

248

their career is in just direction.

249

Okay.

250

So my question then is, is like,

how, how much does personality come

251

into play with things like that?

252

Like, because I, I imagine, you know,

like reading is subjective, right?

253

So, and everything in this

industry is subjective.

254

Like, do you think you said like the

success goals for everybody is different?

255

Is that like a personality thing or

have you noticed, like, is that just.

256

I think yes and no, because there are,

I'm not going to be the right publicist

257

for every author and every author is

not going to be the right client for me.

258

Um, it's one of the reasons that Ink

Slinger is, I think we have a process

259

for accepting new clients and we've

got them to make sure that we're going

260

to be able to be passionate about

their work and that it's something

261

that we can get behind because.

262

Like this is our job, but if I'm not

passionate about a client's work Then

263

i'm not going to be a very good advocate

for that client's career and so I can

264

honestly say I adore all of my clients.

265

Um, And I wouldn't want to work with

somebody that I don't like And there are

266

there are a lot of people that I do like

that i'm not working with and that's

267

that's also Normal, um, because like

I said, i'm not going to be the right

268

publicist for every author It's not just

that every author is not going to be the

269

right client for me And sometimes I've

worked with clients in the past and we've,

270

you know, figured out that they've got a

great, great backlist and, um, upcoming

271

titles, they're, they're fantastic

authors, but for whatever reason, we're

272

just not working together the way that

both of us would like our styles aren't.

273

Meshing very well.

274

And when that happens, it's really

disappointing for, for both of us, I

275

think, because it's, it's frustrating

when you're working with somebody and

276

you want it to succeed and it's not

working, but I think that's, I think

277

that's normal too, in the industry.

278

You're not going to, you're not going

to, you're, you're sometimes going to

279

run into a cover artist that doesn't get

your vision for the book and what you

280

want that, that cover to look like, or

an editor who just isn't getting your

281

style and editing the book the way that

you think it needs to be told, like

282

the story, the way it needs to be told.

283

I think it's the same kind of thing.

284

um, With finding a publicist.

285

Not everyone is going to fit perfectly.

286

And that's okay.

287

There's a lot of us out there.

288

Yeah, no, I agree.

289

I think definitely on all fronts, I think

that it's really important to have anyone

290

that's part of your team has the same, If

not the same necessarily vision, because

291

I think those can be kind of like massaged

a little bit and maybe aligned a little

292

bit more, but I think that if they're not,

yeah, they're not passionate about you

293

and your work and, and, and vice versa,

like if I'm not passionate about like my

294

PR person or, you know, then you don't,

you're not as open minded and you're not

295

willing to, uh, not do what it takes,

but kind of willing to accept some of

296

the things that maybe come in, Okay.

297

Yeah.

298

Or don't want to do.

299

You know.

300

I think there's like, it can

erode the trust and authors, um.

301

And it's hard to trust someone right off

the bat when you don't really know them.

302

Exactly.

303

There's that.

304

But authors are also, I mean,

y'all are creative people.

305

You're writing books for a living and

telling stories and that's a very creative

306

endeavor and you put a lot of yourself

into the story and so you're protective

307

of it and trusting somebody to shepherd

that in places where maybe you can't go.

308

is a really hard thing

for a lot of people.

309

I think that's one of the reasons

some of my clients are very,

310

you know, they want a lot of

interaction and hands on and updates.

311

And that's completely cool because I

totally understand, I totally understand

312

why that is because, um, because I

did publish for a long time and I get

313

where you're coming from, I understand

the neuroses and the control aspect of

314

something that is very close to you.

315

And I try and I tried very hard to make

sure that my clients are comfortable

316

and know that, you know, when I'm

guiding your career, I'm doing it to

317

the best of my ability and so that you

are as successful as I can make you.

318

Yeah, because both of

our success, Kenneth.

319

Hinges on us being successful

in what we're doing.

320

As silly as that statement

is, it really is true.

321

Like I, I can't be successful if

you're not successful and vice versa.

322

Like that, they go hand in hand.

323

Um, yeah, it's so funny to me

how much before I was an author.

324

And really kind of delving into the

writing community, how hand in hand all

325

the moving parts kind of have to go,

um, and how, yeah, you have to have a

326

team that, that you trust and you admire

and you're willing to work with and,

327

and, um, kind of hash things out too.

328

Like that, that's another thing.

329

Like you have to have the ability to

not argue, but like kind of be able

330

to discuss things or, um, see other

sides of things that you, you know.

331

I think going into.

332

A relationship with a new client is

something that I like to be upfront

333

and honest about is that I'm going

to be very upfront and honest and I'm

334

going to push back when I don't think

that you're making the right decision.

335

Like my job is to present to you options

and avenues and maybe you haven't thought

336

of or maybe you have thought of and you've

decided aren't the right one for you.

337

And if I disagree, I'm going

to, I'm going to ask you why.

338

And at the end of the

day, it's your career.

339

I'm just a tool.

340

That you're using.

341

And that's great.

342

That's what I'm here for.

343

But because I've been doing this for so

long, sometimes I've watched, I watch

344

authors making decisions that I can say,

Hey, if you make this decision, this is

345

what's going to happen down the line.

346

So I'm going to advise

you very strongly not to.

347

I'm part of why you hire me, why

people come to, to publicists

348

like Inkslinger PR and others.

349

Um, it's because we do have expertise.

350

We've been doing this a while.

351

This is our job.

352

This is all we do.

353

And so part of the relationship is

not just me trusting my clients and

354

being passionate about their work,

but my clients trusting me and my

355

expertise, even when they maybe don't

always understand it and like asking

356

me, Hey, why are we doing this?

357

Because sometimes because I've been

doing this for a long time, it doesn't

358

occur to me that I need to explain why

we're doing a thing that we are doing.

359

Yeah, well, I think it's, I

think you have a wonderful thing

360

going on there at Inkslinger.

361

Uh, my experience, of course,

with you guys has been great.

362

Um, and, uh, I, I definitely think it's

important, um, what you guys, what you

363

guys like kind of represent and stand for.

364

And how you, like how you

conduct like the relationship

365

and the business aspect of it.

366

Uh, so for someone, for example, who

either is looking for, uh, PR firm of

367

their own, or is just now kind of delving

into, uh, maybe, maybe ads are too much

368

for me, or maybe the marketing aspect

is too much for me and they're looking

369

for what, besides like the things that

we've already discussed, like what should

370

they be looking for in a good PR firm?

371

Or what, what are the.

372

The things that they should run from.

373

I always tell people, run from

anyone who promises you sales.

374

As wonderful as that would be, that's

not something that a PR firm can promise.

375

At the end of the day, we can

position a book as best as possible.

376

We can put it in front of as many people

and eyes as we possibly can and get it,

377

you know, arcs in the hands of readers,

but we can't make people buy something.

378

If we do our jobs right,

then hopefully they are.

379

Um.

380

But I do say, yeah, I

don't guarantee sales.

381

I think that looking for a publicist,

you should definitely have a good

382

vibe, you know, have a consultation

with them and figure out what kind

383

of style they, they have with working

and whether or not there's somebody

384

that you think you can work with.

385

I've had conversations with

so many potential clients

386

and walked away thinking.

387

Yeah, I think that would be a really

great person to work with, but I've

388

also had potential client conversation

that I walked away and, and knew that

389

it wasn't going to be a good fit.

390

And fortunately they knew that too.

391

So it wasn't a conversation

that we had to have, but that's,

392

that's a really important aspect.

393

A PR relationship with a

client should be long term.

394

It's ideally something that you're going

into, going to be working with this

395

person six months, a year, two years.

396

Longer, we have clients at Inkslinger

who've been with us for almost

397

the entire time I've been here.

398

So you're going to be working

with this person for a long time.

399

You want to make sure that

there's somebody that you can

400

get along with because you can't.

401

It's going to be miserable

and counterproductive.

402

I think that during that

consultation call, going over, you

403

know, what are their specialties?

404

Like, what do they

represent on a daily basis?

405

And what do they enjoy reading?

406

Because that's important too.

407

You want to make sure that they

have experience with your genre.

408

And then just like, what do they do?

409

Because like everybody,

everybody has a specialty.

410

I'm very good at Facebook ads, but

very upfront about the fact that.

411

Amazon ads are not my specialty.

412

I'm getting better at them every day,

but they're not my specialty because

413

they're just not something that I've

done a lot of and I wouldn't want

414

somebody to come to me and be like,

hey, I want you to write Amazon ads and

415

that's all I'm going to ask you to do.

416

I'm going to tell you, I'm probably

not the girl for you because I'm

417

not, that's not my specialty.

418

So going into a relationship with a

clear idea of, you know, what this person

419

does on a daily basis, what they're good

at, is a really good idea because you

420

want to make sure that you're hiring

somebody who's right for the job.

421

Yeah.

422

No, I, I, I completely understand

why that would be a problem.

423

Um, I mean, just like us, we're not

able to do all the things really well.

424

I mean, nobody is, uh, so yeah, making

sure that your team is specializing in

425

the things that they're really good at

is hopefully the most successful way

426

to reach success, um, and the probably

the least frustrating, I would think.

427

So how can, I mean, I'm sure it's

really hard in the space of a

428

consultation to accurately portray that.

429

Um, your, your, your goals and, and

make sure that they're all aligned.

430

If you have to, you know, break away

from a firm or it's no longer working

431

for you, how, how do people do that?

432

How does that affect them or you guys?

433

When a client is leaving us, because

it does happen, it's, you know, they

434

let us know, they give notice and

let us know, Hey, we're going to be

435

going in a different direction and.

436

Then when I'm personally losing a client,

I want to sit down with them and figure

437

out, okay, in this last couple of weeks

that we're together, what can I do for you

438

that will position you best on your own?

439

Because, um, because this is a business.

440

And I adore all of my clients, but I'm

also aware that business models change

441

or in the end of the month or at the

end of the year in December, a lot of

442

people change up their business model

in December and decide, okay, what am I

443

going to be doing in 2024 that's going

444

to change the results that I'm seeing.

445

And.

446

While they're doing that, like, how can

I help you be successful on your own?

447

I had a conversation with a client

who's not leaving me, but, but we had

448

this conversation recently about the

relationships that I have, but that

449

I also want her to foster because,

because while I adore working with her,

450

if she ever does leave and go on her

own, I want her to still have those

451

relationships and those connections.

452

So that she can continue utilizing them

and continue growing in her career.

453

Um, so, I think that's

incredibly professional of you.

454

Thanks.

455

Um, I try.

456

I do, like, because at the end of the day,

while I want to be the best publicist that

457

I can be and as successful as I can be for

my clients, I also know it's a business.

458

You guys are running a business just as

much as I am, and you have to do what's

459

best for your career, and I'm hopeful that

that continues to be me for my clients,

460

but when it's not, I don't take it

personal, I just give you the tools that I

461

can so that you can continue on your way.

462

I think really anything in the, in

the publishing industry, you cannot

463

take personal, like you can't take

feedback or, you know, reviews

464

personally or any, any of that stuff.

465

I feel like authors

have the thickest skin.

466

We have to.

467

To be successful, you really need to

have a very thick skin in this industry.

468

Yeah.

469

Okay.

470

So, as far as like, uh, do you guys

offer referral to other PR places?

471

We do not refer to any other PR firm,

and that's a policy that dates back

472

from before I was a co owner to the

original founder and owner, JP Simone.

473

There's a lot of different agencies out

there, and some are great, and some are

474

new, and we don't, we don't recommend

any of them because we just never have.

475

We recommend, um, other services, like

cover artists and editors, um, and

476

graphic designers, but not, not PR firms.

477

Are you guys accepting new clients?

478

We are.

479

We are accepting new clients,

and you're welcome to email me.

480

Okay.

481

Bye bye.

482

Do you have more clients based on

referrals, like, or is it just kind

483

of an open call type of thing, or, um?

484

Honestly, our clients come

from a lot of different places.

485

Some come from referrals.

486

Some come from just seeing, um,

I'm pretty active in various

487

author groups, um, or social media.

488

A lot of people get referred

to us by their publisher.

489

Um, we've worked with a lot of publishers

over the years and, um, because of

490

that, you know, when they're telling

their, their authors, Hey, you need PR,

491

a lot of them send them over our way.

492

Um, so it.

493

It's just kind of, they

come from everywhere.

494

They all come from everywhere.

495

And that's great.

496

I mean, there's a lot of word of mouth

about Aislinger, um, I think because we've

497

been in, we've been around for so long.

498

That's awesome.

499

Anything else that a listener might

want to know or that you think is, if

500

you had like one nugget of information

that you'd want to pass along.

501

Nugget.

502

Or something that they

definitely should know.

503

I have a nugget.

504

I have a nugget.

505

It's a marathon.

506

It's not a sprint.

507

You're not going to

have overnight success.

508

It doesn't matter what platform

you think is going to offer that.

509

I know a lot of people love to talk

for that overnight success, but I read

510

somewhere recently that every author seems

to put in about 10 years of hard work

511

before they like, make it, quote unquote.

512

And it doesn't matter if like they

make it at the beginning of their

513

career and then have like a 10 year

bold rooms, or if they're doing really

514

great and then have like a break in

the middle of doing really great again,

515

everybody's got to put in their time

and do their, you know, pay their dues.

516

Um, but you just gotta keep going.

517

You gotta, you gotta have a

plan and you gotta stick to it.

518

Um, like you don't go into a marathon

without a plan for how you're going

519

to, you know, get through those 26.

520

Miles, you don't do something like

that without a plan and you're not

521

going to have a successful career

in publishing without a plan.

522

So you know, find somebody who can

help you make one and stick to it.

523

The whole, this is a marathon,

not a sprint, I swear, is

524

like the bane of every author.

525

I know.

526

I know.

527

Like no one wants to hear those words.

528

I have to um, like I was writing a

client earlier this morning before,

529

before we met, I was emailing him and

I'm like, okay, so I know you don't

530

want to hear this, but we do this thing.

531

It's going to take some time.

532

And I need you to like, trust me.

533

And I feel like so often that is

something that nobody wants to hear.

534

It does take time.

535

At the end of the day,

that's like, it takes time.

536

Writing a book does, building social

media does, building your audience does.

537

Um, just getting to where you want to

be in publishing is going to take time.

538

So like, settle into the long haul, trust

your publicist, and go write another book.

539

You get the fun job.

540

That might be debatable.

541

You're right.

542

Same.

543

As a writer, I agree that

that might be debatable.

544

Yeah, this actually reminds me of

what you were saying earlier of one

545

of my favorite quotes of all time.

546

And I have no idea who wrote it.

547

And this was a quote I had discovered

probably like in middle school, high

548

school years was, um, advice is what

you ask for when you already know

549

the answer, but wish you didn't.

550

Yeah.

551

And I feel like that applies

so much to this industry.

552

Um, I, I kind of like, I

used to love that quote now.

553

I'm like.

554

Dang it.

555

to hear.

556

No, thank you.

557

I hear you.

558

But it's true.

559

I mean, I love that.

560

I love that book.

561

That's great because it's very, very true.

562

Yeah, it is.

563

Uh, so for any listeners,

what, where can they find you?

564

Are you guys on social

media or websites or?

565

Yes.

566

Um, our website is www.eatsingerpr.com.

567

And that is also our social media

handle on everything, Inkslayer PR.

568

And I personally can also be found

as Savia Andrews on everything,

569

social, Facebook, um, Twitter.

570

Does anybody use Twitter?

571

Twitter and, um, TikTok, but I don't

actually use my TikTok except to

572

watch videos that my kids send me, so.

573

That's kind of where I'm at with Twitter.

574

I, I, I'm, I'm still hanging on and

I pop in every once in a while, but.

575

I keep hoping it'll change

back to what it was.

576

I think those days are over.

577

Yeah, I think it's fine too.

578

I keep waiting to figure

out, like I'm watching to see

579

what's going to take its place.

580

Like I know there's blue sky,

there's threads and all that.

581

And I'm like, I'm not committing to

either of those until I know which

582

one's actually going to be a thing.

583

Yeah, because it's spawned a lot of

like off the wall type social medias

584

as well that are kind of not really

legit, I don't think, uh, and have

585

some security issues and stuff.

586

So, yeah, I.

587

I mean, I, I'm also joining, I

haven't joined blue sky just yet.

588

But I am in threads and I keep

venturing in and, but I, I have this

589

preconceived notion that it's going

to look like Twitter because that's

590

what they kind of build themselves as.

591

Yeah.

592

Uh, and, and I keep popping in and

going, no, no, this is not Twitter.

593

Well, like I said, we'd been around

for a while and I have watched so

594

like we started with Facebook and

then Instagram came along and Twitter

595

and, and I'm just like watching and.

596

Quietly dreading having to learn

social media platform because only.

597

Yeah, I'm just getting behind a TikTok.

598

So yeah, but I'll be around

where, wherever that settles.

599

Well, good.

600

Cause I like, I like chatting with you.

601

Yeah.

602

Me too.

603

Well, thank you so much for joining me.

604

I appreciate it.

605

Yeah.

606

Thank you for having me.

607

I value your time and your expertise.

608

Thank you so much.

609

Have a good day.

610

You too.

611

You make this rather snappy, won't you?

612

I have some very heavy thinking

to do before 10 o'clock.

613

Industry information, or basically,

my opinions, my choices, my

614

knowledge passed on to you.

615

And remember, every author

and every story is different.

616

Let's talk about

marketing in this episode.

617

Not marketing as a broad

statement, but just.

618

One of the many paths that.

619

Marketing can look like because marketing

can definitely not be discussed in

620

one episode or 10 or even a hundred.

621

And even if I discussed one type

of marketing, I still couldn't do

622

it in probably a hundred episodes.

623

But one of the things I wanted

to just point out that not

624

everybody considers and I 100%.

625

Realize that this is a privilege

on so many different levels.

626

But.

627

One of the things that people overlook

is book signing events, whether that's

628

Comicons or, um, book conventions or.

629

Like Kraft or shows or flea markets.

630

Um, really anywhere that you can set up.

631

A table.

632

And sign your book and sell your book.

633

Don't overlook that aspect.

634

Because.

635

People really like to see the author

people really value having a signed book.

636

And

637

that can be a way of spreading.

638

Your name?

639

And your brand and your book around.

640

So just consider it.

641

I know not everybody.

642

Is able to, not everybody is,

um, in an area where there

643

can be those kinds of events.

644

And I know not everybody is

capable of talking to people.

645

That often that up close in that personal.

646

But I just wanted to make sure that.

647

This was just something I

feel like is overlooked a lot.

648

So don't discount.

649

Book signing events.

650

Thank you for listening.

651

If you'd like to follow me,

my handle on all social media

652

platforms is Liv Macy Author.

653

You can also sign up for

my newsletter at livmacy.

654

com to stay up to date on things like new

releases of the Right to Read podcast.

655

This is the end of a

page in my author life.