Akea: His Mother’s Son Akea: The Power of Destiny By Elizabeth Jade

3/21/2020

Multi-volume author, Elizabeth Jade introduces us to her two books, “Akea: The Power of Destiny” and “Akea: His Mother’s son”:
This husky, wolf story is a new addition to the great animal fiction tradition of Jack London and Erin Hunter, where the story is told through the eyes of the animals. Elizabeth Jade has created a captivating coming of age story which also teaches children about friendship and loyalty, and that being different doesn’t mean you can’t belong. It is a captivating chapter book for 8-12-year-olds.
Akea is born into a family of sled dogs and a life that follows a predictable path, but from the day she first sees the lone wolf, Kazakh, Akea knows her future lies beyond the safety of her home. Kazakh is well aware of Akea's destiny and the pack laws he will break to help her reach it. Regardless of the challenges ahead, he must make sure this young husky will be ready, even if it means his life.
The heart-wrenching sequel to Akea - The Power of Destiny. Akea is no ordinary husky and taking her place as Wolf Queen was just the first step in the journey set out for her by the Great Wolf. Akea's world turns upside down when humans raid their home, scattering the pack and capturing her hybrid son. Salvador struggles to adjust to a life in captivity quickly realising not everyone approves of his mother's rise to Wolf Queen. When the Great Wolf sends him warning dreams, Salvador discovers his true purpose for being there.

These are lovely books; they each have an exciting story well suited to the preteen and young teen age group. The author has created a believable world around the idea of families or packs of wolves. We know that wolves are very intelligent and coordinate their hunting activities.
I thoroughly enjoyed both of these stories. They read well and show great creativity. The personalities and pack structure are well developed, including having a mythos and something akin to a religion. I found all of it very interesting.
The line drawings are quite nice and help younger readers stay involved in the story. These are wonderful chapter books for intermediate readers and above.
The scene setting was quite good and the use of the environment was exceptional. I enjoyed the dialogue and the activities of daily living for the wolves. The action sequences were well planned and executed. The violence was not very explicit to preserve the sensibilities of younger readers.
I award these two books, “Akea: The Power of Destiny” and “Akea: His Mother’s Son” a score of 4.9 stars each.

You can buy these books:
https://smile.amazon.com/Akea-Power-of-Destiny-Elizabeth-Jade-ebook
https://smile.amazon.com/Akea-His-Mothers Son-Elizabeth-Jade-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-akea---the-power-of-destiny
https://www.goodreads.com/-akea---his-mother-s-son
https://www.amazon.co.uk/-akea-power-of-destiny
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Akea-his-mothers-son-Elizabeth-Jade

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/AkeaWolfStories
http://www.elizabethjade.org
http://www.facebook.com/AkeaWolfStories
http://www.instagram.com/akeawolfstories.author
http://www.pinterest.com/AkeaWolfStories

Tags: Children’s books, middle grade, MG, nature stories, nature fiction, wolf fiction, animal fiction,

Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introductions

56 Comments

Elizabeth Jade link

3/22/2020 11:38:39 am

Thanks for your encouraging reviews of my books. As someone who struggles against autism, depression and anxiety, I'm always convinced I can't do anything right. A nice review motivates me to keep writing.

Mark

3/22/2020 02:25:55 pm

Certainly, Elizabeth. We all struggle against the inner liar, that voice that tells us we are nothing and our efforts are useless. We all fight against that inner critic. You are not alone.
First question.
Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

3/22/2020 07:48:55 pm

Well, I was homeschooled from the age of 7 because school was making me physically ill, and I was badly bullied. I've heard that girls with Aspergers are harder to spot and I think my teens in particular would have been smoother with an earlier diagnosis.

A really cool thing about me is that I can smell colours!

3/22/2020 08:21:56 pm

That was a rough start you endured as a child. Our son had serious allergies and had to be schooled at home because he was so allergic to the middle school. They sent a teacher to our house a couple times a week after her classes were done.
Smelling colors is interesting. That sounds like synethesia. A fascinating condition.
New questions.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer?
What kind of work do you do? Feel free to skip that question, if you would rather not answer.
Does your work, if any, have an influence on your writing?

3/23/2020 05:40:31 am

I liked home school. It started off quite structured and ended up more 'child led learning'. I enjoy researching things for my books now as well as anything else that takes my fancy. I've taken quite a shine to the speeches of Winston Churchill.

Anyway, full or part time writer?
I used to be such a full time writer that I couldn't stop to sleep and had to learn some techniques to switch my mind off with. It was a great form of escape from my growing mental health struggles.
These days, I'm more of a casual writer. I write when and if the mood takes me. Sometimes, reading through what I have so far can kick start my subconscious back into action. I really need to do that now as the ending for my 3rd book is long overdue.

Between my autism and mental health issues, I am unable to cope with working. With support, I have volunteered in various animal rescues, but my difficulties with people and the pressure of responsibility always gets the better if me in the end. At the moment, I volunteer occassionaly at our local Cats Protection and Rehoming Centre where they had nick-named me The Cat Whisperer, but only when a certain member of staff is in charge who can empathize with my anxiety difficulties.
To me, animals make far more sense than people. I understand how they feel and what they need on a subconscious level. I think my natural rapport with animals helps me to write from their perspective.

3/23/2020 10:09:32 am

There are many aspects of homeschooling that I like, but it's not for every child. Some do well and some don't.
Most authors have trouble connecting to their muse sometimes. This is the first time I have heard that an author couldn't get their muse to shut up. Good for you.
Volunteering is a good thing, as you know. I do volunteer work as well as most of my family, including two preteen granddaughters.
Cat whisperer, I like that. Cats seem to be so independent, sometimes they are a real joy, other times a real pain. Your rapport with animals does shine through in your books.
New questions.
What inspired you to write this book?
Why did you choose this genre, or do you feel the genre chose you?
Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.

Elizabeth Jade

3/23/2020 11:48:12 am

The inspiration for my first Akea story always amuses me. Like many with autism, too much information in a page can be overwhelming, so I prefer to have character profiles in picture form. This means I spend a lot of time roving the Internet, looking for an image that 'feels right' and work with that in front of me. I was searching for an image of a Dalmatian with a husky for a Dalmation story idea, but when I found the right picture, it felt like the husky was telling me her life story and I felt compelled to write it down. I hadn't planned to write for children, but that may be due to the fact I was only 14 when I wrote Akea - The Power of Destiny.

3/23/2020 11:50:45 am

I forgot the cover question... Lol!
The cover for The Power of Destiny was from a royalty free picture that I was using for the character reference for Akea. I sent this to my publisher to use. The image for Akea - His Mother's Son was produced by the publisher's cover artist.

3/23/2020 12:15:05 pm

That is interesting, the husky in the picture spoke to you; I love it. Inspiration can strike in unexpected ways at unexpected times. In one interview, the author told me she is visited by her muse almost every night at 2:30 AM. She learned a long time ago to keep a pad and pen beside her bed. Others have told me they get their best ideas while in the shower, I suggested a pad of waterproof paper and a Space pen, the pen can write underwater.
New questions.
Was it hard to come up with the title? What was the process?
Were the character names difficult to develop? How did you choose them?
Is this your newest book?
What other books and genres have you written?

3/23/2020 04:23:27 pm

I know many authors struggle with finding a title, but I knew I wanted to name the book after the main character. Originally, it was just Akea, but when I realised there would be a sequel, I came up with a subtitle to sum up the book - The Power of Destiny. The subtitle for the second book - His Mother's Son - was the rewrite of a phrase from a different story where the character was described as being 'His Father's Son', that is, just like his father.

Sometimes character names just come to me, like Akea, but most of the time they are a lot of fun and a lot of hard work at the same time. It's important to me that the names mean something about the personality or role of the character. So I will search google for sites that give husky puppy names and their meanings, names beginning with a specific letter or Russian names and meanings (The books are set in Siberia). Here are some examples...
The main wolf character in book 1 is Kazakh, whose name is Russian for Nomad. This was his life at the beginning of the story.
The main wolf character in book 2 needed to have a name starting with S that meant Savior because that was his role. Salvador means Savior in Spanish.

My newest book is Akea - His Mother's Son which was published last December. I'm three quarters of the way through the next story, and I've written parts of the four books to follow that. And I'm currently exploring other genres. I'm playing with a historical drama involving horses instead of people, and some sci-fi that involves people for a change.

3/23/2020 04:45:44 pm

I love how detailed you are with the names and titles. Titles are very important, it's the first or second thing a prospective buyer sees. The cover is very important also, I think you did well, the large picture of the dog or dogs carries well into a tiny picture.
Kazakh is a great name, I love the meaning of it.
I recently finished proofing a story about children lost in the Alaskan wilderness, the six-year-old girl is rescued and nurtured by a wolf. The other part of the story was not as happy, her older brother was captured, nursed back to health, then hunted and physically abused by a demented trapper.
Scifi is my personal favorite, historical fiction is quite fun also.
New question.
Have you entered any writing contests?

3/24/2020 07:12:55 am

I can't write to order. My stories come pre written in my head and come out when they please. I had a lot of help cutting a story down once, for enter a kids anthology competition. I got a certificate for being included in the anthology, but I don't remember anything else about it as it was so long ago. It's not an experience I'm likely to try again.

3/24/2020 11:17:15 am

I have heard many authors describe the feeling of needing to write a story as it was screaming and clawing to get out of them. I have never had that feeling. I think I could write a story, I just don't have the feeling that I must write a story.
New question.
I noticed that your books are in Kindle Unlimited. How is that working out for you?

3/24/2020 11:58:59 am

I know I've missed out on some sales funds through Kindle unlimited, but I've also done a giveaway and donated copies to libraries. So, sometimes it's not about the earnings, but the recommendations, reviews and visibility gained.

3/24/2020 12:54:14 pm

That is very true. A long term plan is required.
We are told that reviews are the lifeblood of sales for authors. It seems to be true to a certain extent.
When Amazon turned the publishing world upside down it was a double-edged sword. It allowed anyone to publish, the other side is that it allowed anyone to publish. A lot of books were published that were not ready, they were full of errors and indie publishing was scorned by many readers.
Independent publishing has come a long way, there are many wonderful books being published. Now we see a million books being published each year on Amazon, getting a book noticed takes a lot of effort. A lot of wonderful and well-written books are not getting the notice they deserve.
A lot of blogs have been written about getting readers and marketing. I have several guest blogs written about these issues on my website. I also have links to some excellent blogs on my Highly Regarded Blogs page.
New question.
Have you ever gone through the query process, seeking an agent or submitting directly to publishers or did you go straight to indie publishing or self-publishing, and why?

3/24/2020 01:30:50 pm

I actually had an agent when I was 14. He had just gone from working with an agency to working freelance. He loved my first Akea story as he could imagine it as a film, and although he already had a lot of work, he took me on anyway.

With so many kids books out there, it is hard to get a publisher interested, but we eventually had a really encouraging response from one. They said they had been enthralled by the story BUT had just published a dog story with another author and felt it would be unfair to publish another so soon.

After a few more months, my agent experienced a rather unfortunate run of events, including a burglary and a small fire. This led to him giving up on freelancing and I was back on my own. Our complicated family circumstances kind of took front place for a few years before we were able to look at finding a way to get Akea published.

We knew we wanted some of the work load and responsibility taken off our shoulders, and after a time spent querying, we found a small publisher who was willing to work at my pace as someone with autism.

3/24/2020 02:06:58 pm

LIfe has a way of throwing curve balls, no question. Our response makes the difference between success and failure. You have published three books, that is a good deal of success. Something you can be proud of.
It's too bad that publisher missed an opportunity.
New question.
Do you have a favorite book by another author or just favorite authors?

3/25/2020 07:54:21 am

I'm very fond of the Warrior Cats series by Erin Hunter and the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. I also love almost anything by Gene Roddenberry, and Roots by Alex Haley.

3/25/2020 10:02:05 am

Roots was an amazing book, it came out in 1976, the year I got married. I read it shortly thereafter and was very impressed. The TV series was pretty good also. That story was one of the few exceptions I made to my rule of sci-fi and fantasy only.
My bio-dad gave me Tolkien's LOTR series while I was in junior high school. I read it three times before I graduated from high school. JRRT is still one of my favorite authors.
New question.
Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?

3/25/2020 12:54:36 pm

If people wanted to read purely as an academic exercise, then they'd be reading textbooks and dictionaries or the basic books kids learn to read with. Readers need to connect with the characters, to feel for them through the challenges of the story, and to be relieved or happy for them when things turn out well.

When we truly connect with our characters, readers see through their eyes, feel through their souls, and struggle to put the book down.

3/25/2020 01:03:52 pm

Well said. At the root, story tellers write to give us hope and show how we are all connected to each other. It's one way for us to overcome fear of strangers, also. Inside, we are far more alike than we are different.
New question.
Are you an under-writer or an over-writer? When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

3/25/2020 08:44:02 pm

I think I've done both. I had a chapter running rather short in my first book, so I added an extra scene. And in my 2nd book, The first part of chapter one was all background information that I felt the reader would need to make sense of the book, but then I realized I could drip feed any important information into the first few chapters and cut the rest.

I wish now that my first book hand been longer, but you can't have everything,

3/25/2020 09:23:57 pm

You made the proper choice for that chapter chock full of background information, it's a trap a lot of authors fall into. After many hours of research, it's normal inclination to want to show all that was gleaned. That turns a lot of readers off. Some editors will toss that chapter out when they see it. You did exactly the right thing.
New question.
Which is more fun to write, the protagonist or the antagonist, and why?

3/26/2020 09:11:36 am

To be honest, I don't always know what I'm writing until I've finished and read it back. It's as if the story makes its way to the front of my subconscious and demands to dictate itself. When it comes to reading, I prefer antagonists. They are complex characters who must have an incredible backstory that has steered them to this point in their lives and I like to think about what that may be.

3/26/2020 09:54:33 am

That almost sounds like auto-dictation. You discover the story before everybody else. Just like every other author.
A lot of authors agree with you, the antagonist is more fun to write. Many actors would understand this point of view, they find that the villain's role is the juiciest to play.
A well-written antagonist is the hero in their own eyes, all of their actions are justified by the end they seek.
New question.
Do you write in a straight line or do you write whatever the muse provides for you at a given moment?

3/26/2020 03:57:03 pm

I'm definitely a muse follower. With my Akea series, I've written most of the 3rd book and bits of books 4, 5, 6 & 7 which I pick up and put down whenever the next bit comes to me. I've also written a snippet from a prequel and part of an adventure for one of the minor characters.
Oh, and I have boxes of part written stories, story ideas and even sketches of storylines.

3/26/2020 04:07:57 pm

I think that is a good idea, it helps to avoid the dreaded writer's block. One of my guest bloggers, Rick Hall, has written an interesting article on the same topic, Non-linear Writing. You might enjoy it. It doesn't sound like you will run out of story ideas for many years.
New question.
How do you think your book relates to the world we live in today?

3/26/2020 04:25:45 pm

I've been told that my personal journey is like the main character in Akea - The Power of Destiny.

Akea is born into a sled dog family, but doesn't feel she belongs there. Through the twists and turns of the story she finds her place in the world and ends up fitting in where she stands out the most - running the Wolfpack. I never felt I fitted in at school etc, but despite battling with autism, depression and anxiety, Ive found my place in the world as an author.

I've also been told that The Power of Destiny teaches the importance of loyalty, friendship and family, and that His Mother's Son teaches children about overcoming obstacles.

3/26/2020 04:41:37 pm

Very good. Many of us feel like we don't belong and we are not always sure how to find that place. You have done well.
Running the wolf pack was the last thing on Akea's mind when she ran away from the cabin and her family.
Family, friendship and loyalty are great lessons to learn young and use all of your life. Those are important bindings for nurturing loving relationships.
New question.
Why did you choose to focus on wolves and huskies as your main characters as opposed to any other animal?

3/27/2020 03:27:58 pm

My first thought in response to that question was 'I haven't a clue'. It's not something that I've done conciously. It may be because I started writing as a child and a lot of children's books involve animals. Or it may be because I have a natural rapport with animals, but struggle with people due to my Aspergers. I understand animals on an almost telepathic level. That's why Cats Protection charity nicknamed me The Cat Whisperer when I was volunteering there. I guess, I will never really know.

3/27/2020 03:50:25 pm

It was a natural development for you. That is very nice. Sometimes authors struggle with finding the right project to pursue or the angle to approach it from.
If you give a dozen writers the same prompt to write a story from, you will get at least a dozen stories. They will all be quite different.
There are only twelve to twenty story plots available to write about, depending on how you classify that sort of thing. But millions of people have written unique stories and millions more will write unique stories in the future. Every person brings a different take on something old.
New question.
What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?

3/27/2020 06:06:12 pm

I can't type very well, and certainly not fast enough to get my thoughts down and rearrange them. Up until very recently, all my writing was done using pencil and paper, and typed up my very able sidekick - my mum! Although I am now getting to grips with using an electronic device to type on, which is handy for spellings and things, when I go back to the Akea series, I have to return to pencil and paper for continuity of thought - I'm not sure how it works, but it does.

The stories are then typed up onto a Word program which has ProWriting Aid attached. This has been a really useful tool. It picks up on lots of little things and it's easy to use. Fortunately all the formatting etc is done by the publisher.

3/27/2020 06:19:14 pm

Me too. My typing is so poor. I make a lot of mistakes, but I manage to catch most of them before hitting the send button.
An electronic device has many useful features, including copy and paste. I use that a lot. I have all my questions for the interview in a Word document. I copy and paste them into the interview.
I have heard of other authors using ProWriting Aid. I have tested Grammarly and Ginger, both of them miss items that I catch. I have no doubt that my experience with ProWriting Aid would be similar. Because while I read and promote a book almost every week of the year, I find only one book a year that is free of spelling errors, on average.
MS Word is used by a lot of authors, it has a huge user base around the world.
New question.
How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?

3/27/2020 09:13:05 pm

To begin with, I was able to keep it all in my head. Plot wise, I still can. I know the main feature of all my books, even the one's I've barely started. It's the little things like character eye colour that I'm struggling to remember from one book to the next, so I have recently spent some time writing character profiles to help with that.

3/27/2020 09:25:36 pm

Many authors use character profiles, some look for photos on the internet that look like how the author pictures the characters in their mind, others draw pictures and add details such as clothing and accessories.
One of my guest bloggers, Rick Hall, has written a computer program that is designed to let authors develop a psychological profile using popular methods of their characters; including links to famous people and characters for clarity. It's pretty cool and it is free.
When you get into multi-generational stories, like you, a family tree might be helpful too. Avoiding family mix ups along the way.
New question.
Have you ever had the experience of the story swerving in a different direction than planned, as if a character was driving it?

3/28/2020 01:18:50 pm

Since I don't plan any of my stories, that's a tough one to answer. Usually, my subconscious dictates and I write it down. However, I do remember an occasion when I thought I knew which way a sub plot was going, and then the next thing I wrote about it surprised me by going off in a different direction. Although I should admit that the sub plot started in one book and veered off in the next.

3/28/2020 02:02:16 pm

Many authors report having that experience. It must be pretty common. Some authors are plotters. They have the story arc plotted out, character arcs also. Some even plot out each chapter and events in the chapter. There are many gradations between being a pantster, like you seem to be and a plotter.
New question.
Do you listen to music or have the TV on when writing, or do you need quiet?

3/28/2020 04:20:47 pm

I'm a compulsive multitasker. I often watch YouTube videos on the tv, research on my ipad and write in my notebook at the same time. I still need to be on my own though.

3/28/2020 04:51:25 pm

I have heard that some people on the spectrum need more input than others. I am not surprised. I know of a guy whose son watches three different TVs at the same time, each on a different channel; while he is building or coloring in a book. He usually has music playing also. He can describe each show in detail.
New question.
Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?

3/29/2020 03:30:27 pm

I don't think I find one of these any easier than the others. The hardest thing for me is being in the right mood to write. It used to be that I struggled to switch my mind off, but over the last 6 months or so, I've struggled to switch it on at all.

3/29/2020 03:36:29 pm

It sounds like you might be going through a writing slump, which can be similar to writer's block. A lot of blogs have been written about that, I have links to some on my Highly Regarded Blogs page. Use the search box if you don't want to do a lot of scrolling.
New question.
What kind of marketing are you doing or planning on doing for your books?

3/29/2020 04:45:05 pm

I can't get my head round marketing and I don't handle communication well, so I have a Personal Assistant - my mother. She organised bloggers to review my books, articles in local and county papers, and I've just had a 3 page article in the Writers and Readers Magazine. These are often based around my autism and mental health issues as a writer. She bills me as The Aspie Author. Somerset Life magazine are interested in running an article on me too.

She had arranged to run a book stall for me at a couple of shows and events this year, and I was to have a display at the library for Autism Awareness month in April, but these have all been postponed while everyone is #stayingathome.

3/29/2020 05:02:34 pm

Marketing is probably the hardest problem to solve for most writers. first because it means getting out, meeting people and selling your book. Writing the first draft is a most solitary endeavor, many writers are happy to be alone for extended periods of time. Second, marketing never ends, there is no finish unless you quit. There are so many different angles to marketing, so many different ways to get your book out there.
Your mom is doing a good job, pushing the Aspie Author idea. I like it. Tell her there are some great guest blogs on my website as well as articles about marketing on my Highly Regarded Blogs page.
A new question.
Speaking of marketing, why did you pick me to help promote your book?

3/29/2020 07:58:24 pm

I believe I came across you on Twitter, although I don't remember anymore than that. I had a look round your website, including book promotion, and I thought your package offered excellent value for money. And you were obviously popular as you couldn't fit me in for over 6 months.

I also liked reading about your deep interest in words and the unique idea of an interview in the comments box. I can't handle live interviews like on radio, and a long list of interview questions can be daunting to plod through, but this interview has given me the halfway point between the two. It's actually been a lot of fun, so thank you for fitting me into your busy schedule.

3/29/2020 08:10:56 pm

It's a pleasure to have you as a guest. Every interview is unique and I love that.
I can't do a video or skype-type of interview also, I have a speech stammer that makes it pretty hard to talk at times. If I have a script and run through it a few times, my performance is passable. If we go off script for long at all and it degrades quickly.
I am glad you have enjoyed the interview so far, that is one of my main goals.
It's a balancing act; if I wasn't almost constantly busy with proofreading, I would do more than one a week.
Let's get back to it.
New question.
How much time passed from when you got the idea to write your book; then actually starting to write the book?

3/30/2020 10:28:53 am

If I don't start writing when there's a story demanding to be written, it makes my head hurt. It's like having a blocked pipe - the pressure builds up behind it and causes problems. It doesn't matter if it's the middle of the night or just as dinner is ready - it just has to come out.

3/30/2020 11:09:59 am

It sounds like there is no lag from the time a story presents itself to when you start writing it down. That amazes me!
New question.
How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?

3/30/2020 12:53:10 pm

Let me see... I pass the handwritten manuscript to my PA who types it up and we do the first edits as its being typed. Then we run it through the editing software. Book 1 then went to my agent who just asked me to add a paragraph he felt was needed to better explain an injury. Book 2 went to an editor who marked the corrections the software had missed. After each of these, the manuscript was sent to my publisher.
Somehow, a few little bits still scraped through the editing net, but you spotted them and they are now fixed. Unfortunately, I met you after we had committed to the original agent/editor, but I know who I'm coming to next time...

3/30/2020 01:12:02 pm

You are very fortunate, many authors do at least six to eight drafts. Those that write large books, 120,000 words and up may do more than a dozen. As the number of characters, places and events grow so do the opportunities for errors to be missed.
I specialize in spelling errors, the misspelled, misused, missing and multiple words. Most spellcheckers don't catch them all. Between the many homophones and the typos that are correctly spelled words in the wrong context, it's no wonder that I find spelling errors in more than 95% of the books I read.
For context, I read and promote a book almost every week of the year, on average I find one book a year that doesn't have spelling errors. That means all the others do. This average has held for four years now.
Time to get off my soapbox and give you a new question.
What are three things, that you wish you knew before you wrote your first book?

3/30/2020 03:07:16 pm

For some reason, I had set myself a rule of so many pages of notebook per chapter. Maybe I didn't want them to be too long and put young readers off, I don't know. So, I wish I had known then not to limit myself.

I wish I had my website up and running before I published my first book, and I wish I had understood more about marketing. I'm not sure I know much about that now if I'm honest...

3/30/2020 04:12:31 pm

Short chapters are a good idea for young readers. Your instincts as a writer seem to be pretty good.
The website thing is something very common, among authors. When is the best time to start a website? A year ago. When is the next best time time to start a website? Today. That applies to many things.
Very few authors approach writing as a business, they are first and foremost creative people. A year is a good length of time to market and promote a book before it's published, having an established fan base is very important to a successful book launch.
Fortunately, so much has been written about this that now it's relatively easy to plan ahead and get things going well before the launch.
Having a mailing list of several thousand will also open more doors at publishing houses.
Research and planning is key.
New question.
Do you have anything you consider to be your writing lucky charm?

3/30/2020 04:33:25 pm

We struggle with marketing, partly due to a medically complicated householder. Time and energy is not often on our side.

I wouldn't say it's a lucky charm, but having my dog in fine fettle does lift my spirits and help me to write.

3/30/2020 04:47:28 pm

A fur baby can make a big difference in our outlook on life. I am not surprised you picked your dog.
Last question.
Do you think reading, watching movies or listening to music help you be a better writer?

3/30/2020 05:14:35 pm

I read a lot as a child which I think has been helpful. It certainly left me with a vivid imagination. I have to be selective about what I read now or it will affect my writing style. Watching movies, especially ones with good villains, allows me to see what makes them the way they are which is handy. Listening to music helps me to relax and allows the writing to flow. I've had a break from writing for a while, so maybe some nice relaxing music will coax me to pick up my pen and finish my next Akea adventure.

3/30/2020 05:31:16 pm

Reading has an impact on me also, I get very involved in the story. I have to choose wisely for my reading material also.
Your fans are hoping that you will write the next volume in the series. I am also.
Thank you Elizabeth for being such a great guest. I have really enjoyed the chat. I think you have a bright future as an author, many are going to enjoy your books for years to come.
I have another promotion to prepare for tomorrow. Until next time, I wish you the best.

3/30/2020 07:06:06 pm

Thanks Mark. It's been an interesting and enjoyable week. Thank you so much for fitting me in. 😃

Akea: His Mother’s Son Akea: The Power of Destiny By Elizabeth Jade

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