Do You Know Any Teen Writers?

Writers Jill Williamson, who has many published and forthcoming YA novels has joined author Stephanie Morrill to publish a book for teens on getting published. Teens can also hang out at the Go Teen Writers website to discuss writing, find out about writing opportunities, and learn from published authors.

Here's the blurb for Go Teen Writers:

Whether you’re just starting to write your first story or you’ve finished and are wondering how to edit, this book will help you learn how to perfect your craft and get your project ready for publication. Click to learn more.

Includes tips for:

-Getting published, finding the right agent, book surgery, thicker plots, deeper characters, richer settings, weaving in theme, dealing with people who don’t get your writing
Find this book at your local bookstore, or…
On ebook at: Amazon.com • BarnesandNoble.com • Kobo

If you know a teen writer, this makes a great gift. But you don't have to be a teen to appreciate the book. Even adult writers (including published authors) can learn from the many tips Jill and Stephanie have put together. It's not a refresher on the basics, but instead it gives many great hints on how to improve saggy middles, how to brainstorm plot ideas, and how to deal with people who don't understand your desire to write.

Marketing with Influencers

So many writers dream of getting published, but then once they do, they hard work begins -- marketing their book. I watch in awe as some of my published friends come up with great ideas to get their books into the hands of the public and spread the word. One of my friends who's a whiz at marketing is Jill Williamson. She has a new book coming out in September from Marcher Lord Press.

Jill has awesome book trailers (see one below) and a large cadre of influencers. What are influencers? They're people who agree to spread the word about your book in exchange for a free copy.

One of the best ways to start a buzz for your soon-to-be-published book is to get people talking about it--on Amazon, Goodreads, and social media. That's what influencers can do for you. Influencers are bloggers and people connected to the writing community --and even more importantly, they're connected to the reading community. Look for librarians, teachers, or special interest groups that love what you write about. Then contact them to see what they can do spread the word about you're upcoming book.

Can you guess I'm one of Jill's influencers? I love talking about her books and can't wait to read this one. As a YA editor and reader (yeah, I never grew up!), I always enjoy thrillers with strong leads and lots of conflict, and this certainly sounds as if it will have both.

Here's the blurb:

The New Recruit is a young adult supernatural/suspense novel about a guy who gets recruited into a spy organization that fights the supernatural. It’s book one in the four-book Mission League series.

Here is a little info about the story:

Forced to choose between military school and a Christian spy organization, skeptic Spencer Garmond signs on with the Bible geeks. But before he even boards the plane for Moscow, Spencer realizes this is no Bible club.

These guys mean business.

Stumbling onto a case involving a gang of homeless boys, a chilling tattoo, and the always beautiful Anya Vseveloda, Spencer struggles to find the faith needed to save the Mission League from enemy infiltration.




If it looks like something that would interest your teens (or you), here's a link to learn more about Jill and her books.And be sure to check out Jill's resources for writers, particularly if you're a teen looking to publish your work.