Etiquette for Contacting an Author

1. Do not email an author your critique of their work.

Authorship is a lonely road through a lot of self-doubt and gatekeepers. Authors need encouragement and support, not random critiques on an already published book (changes cannot be made at this point). Instead, post your reviews on retailers or Goodreads.

2. Do not ask an author for free books.

You wouldn't like it if someone asked you for free services. Don't do it to us. People have a sense that authors make a lot of money. "54% of “traditionally-published” authors (and nearly 80% of self-published authors) earn less than $1,000 a year." I do offer a couple free novellas for people to try. Having said that, 

3. Do not contact an author for technical assistance or to complain about the formatting of a book.

If there's a problem with your formatting, try updating your app or contact the retailer. I don't work for said retailers, so I don't know how their platforms work on their end. If there are any formatting problems, chances are it has to do with your reader or a faulty download. So don't email me in a huff.

4. Don't ask me to write your book.

Unless you want to pay me a lot of money.

5. Do email us positive reviews and heart emojis. Even if we don't have time to respond, we do see them, and they do make our days. 

6. Do send invitations for events in which you pay the author to come. Or, if it's an online bookclub, ask that all the members buy a copy of the book to compensate the author. 

That's it! Anyone think of any other legit/welcome reasons to email an author? 

{Appearances} LTUE Classes + Signing

I'm excited to be teaching at LTUE in Provo, Utah Feb. 16th through the 18th, 2017. My schedule is as follows: 

Thur 4:00 PM Teaching a class on "Working with an Illustrator/Designer"

Friday  6-8 pm Book Signing 
Sat 9:00 AM Moderator for "Writing Part-time vs. Full-time"
Sat 3:00 PM Plot Panelist for "The Beginning, Murky Middle, and End"

For more information, visit LTUE's website. 

{Author Appearance & Signing} Boise Bookfest

I'll be at the Boise Bookfest Saturday, Oct 15th from 10-5. I'm teaching a class on how to craft a blockbuster novel from 11:45-12:30. There is also an early bird signing from 11:30 to 1 with a more open one from 1-4:30. I will have books for sale and though I have to teach twice in the middle of it, I'll try to be there as much as I can (I will also have an assistant present to sell signed copies of my books). http://www.boisebookfest.com/program/

I've been waiting 15 years for this . . .

A chance to buy a FANCY dress. I haven't since my wedding 13.5 years ago. So when I heard I was a finalist for a Whitney Award, I didn't really care about the award--cause the prize is the pretty dress. You know what I'm sayin'?

*please read the rest of this post with a "valley girl" intonation.*

So I called my best girl friends (Thanks Katie and Laura!). And we went shopping. And the people in the stores where all like, "Why are these 30ish women shopping for "prom dresses"? And we were like, "Shut up, hookers! We shoppin' for award dresses!"

Let me know which is your favorite!

*note* I'll post the winning dress when the pics from the gala go up!

I thought I would hate this dress. I sort of loved it. 

I didn't feel pretty in this dress.
And I wasn't a fan of the color. 

Meh. It's okay. 

I liked this one.
The boning had pushed through the fabric
and was stabbing my ribs. 

I really liked this one. Unfortunately, my hands at the back were
the only thing keeping it closed (it didn't fit). 

I really liked this one. Top 3ish. 

Everyone loved this one! Everyone except me!

2012 LTUE Appearance and Signing

I'll be at the 2012 Life the Universe and Everything at UVU in Orem, Utah this Friday and Saturday.

• Friday, Feb. 10th I'm signing from 8:30 to 10 pm.
• Saturday, Feb. 11th, I'll be on the First Novelists' Panel with Bethany Wiggins, Heather Frost, Brodi Ashton, and Angela Corbett.

I'm also making a stop at the mall, because Cache Valley just doesn't have much of a mall. Especially since my birthday is on Thursday, so I have birthday money to spend! Must stop at Tai Pan Trading-I saw the cutest bookends there when I went a few weeks ago. What are the chances they're still there? Also heading to Urban Wear. Seriously, you could pick anything off the rack in that store and I'd love it.

If you'd like to join me on my mall hunt, email me at amberargyle at yahoo dot com and we'll get together!

So, you wanna be an author?

I've had a lot of emails lately from people who want to be authors (also from attendees at the writer's conference I attended this weekend, see below for pics). Here's my advice:

1. Write three manuscripts--if this sounds daunting, it is. But only at the begining. You'll learn so much from those three manuscripts. Plus, now you have three manuscripts to query, and when one of them is accepted, you have two more sitting in the drawer, ready to go. You'll be far enough ahead that you can concentrate on marketing and there won't be so much pressure sitting on your shoulders. Plus, you'll know if this is really something you want to do.
2. While your writing your manuscripts, learn from professionals: follow at least 1 agent's blog. I recommend Rachelle Gardner. One blog on the business of writing. I recommend Katherine Rusch. Sign up for David Farland's daily kick in the pants to learn about the craft of writing.
3. Join a critique group.
4. Read at least 5 books on the art of writing. I'll recommend three: The Elements of Style by Strunk and White, How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card, On Writing by Steven King (skip the first part by of both Card and King's books).
5. Attend a writer's convention or writer's workshop to learn about the craft.
6. Develop a group of trusted alpha and beta readers.
7. After all of this work, start querying.

This will probably take you a few years. Getting your work to a point where it's publishable is equivalent to a master's degree. Unless you're a genius. It took me four manuscripts and five years of hard work to get published, and that's a pretty normal situation.

I don't mean this to be discouraging. Being published is totally doable if you're willing to put in the work and you have a little natural talent for it.

Q4U: For those of you who have been at this a while, what's your advice for beginning writers?

*I'll be signing this Saturday the 24th at the Layton Utah Barnes and Noble from 3-5 (thanks to Carrie for setting it up!). Address: Layton Market Center, 1780 North Woodland Park Drive, Layton, UT 84041, 801-773-9973

I hope to see you there!

 Amber and David King

Amber and Lisa Mangum

Events, Winner, and Contest!

Last weeks winner of Witch Song: Christina
 
Thank you all for participating!
 
On to the next giveaway of Witch Song *contest closed*:

• Everywhere you post a review for Witch Song, you get 1 pt. Haven't had a chance to read it yet? It's available EARLY on Kindle for 3.99 Nook for 3.99 
• Example: post a review on Amazon (1 pt), Barnes and Noble (1pt), your blog (1 pt), and Goodreads (1 pt) = 5 pts (older reviews totally count).
• Helpful Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository, Goodreads, Shelfari.
• And if you really can't afford the 3.99, I'll let you have a 1 pt for every time you spread the contest through twitter, facebook, and blogs.
• Leave your links and tally up your points.

 
Why are reviews important? For each review posted on Amazon, 10 of the reviewed books are sold.

Also, check out all the events I have going on through Sept:
*I am open to doing signings within two hours drive of Logan, Utah. You will have to organize it (I can go further if the event is large enough).*

My first signing is Saturday, Sept 10th at The Book Table (29 S. Main) in Logan Utah from 3-5.

The Launch Party is Monday, Sept 12th from 7-9 at the Hyrum City Library (50 W. Main). I will give a presentation on the making of Witch Song, a reading, and a viewing of the trailer from 7-7:30. After that, I'll walk around chatting and signing your books. There will be some simple treats. You will need to purchased a copy of Witch Song before, as I will only have a limited number for sale.

My next signing is at the League of Utah Writer Roundup at the Marriott from 5:00 to 6:30 on Sat Sept 17th (you don't have to attend the conference to go to the signing). I will also be teaching a class "Negotiating Contracts." Time TBA
*note date change* Layton Barnes and Noble Saturday Sept 24th from 3-5 (thanks to Carrie for setting it up!). Address: Layton Market Center, 1780 North Woodland Park Drive, Layton, UT 84041, 801-773-9973

Author chat September 19th at http://www.librarything.co​m/groups/authorchat.

If you'd like to help with the organization or marketing of an event (by making and putting up fliers/handouts; posting events on your blog, facebook, or twitter accounts; taking pictures; bringing treats, etc; I'd really appreciate it).

CONduit 21

I'll be appearing at the Radisson Downtown Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah to present at CONduit 21 writer's conference May 27-29, 2011. I've been asked to participate in four panels on the following topics:

1. What are the new monsters today?

• We have Hellboy and a few others, but more and more, writers are going back to the old standbys. Where are the "new" monsters today? Amber Argyle, Larry Correia, Paul Genesse, Dan Wells, Roger White

   2.  Women in Fantasy

• L. E. Modesitt, Jr., Amber Argyle, Dene Low (M), Elisabeth Waters, Carole Nelson Douglas

   3.  How to Write Great Villains

• Clint Johnson, Amber Argyle, Roger White, Howard Tayler, Dan Wells

   4.  High Fantasy: it's more than just elves and unicorns

• Amber Argyle, Ami Chopine, Chris Weston, Peter Orullian, Stephen Gashler

I'll also be doing a reading of Witch Song on Friday from 4:00- 4:25 (Should I admit that I'm panicked no one will come? Cause I am. So if you're going to CONduit, you HAVE to come to my reading. There will be signed bookmarks for those that do (no, I'm not above bribery)).

Also, stop by and say hi. If you'd like to do lunch or dinner, email me at amberargyle at yahoo dot com and we'll work something out. :)