Writing a book takes time, patience, and story telling abilities. Other than that, as long as you have established an audience (say… blog followers for example), found a great team of editors, know a cover artist you trust, and are able to set up pre-publication and post publication marketing efforts (including a blog tour, YouTube vlog interview tour, Periscope appearances, live book signings, etc.), you’re ready to go. 

Don’t let me overwhelm you, this post is just about the writing… I’ll get to those other things in a different post. Lets talk about the 4 easy (insert laugh track here) steps to writing your book.

STEP 1. Decide to write a book and make a commitment to yourself to finish.

This is probably the hardest part of writing a book… well, this and editing… and marketing, but this post is only talking about the actual writing processes – spilling your blood, tears, and sweat into that first draft.

‘According to writer Joseph Epstein, “81 percent of Americans feel that they have a book in them — and should write it.” That’s approximately 200 million people who aspire to authorship.’ Goldberg, Justine. T. (2011, May 26). 200 Million Americans Want to Publish Books, But Can They? https://publishingperspectives.com/2011/05/200-million-americans-want-to-publish-books/

In my experience, the problem isn’t wanting to write a book, it’s not knowing where to start and often times not believing you can. I’ve talked to so many “want-to-be authors” who have amazing story ideas, but they fail to put a single word on paper. Why? Because more often than not, the messages they are receiving from the people around them are;  ‘it will never go anywhere,’ ‘you can’t make a living as an author,’ ‘who are you kidding, you’re not a writer.’ It is comments like these that keep people, who could potentially be the next Amanda Hocking, E. L. James, or even the next J.K. Rowling, from even trying.  So, ignore the negativity, make a commitment to yourself to finish it – because you’re the only one you need to please – and move to keep going.

STEP 2. Pick a genre. Your genre will determine your page count.

• GENERAL:
  • Flash Fiction: 300–1500 words
  • Short Story: 1500–30,000 words
  • Novellas: 30,000–50,000 words
  • Novels: 50,000–110,000 words
• FICTION:
  • Adult Novels (Commercial and Literary): 80,000-90,000 words
  • Mainstream Romance: 80,000–90,000 words
  • Science Fiction / Fantasy: 90,000–120,000 words
  • Historical Fiction: 80,000–100,000 words
  • Thrillers / Horror / Mysteries / Crime: 70,000–90,000 words
  • Young Adult: 55,000–80,000 words
  • Epics: 120,000-200,000 words
  • Westerns: 50,000-80,000 words
• CHILDREN’S BOOKS:
  • Picture Books: 300–600 words
    Early Readers: 200–3500 words
    Chapter Books: 4000–10,000 words
    Middle Grade: 25,000–50,000 words
• NONFICTION:
  • Standard Nonfiction (Business, Political Science, Psychology, History, etc.): 70,000–80,000 words
  • Memoir: 80,000–100,000 words
  • Biography: 80,000–200,000 words
  • How-to / Self-Help: 40,000–50,000 words

Keep in mind that the word counts listed above are just a general guideline. There are always going to be books that break the rules and that is OK, as long as your story has the following key ingredients: 

• A strong opening – Right from the start of your setting should set the mood and tone of the story for your readers. 
• Balance –  You need to have a balance between SHOWING through strong, but not overwhelming, descriptions and TELLING through script-worthy dialogue
• Diverse, well-developed characters – Keep in mind that not everyone is beautiful, people have scars (emotional and physical). Your characters should all be uniquely themselves, with their own back-stories, personalities, etc.  
• Conflict and Resolution – Every good story needs conflict, it’s what allows the characters to develop, adapt, and change, throughout the story.
• A satisfying conclusion – This doesn’t mean a Hollywood “happy” ending, it just means that all the plot holes have been filled in and questions have been answered… that is unless you’re leaving your readers with a cliffhanger! I have to admit, I love a good cliffhanger. 😉  

STEP 3. Outline your book with extensive detail.

OK, you’ve made a commitment, you’ve picked your genre and have a general idea of what your word count is going to look like. What’s next? OUTLINING!!! When I tell you that you want to outline with EXTENSIVE DETAIL, I really do mean EXTENSIVE DETAIL.

Have you ever gotten lost, driving down a back road in the South? I have… You stop at the run-down gas station, hesitantly get out of your car to ask the station attendant for directions to the nearest interstate. She responds with something like, “Just turn right out of the drive. You’ll go three-quarters of a mile, just past the old Miller farm, and turn left when you see the burnt down barn. You’ll want to pass the Piggly Wiggly and the Walmart and turn right onto Orchard Lane, but if you reach the Dairy Queen you’ve gone to far. The interstate is about four miles from there and the entrance is on the left just under the overpass. You’ll see what’s left of the Jimmy loves Mary painted on the old water tower about a half mile before you get to there.” To much detail? NOT AT ALL!

Think of your outline as a sweet southern woman giving you detailed directions on how to go from the first page of chapter one to the final page of the story. 

Trust me, the outline is the hard part, but you can get through it. You see, the more detail you put into your outline the easier the actual writing process will be and the fewer bumps and bruises you’ll experience along the way. In other words, every detail added to your outline saves you from hours of writer’s block later on. So, don’t skimp – outline every thing.

Start with a skeleton outline by breaking down your story into three acts (Act 1 – Act 2 – Act 3). Within each act you need to know the background, setting, the obstacle/conflict, reactions to the conflict, and the resolution. 

After you’ve created your skeleton outline – start plotting out individual scenes in the same way, but with more details. 

Remember, this takes time. Don’t expect to finish your detailed outline in one day, but don’t give up until its done either. 

STEP 4. Write daily.

Remember, you’ve made a commitment to yourself to finish this book, so there can be no excuses. Writing daily is essential to developing your writing skills – your writing muscles if you will. Don’t worry if what you’re writing is crap… trust me, every author has days where all they write are pages worthy of the cylindrical file, otherwise known as the trash! 

Now lets say you’re writing a young adult story, which puts your total desired word count around 55,000 – 79,999. For this example, we will say you’re aiming for 70,000. You’re goal (I’m making this up) is to finish your book in 100 days – YES IT CAN BE DONE – that means you have to write 700 words per day. EVERY DAY!!! I don’t care if you get home from work and you’re tired. I don’t care if your mom wants to take you out to dinner for your birthday. I don’t even care if you’re sitting in bed with the flu and your achy. MAN UP and start typing. 700 words a day is not that hard – and once you start, you’ll quickly see that your daily 700 words will start to multiply as you get further and further into your story. The more you write, and follow your outline, the more the details of your story will start to unfold for you. 

So, what are you waiting for? Why are you still reading this blog instead of getting to work on your manuscript? Go… start writing, and remember this story is your creation – have fun with it.

Got tips you’d like to share with aspiring authors? Comment below to share your ideas and writing tips. 

This WAS my work/writing space…

I was stuck in the corner, at a tiny desk, surrounded by TOTAL CHAOS! On top of being an author, I have kids, work a full-time job, own my own skincare business (Check out my website here), and am active in local theatre (directing and acting) when I have the time.

SO MY WORKSPACE SUFFERED!

My home office was somehow supposed to keep me organized in all aspects of my daily life (Full-Time Job – Director of Contracts, Mom – and all the carpools/activities that includes, Theatre, and of course WRITING). Instead, my office became a storage unit for everything and anything that didn’t have a home throughout our house. To say the office space was hard to work in would be an understatement. To say the office space was hard to write in would be like calling the grand canyon just a hole.

I decided to make a change… I set out on a mission to make my writing space more productive!

I started with the closet, which was filled from floor to ceiling with clutter! No before picture of that, sorry, but it would have scared you away!

Things got worse before they got better.

A LOT WORSE!

 Slowing, I started to see some improvement. It started by completely emptying out my office. Everything was touched. Every piece of paper, every container, every pencil… etc. You get the point. As I moved everything from my office to my dining room I PURGED! I threw things out, I took bags and boxes of things to Goodwill, I PURGED everything and anything I couldn’t find a need for.

The results: I STILL HAD TO MUCH STUFF!

My desk was way to small, so I decided a DIY desk – Pinterest style – was what I needed. I purchased 2 black 2 drawer file cabinets and headed to Lowes for some wood. They cut the wood there, which is perfect because I don’t own a saw. One of my friends came over to teach me the beauty of ModPodge. We attached a beautiful red and white fabric to the wood and that became my desktop. SO FAR – I LOVED IT! Yet, looking back today I can see it was more a crafting desk than a desk for creative writing.

I still had some work to do in order to create some shelving space on top of the desk… and A LOT more work to organize the rest of the room, but I was seeing progress!

This project started back in October 2016… I started writing this post in January 2017, I think. In the end… I ended up just gutting the room and boxing everything up and starting over in a new office – in a new house.

No, we didn’t move simply because I couldn’t get my office together, it was just time. The fact that I couldn’t get my office together reflected solely on my lack of time and my inability to say ‘no’. If I had said ‘no’ a little more often, I would have had more time!

Here is a picture of how my office looks today… I LOVE IT! It is an open, creative, work environment and there is space for everything I need. Sure, I still need a great chair, but I do love this space.

* * * * * 

What does your work/writing space look like? Post comments and photos below and share your secrets to keeping your space creatively organized. 

It has been a while, I know. I’d love to give you some great excuse, tell you I’ve been on a state by state author tour, but its nothing like that. I have been writing though, and I’m so excited to announce my two latest projects:

The Invisible You: 52 Weeks of Meditation, Activities, and Writing Prompts to Help you Discover YOU! (NOW AVAILABLE)

A 52 week guide to meditation, journaling, and therapeutic coloring to help you connect with the Invisible You – your True Self!

So You Want to Write A Book: An Indie Author Guide to Outlining And Planning Your Next Novel (NOW AVAILABLE)

Being an Indie Author is exciting, but it isn’t easy! This guide is designed to help get you through the process of outlining and planning your novel.

Topics covered include, but are not limited to:

• Summarizing your Story
• Planning your Plot
• Creating a Skeleton Outline
• Character Development
• Scene Development
• Setting Development
• Story Development
• Dealing with Writer’s Block
• Self-Publishing 101

Interested in getting your copy, or copies for a friend? Both books are available on Amazon, click on the titles above to be taken directly to their purchase page and order today!

Today, I’d like to welcome Mr. M, author of The Magical Adventures of Brian Leonard to my blog. Please take a few minutes to read about him, and if you have questions, go ahead and comment below so he can get back to you.

1. What is your name and where do you call home?
My name is Mr. M and I live in Woodland Hills, California.

2. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say?
The Magical Adventures of Brian Leonard is about a middle school boy who takes on the forces of evil. Imagine Buffy The Vampire Slayers and Scooby-Doo mashed together.

3. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?
I started writing in college, but I never thought about writing a novel. I mostly wrote short stories. The Magical Adventures of Brian Leonard started as a short story. Brian was a character that I loved writing.

4. Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)?
YES! At the time I was listening to a band called The Avett Brothers. I always listen to music while I am writing.

5. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books?
Brian is available on Kindle or in paperback. As a reader, I tend to alternate between paperback and reading on the Kindle app. Someone once said that you use a different side of your brain when you read a real book compared to a digital book. I have no idea if this is true, but it sounded like it could be true.

6. Are you a self-published/Indie author?
I am an indie author!

7. If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route?
I am not against traditional publishing. However, traditional publishers really don’t look at unknown talent. At the time, nobody knew about me. I am lucky. More people are beginning to hear about my book. That is really exciting to hear.

8. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?
I have read The Outsiders about 5 times. It gets better every single time I read it.

9. What is your favorite film based on a book?
The Godfather. I mean Mario Puzo is amazing.

10. What is your favorite book genre at the moment?
I have been reading a lot of nonfiction lately. I really enjoyed Coach Wooden and Me by Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

11. If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?
John Ritter was a friend of mine. I would always invite him. I have never met anyone funnier than John. I would most likely have to also invite the showtime Lakers. The Lakers of the 80s were amazing.

12. What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?
The best writers are good at rewriting. Stick with a piece long enough and it will get better.

13. Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing?
I love to swim with my kids. I have a great family. I am a really lucky guy.

14. Where can your readers follow you?
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mr-M-676524319075068/
 Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16798903.Mr_M_
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr._m_teacher/
 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Magical-Adventures-Brian-Leonard/dp/1497511305

The Magical Adventures of Brian Leonard – Book Blurb

Brian’s just an ordinary teenager, struggling with the usual trials and tribulations of junior high. He’s just started dating Sophia, and he hopes the upcoming school dance will be a memorable event. Unfortunately, he’s right.

Hanging out with Sophia and his best friend, Johnny, Brian’s shocked to see his uncle Bobby at the dance. This isn’t an ordinary case of teenage embarrassment—Bobby’s been dead for years. After warning Brian to stay away and spitting ectoplasmic goo at him and Sophia, Bobby’s spirit flees, pursued by another long-lost uncle named Huck. As dates go, this one sucked.

Brian quickly discovers his spooky encounter was a warning. The spirit of his black-magic-wielding grandmother Esther is restless, and way too active for anyone’s good. Thirsting for revenge on the family that rejected her evil, Esther traps Brian’s mother and Huck in a ghostly dimension, a terrifying place known as the Far Beyond.

To save his mother, Brian’s going to have to enter the Far Beyond, master his dormant spirit powers, battle Esther’s ghostly minions, and defeat the witch herself. Maybe he should have taken Sophia to the movies instead.

About the Author, Mr. M.

Mr. M graduated from Chapman University with a BFA in Film and Television Production. He received his MFA in screenwriting from the American Film Institute. As a television executive at CBS, UPN, and ABC he worked with writers and producers supervising comedies and dramas for the networks. Some of the shows Mr. M worked on were Boston Legal, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Girlfriends, Alias, George Lopez, The Hughleys, and the short-lived Invasion. Mr. M was always interested in teaching and decided to make a career change. He attended Pacific Oaks College where he earned a Masters of Human Development and a multi-subject credential. He frequently presents workshops on character education in elementary school. Mr. M lives with his wife, son, and daughter in Los Angeles, California.

I hope you enjoyed learning about Mr. M and that you will pick up a copy of The Magical Adventures of Brian Leonard for yourself.

Have questions for Mr. M? Go ahead and ask them in the comments below so he can get back to you!!!

If you like to read… then you’ve come to the right place because:

In anticipation of my next book release, I am looking for readers!

Have you read Sector C ~ The Chosen or Sector C ~ The Hunted?

If the answer is no, please check them out on Amazon today. I’m seeking out readers for the first 2 books in my series prior to the release of book 3 and as an indie author, I want your opinions… I NEED your reviews!

Get your copy by following the links below:

The Chosen (book 1): http://a.co/gxIVH1c

1. What is your name and where do you call home? Justine Johnston Hemmestad, from central Iowa
2. Do you have a pen name? Nope, the same as my legal name.
3. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say? “Visions of a Dream” focuses on the spiritual fire that ignites Alexander the Great’s actions as he learns from the other cultures he comes into contact with. His closest relationships vie for his love but they also provide the steel he needs to be sharpened spiritually and emotionally, for before he conquers the world he must first conquer his own mind.
4. Is the above book part of a series? No
5. What or who inspired you to start writing? I became interested in Alexander the Great’s story in the mid ’90s after watching a documentary about him and admiring his persistence and perseverance. In 1990 (I was 19) my car was hit by a city bus – I sustained a severe brain injury, was in a coma, paralyzed, and the doctors thought I wouldn’t recover (my story is in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries). Within a few months I was walking again and my husband and I moved to Iowa where we started our family of seven kids, and I began writing to cope with severe PTSD. I began college part-time in the mid-2000s, as I continued to research and write Visions of a Dream. I’ve earned my BLS from The University of Iowa, and I’m now working on a Master’s Degree in Literature through Northern Arizona University.  And how long have you been writing? 27 years.
6. How did you come up with the cover? My son, Bradley Hemmestad, conceived of the idea for my cover art after reading the book. Who designed the cover of your book(s)? Bradley Hemmestad of Max Graphics http://www.maxgraphics.studio/
7. Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)? I remember listening to “Voodoo” by Godsmack when I wrote the part about Alexander entering Babylon.
8. How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? It occurred to me in a dream.
9. Do you have a book trailer? If so where can we watch it? Yes!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFMe1DFLyRs&t=3s My son Bradley Hemmestad created it and it’s symbolic of a spiritual romance in the midst of war.
10. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? paperbacks
11. Are you a self-published/Indie author? I’m published by Turtle Shell Publishing, which is a very very small publisher.
12. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it? Yes, the Bible
13. What is your opinion of novellas? My first book was a novella: https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Told-Justine-Johnston-Hemmestad/dp/0692627685/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 which was a great format for me to tell my story very symbolically.
14. Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? I hope that people are enticed by the covers my son creates for me – I would read based on his covers.
15. What is your favorite film based on a book? Wwithering Heights
16. What is your favorite book genre at the moment? History
17. What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why? Historical research materials.
18. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format? I’m just working hard on marketing my book and writing a few more historical ones I have started.If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why? James Dean, John Steinbeck, Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe
19. What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? Use as few words to get your point across as possible, The University of Iowa, and also a quote from Ezra Pound
20. Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing? Raising my 7 kids (though three are grown 🙂 )
21. Where can your readers follow you? http://justinejohnstonhemmestad.blogspot.com/

• Blog: http://jhemmestad.wixsite.com/justine-j-hemmestad
• Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4606059.Justine_Hemmestad
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/truthtold2011
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justine-johnston-hemmestad-17180b96/
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Justine-Johnston-Hemmestad/e/B01DHSLN0M?ref_=pe_1724030_132998060
• Other: http://justinejohnstonhemmestad.blogspot.com/

It’s about time!

Author Jonas Lee has made us wait… WAY TO LONG. The long overdue third book in the Carter Gabel series is finally coming, and I am so excited to be able to share the cover with you before the book’s release date! If you haven’t already read the first two books in this series A Time to Reap and A Time to Live then you need to order them today and get caught up before the release.

Book Blurb:

Carter Gabel saved his own life, and rescued his city from destruction. But, after the Pirates forced him into hiding, he spent years holed up in Crighton, city of ghosts.  Just as he thinks the world has forgotten him, a knock on the door interrupts his life and as he opens it, his next journey begins. An unexpected foe waits for him at the end to challenge everything he knows and all that his future holds. What must Carter do to survive? And what does he sacrifice to become a legend?

Author Bio:

Writing out of the Black Hills of South Dakota, Jonas likes coming up with new and creative worlds that speak to the plausible while remaining believable. With a fist-full of peanut M&Ms and a cup of coffee, he has written three novels about a snarky, supernatural teen able to time travel and more.

Beyond writing, Jonas has a gift for useless knowledge through watching trivia shows and a love for cinematic adventures. Music fuels his writing and you can see him with at least one earbud in every day.

Book Links

• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jonas-Lee…. (STILL LOADING)
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32707580

Author Social Media Links

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonasleeauthor/
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8417690.Jonas_Lee
• Website: http://JLFiction.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorJonasLee
• Instagram: @Author_Jonas_Lee
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqDnFzimPFwGl1pE3ft8vKg

I’d like to welcome Michael J. Sahno, author of Miles of Files, to my blog.

1. What is your name and where do you call home? Michael J. Sahno; Tampa, FL, USA
2. Do you have a pen name? Nope.
3. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say? Miles of Files: Dude finds out his boss is stealing from the company’s retirement plan; mayhem ensues.
4. Is the above book part of a series? Not that I know of!
5. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing? I’ve always been writing, but it really took off after grad school. Inspired by Vonnegut, Hunter S. Thompson, Faulkner, Styron, Balzac…and many more.
6. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)? This cover is brand new for the re-launch of the novel. The designer is named Mario Lampic. I gave him some ideas, but he ran with them and exceeded my expectations.
7. Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)? I listen to a lot of classic jazz when I write. I think for this one it was mainly Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, & Wayne Shorter.
8. How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? I like to drop in a little “Easter egg” for my readers who read all my books. The phrase “miles of files” actually comes out of the previous novel, Jana. It was inspired by the name of a Joni Mitchell album, Miles of Aisles.
9. Do you have a book trailer? If so where can we watch it? Not yet.
10. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? As a reader, I love reading paperbacks, but as a writer, I sell a lot more e-books.
11. Are you a self-published/Indie author? Yes.
12. If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route? I wanted to start my own company to publish all three novels together, and formed Sahno Publishing in 2015. When a book sells, I (the publisher) pay myself (the author). I wouldn’t want it any other way.
13. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it? The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
14. What is your opinion of novellas? They’re fine, but I don’t think I could ever be that concise.
15. Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? No idea. I don’t think so, but I could be wrong. It wouldn’t be the first time.
16. What is your favorite film based on a book? Rebecca, which won Best Picture for 1940. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier. Apparently, I really love authors with French names! (I’m actually a Balzac devotee.)
17. What is your favorite book genre at the moment? Literary fiction.
18. What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why? The amount of free time I have to read other authors these days is pretty limited, just because of the nature of what I do. But I did connect with another author via social media named Sherry Parnell, and read her novel Let the Willows Weep. It was really good.
19. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format? Right now, I’m in the middle of editing a collection of short stories that I’m giving away to subscribers to my email list at https://msahno.com. So I’m reading myself!
20. If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why? Charles Dickens – because I’d like his input on writing great literature quickly; Balzac – for the same reason as Dickens, but also because I think they might fight before the night was over; Einstein – because he would blow Balzac’s and Dickens’ minds; and Joni Mitchell, because she’d keep them all in line.
21. What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? Variations on the basic theme of “don’t give up.”
22. Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing? I’m a runner, and that’s informed a lot of what I do. It’s also just as solitary as writing, at least in my world.
23. Any marketing tips you’d like to share with other authors? Yes, a ton! I’ve spent the last 15 years as a marketing writer, and I have a free e-book called Marketing for Authors available at my website: https://msahno.com.
24. Where can your readers follow you? Biggest following is 11K+ on Twitter, but here are all of them:

• Blog: https://msahno.com/blog
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sahnocomm/
• Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14735376.Michael_J_Sahno
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeSahno
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahno
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Michael-J.-Sahno/e/B018PTN964
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/mikesahno/

BOOK Blurb:

In Miles of Files, the main character, Paul Panepinto, an employee at Flambet Insurance, learns that his manager Graham Woodcock is stealing from the company. Paul struggles with whether or not to report the boss at the risk of losing his position. Eventually, Graham fires Paul anyway and Paul is forced to pursue justice, but the story doesn’t end as expected. Readers move through a fast-paced adventure with many twists and turns, including high points, drama, comedy, and an edge that Sahno captures through his writing.

About the Author: 

Michael J. Sahno began writing stories at an early age. Eventually, he was selected for Editor-in-Chief of his high school literary magazine. The quality of his work led to several honorary titles and academic awards by his senior year, which made it clear he was predestined to serve a role in literary excellence.

Mr. Sahno earned his Bachelor’s from Lynchburg College and later went on to earn his Master’s in English from Binghamton University.

After college, Mr. Sahno served in several management positions, including Director at a marketing research firm, Assistant Vice President at a Tampa-based mortgage company and college professor in the field of English composition.

Sahno became a full-time professional writer in 2001 and, in the following years, wrote more than 1,000 marketing articles on a wide range of topics. His quality copy put him in high demand, and his work has appeared in a variety of national magazines, including Fortune, Entrepreneur, Bloomberg Businessweek, Good Housekeeping, Redbook, and Woman’s Day.

Mr. Sahno has written and published three novels: Brothers’ Hand, Jana, and Miles of Files. He is the founder of Sahno Publishing and available for professional speaking engagements upon request. For further information, contact info@msahno.com.

Guest post by: Marie Lavender

It starts with the seed of an idea. For a writer, it’s one of the most exciting parts of the book process. Perhaps it’s the flash of a scene in your mind, stemming from current events, something you read or witnessed in life. Or an object caught your interest, a mere speck of dust from the comet streaking across the night sky.

Suddenly, a plant has begun to grow. Scenes materialize in fits and starts, gradually forming a loose storyline. If you’re lucky, you know some of what might occur from the beginning. If that’s not the case, discovering each section of the whole is akin to the exhilaration of an archaeologist on her first dig. Soon enough, however, you’ve accumulated sufficient knowledge to get an idea of the overall picture. If the writer has any hope at all of finishing the project, he or she might consider writing an outline for the book.

Then begins the hard work. Diving into the project, writing based on an outline, allowing for changes based on the character’s whims, and, of course, researching so many aspects of the book that the writer’s head begins to spin. Comfort appears through items of sustenance – bottled water, coffee, hot chocolate, and herbal tea, a long forgotten yet half-eaten meal nearby and cookie crumbs on one’s fingertips. Intensity consumes you, your need to tell a character’s story your driving force. Not water, not food, not sleep – most writers in the midst of a project get very little of that. The writing continues while perched on sofas, in one’s bedroom, on the patio table outside during pleasant weather, or hunkered down at your computer, anywhere to help you focus on getting those final details down before time becomes your enemy. All the while, both family and pets make their presences known; daily demands abound, and most usually regard this ‘writer’ as an extraterrestrial. For who would willingly put themselves through such dire conditions?

At last, you lean back, amazed at what has happened. Time has indeed flown. The work is complete; the hard-won fight over. Perhaps it took a month, several months, a year or more, but alas, it is finished. You wrote a book.

Now you may bask in the glory of a job well done. Go out and celebrate. Have a wonderful meal, perhaps a drink, and relax.

Just remember…editing begins soon enough. Of course, not every journey is the same, but all of us end up in a similar place, the manuscript completed and a chance to look forward to the moment a book reaches readers.

The process itself is a writer’s joy and pain. A writer’s life. And we’d have it no other way.

About the Author:

Bestselling multi-genre author of UPON YOUR RETURN and 23 other books. March 2016 Empress of the Universe title – winner of the “Broken Heart” themed contest and the “I Love You” themed contest on Poetry Universe. SECOND CHANCE HEART and A LITTLE MAGICK placed in the TOP 10 on the 2015 P&E Readers’ Poll. Nominated in the TRR Readers’ Choice Awards for Winter 2015. Poetry winner of the 2015 PnPAuthors Contest. The Versatile Blogger Award for 2015. Honorable Mention in the 2014 BTS Red Carpet Book Awards. Finalist and Runner-up in the 2014 MARSocial’s Author of the Year Competition. Honorable mention in the January 2014 Reader’s Choice Award. Liebster Blogger Award for 2013 and 2014. Top 10 Authors on AuthorsDB.com. Winner of the Great One Liners Contest on the Directory of Published Authors.

Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for a little over twenty-five years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands. Since 2010, Marie has published 24 books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, fantasy, science fiction, mystery/thriller, literary fiction and poetry. She has also contributed to several multi-author anthologies. Her current series are The Heiresses in Love Series, The Magick Series, The Blood at First Sight Series and The Code of Endhivar Series.

Links:

http://marielavender.com/
http://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/
http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/
http://www.ambrosiainnovations.com/
https://www.facebook.com/marie.lavender.58
https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender
https://twitter.com/marielavender1
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MarieLavender/posts

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marie-lavender/27/187/10a
Amazon author page: Author.to/MarieLavender
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938764.Marie_Lavender
http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/1578-marie-lavender
http://www.pw.org/content/marie_lavender
http://manicreaders.com/marielavender/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJu8HjRVYCFOqcIoX6ZxdqQ/videos