Ask K.L. on VYOU!

So you may notice a little addition to the top of my blog. I just set up a Vyou account which allows anyone to submit questions to me about the writing process, indie publishing, how to get published, advice about a publishing strategy, books I've published, books you've published, how to find an agent, who are my favorite authors, what I ate for dinner last night...and are the men in The Bum Magnet based on real people??? Hmmm...if you want to know the answer, here's your chance to ask. Forget that pesky comment box, just ask here! Eventually it'll be added to the Simon & Schuster page but you can get started right now and you can ask anonymously if you so choose! :) So, what question can I answer for you today?

Thanks for letting me know about the glitch...Here's the link

Pimp My Blog -- Cheap Indie Author Spotlight

Okay, okay. Enough about me me me. Let's get back to talking about you you you! Next up on the spotlight is Kristina Meister who would like to share her publishing journey with us. Welcome Kristina!


1. Tell us about your book(s).

As an author, my interests vary. I write lots of different types of things and in many different styles, but if I am forced to pin my work to a specific theme, I would have to say I am a memeticist. I heart philosophy in a big way. I trace ideas, how they propagate, and how to hack them, countermand, them, etc. What questions can I ask to force a person to reevaluate how they've always seen the world? There's a rational explanation for everything, but by no means does rational mean boring or stuffy. Sometimes rational means just as crazy as crazy.

My latest series takes Buddhist and Hindu mythology, links it with similar western myths of monsters and miracles, mayhem and messiahs in a sort of "universal monster apocalypse" story. "Craving" (available on all ebook sites) and the sequel "The One We Feed" trace the evolution of the character Lilith from normal woman, to the second Buddha, to a friendlier, more sarcastic and stylish version of Kali-ma, the Hindu Goddess of destruction and change. The books take advantage of the fact that the same things that frighten one culture, seem to frighten EVERY culture, indicating that perhaps something more sinister and pervasive is happening in the universe. Or it could just be us.

2. How did you go about getting your book published?

As you might have guessed, my books are rather experimental. They read kind of like the Matrix trilogy crossed with Siddhartha, and consequently, there's quite a bit of resistance in the publishing world to take a chance on something that is good, but may not sell. So, my agent, Laurie McLean of Larson-Pomada Literary agency, and I have embarked on our own social networking experiment. The publishing industry is changing, and the universality of information will soon make its filtering for "what is commercial" obsolete. To that aim, we are attempting to self-publish and promote. Laurie said something very appropriate when we began this endeavor, "I used to see e-publishing and standard publishing as two divergent paths, but the more I research, the more I see them as the parallel braces of a ladder, and at any point, you can cross from one side to the other, if you want."

3. Tell us about your marketing strategies.

Currently, we are in the early phases, but our overall idea includes guest blogging, contributing to different information oriented sites, and overall having a huge internet presence. It involves a lot of work, but it can be done. I will take advantage of Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and other sites to host online competitions, and attempt, at every stage, to stay in the open.

4. What's the best advice you could give to new writers who want to get published?

Don't get discouraged. Whenever you hear "No", go back to the work and critically examine it. View each "no" as a challenge to improve upon your art. If you truly and objectively believe there is no room for improvement, then forge ahead - the person you've approached is obviously not the representative for you. Keep writing, keep reading, keep improving. Insulate yourself from negativity and do what you love.

5. What are you reading?

I just finished the fourth installment of the Casa Dracula series by my friend Marta Acosta, "Haunted Honeymoon", and enjoyed it thoroughly. I'm also rereading the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, and just cracked the cover on Julie Kagawa's "The Iron King"

Kristina Meister
www.kristinameister.com


Thank you, Kristina. Next up on the spotlight is Brian Drake!

For those who don't know. I'm hosting a Kindle Giveaway to commemorate Pub Day for The Bum Magnet. Please check out my Facebook Fan Page (on the right)!

2nd Annual Amazon Kindle 3G Giveaway
Plus a $25 Kindle Gift Certificate
Total Retail Value: $214

30 Days to Enter, 30 Chances to Win!

Here's How:

Step 1: Each morning during the contest period, I'll post one trivia question based on The Bum Magnet on my Facebook FanPage.

Step 2: Email your answer to KindleGiveAway@authorklbrady.com Only one entry per day, per person.

Step 3: You can enter as many days as you want. The more questions you answer, the better your chances of winning.

The contest runs from March 29, 2011 to April 29, 2011
Winner Chosen in a Random Drawing.
The winner will be announced on April 30, 2011.

The Business of Self-Publishing - Maryland Writer's Conference

Yesterday, I gave a seminar on self publishing at the Maryland Writer's Conference. Of course most of the information I provided can be found right here, but it's always great to engage people and answer questions. I had a really gracious audience which made the experience that much more enjoyable.

As promised, here is the full-size slide presentation. Click Here.

Thanks! We will now return to our regularly scheduled programming...