Welcome Author Julie Howard!
Here is a fabulous blurb from Julie's new book and contact information. But after that, there is an interview with Julie about her writing process and advice for writers!
She’s chasing a ghost, but who is chasing her?
Blurb:
Paige Norman believes in a tangible, explainable world. When her ghost-hunting niece comes for a visit, she tries not to scoff. But someone, or something, is stirring up trouble at the Deerbourne Inn and her niece, Jillian, is at the center of the mystery.
Paige is certain the handsome Aussie photographer is behind the unexplained disturbances, and she warns her niece to stay clear. Meanwhile, Jillian gets to know the otherworldly Lady of the Deerbourne, who foretells an encounter with "two men." Then the pranks turn dangerous. Has her niece attracted a stalker or has she conjured an evil presence? Can the culprit be the man who has captured her heart?
Excerpt:
He nodded a friendly greeting to her, his gaze grazing past to include others on the porch. “G’day, ma’am. G’day all.”
An Australian. Her heart skipped a beat. Oh, to be twenty-five, even thirty-five, again. His gaze settled on her niece, and as always happened to men where this girl was concerned, his jaw slackened, then tightened.
Next to her, Jillian grew still, lifting wide blue eyes to the newcomer. The moment passed. He was through the front door and into the lobby, and the door closed behind him.
“You’re in for some nice company this week,” Paige commented with a smile.
A frown flickered across her niece’s face. “I’ve seen him before.”
“You’ve met?”
“Not exactly. He appeared to me in a dream.” Jillian’s blue eyes were troubled as she gazed at the Inn’s front door. She lifted one hand and rubbed the back of her head, then gave a shiver. “There was blood and I was afraid.”
Page Count – 124
Price - $2.99
Julie Howard is the author of “Crime and Paradise” and “Crime Times Two.” She is a former journalist and editor who has covered topics ranging from crime to cowboy poetry. Learn more at juliemhoward.com.
Author Links:
Website: http://juliemhoward.com
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2U1Q61b
IBooks: https://apple.co/2FPadg1
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spirited-quest-julie-howard/1130412180?ean=2940161285923
Tell us a bit about yourself
I’m an equal opportunity storyteller, meaning I start with the story and figure out the genre afterwards. For me, it’s all about the story. It turns out, my novels are mysteries, but I’ve also had a number of short stories published and those range from horror to literary fiction. I write nearly every day, weekends included. If I don’t write, I feel as though there’s a hole in my day.
How do you find time to write?
I was fortunate enough to leave the daily working world a few years ago. My goal was to pursue a lifelong goal of writing books. It didn’t take long to realize writing books is harder than you’d think! I took a few online courses from Stanford University and learned about structure, dialogue, pacing and so many other details. I learned that keeping to a schedule of writing was very important. About this time, I discovered an international group called Shut Up & Write. The idea behind this group is to set an appointment to write, whether it’s once a week or every day. Now, I lead a couple of Shut Up & Write groups in my own community and have seen other writers go from aspiring to published authors too!
What are your publishing tips?
I spent seven months seeking an agent for my first mystery. While I had several requests for the full manuscript, I didn’t land a promising contract. At a writing conference, I learned from editors that they are flooded with queries, with some publishing houses receiving up to ten thousand submissions a year. The competition out there is tough! This is when I decided to submit directly to a smaller publisher, where I didn’t need an intermediary. Within two months, I had a contract with one of the best small publishers on the market, The Wild Rose Press. Two tips here: Don’t give up. Consider submitting to a smaller publisher.
Any promotional and marketing tips?
Like a lot of authors, I’m overwhelmed by the myriad resources available for marketing my books. Social media is key, but the question always is how to best use it to a book’s best advantage. Honestly, I’m still figuring it all out. My best tip, however, is don’t try to take it all on at once. Start with one or two platforms – say, Twitter and Instagram – and spend some time building an audience there before moving on to the next one or two platforms. I usually create a marketing plan for the year and do my best to stick to it. My impulse is to rush ahead and try everything at once. But I hold myself back so as not to spread myself too thin. Writing still comes first, marketing second.
Tell us about your recent book.
Spirited Quest was released last month. It’s the fifth book in the Deerbourne Inn series, where all the stories are set in Willow Springs, Vermont. All the authors involved in this series choose their own genre and mine is a mystery – but, as the name suggests, there is a ghost involved.
Thank you, Julie! Congratulations on the release of Spirited Quest!