Live from New York, it’s the Stollars — once again!
My wife and I will be going back to Manhattan this August since I just got accepted as a main speaker at the annual Writer’s Digest Conference. I’ll be giving two talks, one about the value of research in fiction and the other about self publishing The Black Lens novel. Here’s a brief summary of the sessions:
How to Research Like a Reporter
Too many fiction writers start their stories without any research. And those who do some research barely scratch the surface, sticking to what they can find on Google or watch on TV. This class will teach you the basics of how to research like a reporter from a former journalist who is also an award-winning author. Learn how to interview actual sources and research primary documents that can enrich your stories, whether you’re working on a crime thriller, a cozy mystery or even science fiction that involves new technologies.
How to Self Publish an E-Book
The old saying that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover doesn’t apply to the world of self publishing e-books. If you decide that this is the path you want to pursue as an author, you must resolve to produce the best product possible — one that contains zero copy errors and a compelling digital cover that grabs the reader’s attention. Learn the five key steps it takes to self publish an e-book that can compete with its traditionally published counterparts. This class is taught by the Grand Prize Winner of the 2016 Writer’s Digest Self-Published e-Book Awards.
Since I first started working on The Black Lens novel, my wife has always been my strongest supporter. Last year, we both got the opportunity to attend the Writer’s Digest Conference, where I talked on a panel about self-publishing The Black Lens.
The invitation came after my debut novel won Grand Prize in the 2016 Writer’s Digest Self-Published e-Book Awards. The Black Lens beat out more than 600 other books in this national contest, which “spotlights today’s self-published works and honors self-published authors.” The Grand Prize included books for sale at the actual conference and:
- A feature article about The Black Lens in the May/June 2017 issue of Writer’s Digest
- My name on the front cover of Writer’s Digest magazine
- A paid trip to the national Writer’s Digest Conference
In case you haven’t read it yet, here is the official book review of The Black Lens from Writer’s Digest:
“Gritty, unforgiving and in some places downright shocking, THE BLACK LENS is nevertheless a stunning read, from the first page to the last … This book rivals — if not surpasses — its commercially published brethren. It may indeed raise awareness of human trafficking and exploitation of women in the same manner as UNCLE TOM’S CABIN and TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE did for slavery.”
To read more reviews of The Black Lens, please visit the Reviews page or go to Amazon.