by kristinoakley | May 4, 2023 | For Readers, For Writers, Newsletter, Writing Life
In one month, there will be a contest that puts teenagers through physical, mental, and psychological trials that may very well break them. The courageous winner will have the honor of becoming the vessel of all the world’s evil. Or so the story goes . . . This...
by kristinoakley | Apr 6, 2023 | Creativity & Craft, For Writers, Newsletter
On March 25th, 2023, I presented my “Characters Who Jump Off the Page” workshop at the Chicago Writers Association’s Let’s Just Write! An Uncommon Writers Conference. The workshop was successful based on the eighty attendees’ rapt...
by kristinoakley | Apr 1, 2023 | For Writers
I like to think of the setting of a book as a character, one that puts the reader into the story and makes them feel as if they’re part of the adventure. Did you know that writing about and selecting the right setting can also help sell books? Sales Potential of a...
by kristinoakley | Mar 10, 2023 | For Writers
Please note: This article was originally published on the Chicago Writers Association’s blog. In 2012 when I was finishing my first novel Carpe Diem, Illinois, I’d heard about self-publishing but thought it was for authors who couldn’t get their books traditionally...
by kristinoakley | Mar 1, 2023 | For Writers
When my debut mystery/suspense/thriller, Carpe Diem, Illinois, was released in 2014, I posted the news on Facebook and Twitter, ran a few ads, submitted the book to contests, and sent shout-outs to my email list. But I focused most of my marketing on in-person...
by kristinoakley | Feb 28, 2023 | For Writers
For years people told me to start a newsletter. After all, I had written and published two books and had over 400 people on my email list. I thought periodically sending a book release announcement or information about an upcoming author event was enough. Then I took...
