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A local newspaper just ran one of the most comprehensive articles about my experience both publishing The Black Lens novel and volunteering with She Has A Name: Observations, service provide insights for author - Clintonville Spotlight More than a dozen other news media outlets have also reported on The Black Lens. Here are just a few excerpts: “The grim reality of modern-day slavery in America.” — Kirkus Reviews Magazine “The Black Lens is clearly the work of a journalist. It exists to inform and disrupt, and it succeeds.”  [...]

Writer’s Digest just agreed to publish my fifth article in their magazine, which reaches about 70,000 subscribers across the country. My new article will appear in the March/April 2023 issue within the regular IndieLab column that follows trends in the self-publishing business. This piece focuses on 10 tips I've learned while transitioning from self-publishing The Black Lens to traditionally publishing my new novel with senior agent Paula Munier from Talcott Notch Literary.  Here’s a brief summary: Some self-published authors assume that if they ever sign with [...]

“Daddy, are you writing your story?” Aria asks me this question at six in the morning. She should be sleeping, even though I’ve been up for an hour working on my next novel, but I can’t resist this little moment to talk with my daughter about writing. Aria sits on my lap as I sip coffee and the sun starts to rise outside our home in Ohio. “Can I work on my story with you?” I smile, treasuring this moment as both a father and [...]

Writer's Digest University just invited me back to teach my second webinar, this time about How to Crowdfund Your Book and connect it to a cause. Here's a brief overview of my session, which will take place on May 26: It can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars to produce a high-quality, self-published book that competes with its traditionally published counterparts. While some authors may be independently wealthy, most of us don’t have those funds lying around to spend on a professional developmental editor, graphic designer, [...]

Writer's Digest just accepted and agreed to publish my fourth article in their magazine, which reaches about 70,000 subscribers across the country. My new article will appear in the May/June issue, specifically in the regular IndieLab column that follows trends in the self-publishing business. This article focuses on three simple strategies for marketing your book, drawing from my own experience as both a senior marketing consultant for a Fortune 100 company and an award-winning author of The Black Lens novel. Here’s a brief summary: Many [...]

Writer's Digest University just invited me to teach my first writing webinar. Titled How to Research Your Novel like a Reporter, this class will provide writers with best practices from the three years of research I conducted for my award-winning debut novel The Black Lens. Here's a brief overview of the webinar, which Writer’s Digest Magazine also published a related article about last year in their 100th anniversary issue. About the webinar Too many fiction writers start their stories without any research. And those who [...]

It's not too late to register for the virtual Writer's Digest Conference, where I will be speaking alongside Chris Bohjalian, Nicole Blades, and more than a dozen other incredible storytellers. This is my fourth year speaking at the conference, which is normally held in New York City. I will be discussing my experience crowd-funding The Black Lens and plans for my new novel, Real Girl, which my agent is currently pitching to publishers. Here’s a brief summary of my presentation: How to Crowd-Fund Your Book and Connect It to [...]

For the fourth year, Writer’s Digest has invited me to speak at their Annual Conference in New York City. This time I will be talking about my experience crowd-funding The Black Lens and building a strategic marketing plan for my new novel, Real Girl, which my agent is currently pitching to publishers. Here’s a brief summary of my two main presentations: How to Crowd-Fund Your Book and Connect It to a Cause Two of the biggest challenges for new authors who want to self-publish is a lack of exposure [...]

Since the summer, literary agent Paula Munier has been working hard to pitch my new novel to traditional publishers based in New York City. Publishing is always a long process. And yet this past year has proved extra hard as editors are working from home while also juggling so many other responsibilities like everyone else during a global pandemic. But Paula is a senior agent at Talcott Notch Literary, a veteran agency that has an impressive list of bestsellers with the New York Times, Wall Street [...]

Writer’s Digest just published my third article in the 100th anniversary edition of their magazine, which reaches about 70,000 subscribers across the country. The magazine also published my first article last year about how to craft the perfect media pitch and my second article in April about how to create successful book media kits. My new article appeared in the November/December issue, specifically in the regular IndieLab column that follows trends in the self-publishing business. This article focuses on my experience conducting journalistic research for both The Black [...]