The Writing Life in Quarantine

It's become our reality. This odd, ever-changing and isolated existence in which we are limited in how and what we do. In my household, school was temporarily on hiatus while waiting out the COVID-19 outbreak. Unfortunately, that also meant my daughter's international trip with orchestra was also in question, and since then, the decision was made to cancel it completely. The trip was supposed to have been last week. The nine months spent preparing for her adventure has made it painful for us to mention it, as we have no idea if it will even be rescheduled for a later time and if when it does, if it would be before she finishes her senior year, which - gulp - is a year and a half away already! We shall be empty-nesters in the blink of an eye.

So what have I been doing during this quarantine? You'd think that for all the time I now have on my hands that I'd be writing book galore, and as much as I wanted to do that, I've faced all kinds of ill-timed issues. One being that my mind won't always cooperate with or without my family around. Then there are some aches and pains that seem to point to arthritis. And the biggest hurdle that frustrates me to no end is the irony of so many more people working from home has often jammed the server for Microsoft 365 so that I can't always save what I'm trying to type. To combat this, I've had to either wait it out or save to a new version and go back to the old at a later time. Not exactly convenient, and many a time my inspiration has waned as a result. As much as technology has made it easier to do a lot more from home and be in touch with others, it certainly has its draw-backs!

What I have been doing is...lots of coloring by number on my iPad. It calms my mind and reminds me of the many happy times I spent doing oil paintings by number as a kid. I loved those things! Surprisingly, I've not read all that much, although I get in jags and sometimes can't get enough of books, and at other times I switch to watching movies or shows or YouTube videos. This week has just been for coloring, some gaming, and household chores (as my energy permits). I also used my new Cedar-O mop on the kitchen floor with rave results, and between actually mopping and shooing the cat away from the floor and the bucket, it was quite the workout! I've had some really great conversations with family and friends, and went outside a bit to enjoy the sunshine.

Looking ahead is something I've thought less and less about doing these days. I'm living in the moments in front of me, and the Bible's wisdom on just that very thing has always been out of my realm of ability to do until now. Today has enough trouble of its own, I need to focus on what I can do now and not later. I appreciate that more than ever, especially when I start to feel blue. Oh, and there's coffee. Tea, also. Some days both, and lots of food I've felt in the mood for. Memes that keep cropping up are funny and relatable - and on the same token, brutally painful acknowledgements of all the habits that make us tick!

Here's wish a good and healthy day to all - and we be shaped into better versions of ourselves as the rest of this year unfolds.

Peace and love,

Natasha

What's with The Barbie Girls Project?

If you've been following me on social media (outside of this blog), you may already be familiar with one of my hobbies - The Barbie Girls Project.  It's something I mention in my bio, and I regularly post content on my Facebook page.  Or, you may have seen pictures and videos on Instagram and had no idea what was going on.

Barbies Have Always Meant Something to Me

For as long as I can remember, Barbie dolls have always been a part of my life in some way.  My very first Barbie was given to me when I was just six years old, and for the longest time, I had only a handful of dolls.  There was something about their unique sense of style, accessories, and overall appeal that endeared me to them, despite the fact that they looked nothing like me!  Maybe that's why I took to them as I did?  Whatever it was, I eventually had a pretty big collection by the time I was eight years old, when I was visiting India for the first time to meet my extended family.  Back then, Barbie was just arriving in the country that same year, so no one had ever seen the doll before, and I can't tell you how many men, women, and children found the doll interesting.  I've mentioned it in more detail in Rebranded by Faith and also in my article Giving Wisely: Helping the Underprivileged, One Child at a Time.  And, when the opportunity arose, I gave away two dolls to two friends I'd made.  Their reactions changed my life.  It wasn't until I became a mom that I found a way to recreate that experience with my daughter.

Donations Received

Over the years, I'd estimate we've collected and donated close to 500 dolls - all to needy girls in our local area.  The thing is, now more than ever, I'm committed to donating Barbies, because I continually see how many little girls still find joy in playing with Barbie dolls.  Moreover, adults are just as eager about this because they usually contact me, desperate to regift their dolls long left boxed up like a scene right out of the Toy Story movie franchise.  In this month alone, I've heard from folks at least once a week, all asking me questions about what to do with their dolls, and if I can do something with them, or give them suggestions.

For a little show-and-tell, here's a highlight video:

So the next time you see any mention of Barbie dolls, now you'll know!  And if ever you'd like to help the cause or spread the word, feel free to drop us a line.  Many thanks to everyone who help continue making this possible!

Branded by Faith Book Trailer

Click Here to Watch Rebranded by Faith Book Trailer

Book Release: Rebranded by Faith

Click to preview http://a.co/dTNcMbF

This isn’t a happy or sad book. It’s not for everybody. It’s a mini biopic non-fiction journey of my faith, of battling all kinds of demons. Read it if you are a Christian seeking meaning. Read it if you want to understand my craziness. But most of all, read it if you crave lasting peace from Jesus and want to return or improve your life with Him. 

Peace and Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

My Year in Review

A Detour from the To-Do List

This has been a trying year, to say the least. If you're wondering what happened to my blogs or books, I had to put my projects on hold while we dealt with a few family crises that eventually balanced out to manageable levels. My schedule was not the only one derailed, however. Even the next few blog interviews I had planned out hit a wall when a mutual contact of ours unexpectedly passed away, and my other interviewee had caregiver responsibilities as well as a mountain of tasks pertaining to her small business. But that's ok because even all the set-backs have led to more content to incorporate into my writing.

Back to the Basics

This entire year in particular has also made me most nostalgic, bringing out all kinds of good (and bad) memories that needed some TLC. It has been unpleasant at times, making it difficult to function, let alone be creative. But no opportunity has been wasted, and for that I'm truly grateful, since there are only a handful of weeks left until the new decade begins!

One huge lesson I learned about all we endured was to have a healthy way to process my emotions without getting cluttered by too many obligations. When I have too much to do, I can barely muster up enough energy to do everything, and I can so easily end up doing nothing at all. It's forced me to pay attention to how I feel so I know when to back off and focus on fewer things with greater intensity. It's not easy to do because of the extent of my responsibilities as a wife, mom, and daughter, but it's essential to keep at for as long as I'm healthy enough.

My 52 weeks list of goals I usually set has always been successful in helping me manage overall priorities, but this year it was very challenging to find the motivation to do them. Recently, when I took a look at what I wrote for the year, I can see why the list made me feel more stuck: it wasn't simple enough! I had some lofty goals (as per usual, because I do like challenges) but not enough of every day, accomplishable things that held some sort of means to an end. Usually, I had a theme for the year, but this year was all out of whack. So this week, I did something I hadn't done before, I started redefining my goals. Maybe it's silly because there aren't that many weeks left to accomplish them, but I'm doing it anyway to see how much I do with the time I have remaining. It's more about short-term intentionality that leads to longer-lasting results. And who knows, maybe it will also help me keep going so I can finally finish my next two books!!!!

Emotions Have Their Place

Having emotional support is vital to body functions, and I often let my mental health slide due to a whole host of situations I can't necessarily control. I'm not ashamed to say that this year has brought me to my knees in prayer in new ways, making counseling sessions a must. Some people may be skeptical about talking to a therapist, but not me. I love my family and friends dearly, but sometimes they are not who I need to talk to in expressing how I feel. There is something so freeing in having an impartial third-party to talk to, who, in hearing me out, ends up validating what and why I'm feeling what I'm feeling, and who can offer useful steps to take so my emotions don't control me. Not that I can't talk to the Lord, because I do that too, but having a human connection ties it all together and encourages me to walk through the trials in faith. Emotions are important indicators of sometimes deeper issues that need addressing. As certain truths unfold, it's a renewal process, over and over. As I clear my mind, I can look forward to what is in front of me, not off to the side or several paces ahead. And it feels great! Here's hoping that I can finish these first 19 years of the 21st century without any regrets!

Promoting Books with Amazon's KDP Select

Do Amazon Promotions work?

Last month, I ran an Amazon Promotion with KDP Select to see if it would boost book sales and expand my audience.  If you are wondering if it is worth your time and effort, read on!

KDP Select Overview

By enrolling in KDP Select, Amazon is given exclusive digital rights for the sale and distribution of one or more of your books for Kindle Unlimited (KU) and Kindle Owners' Lending Library (KOLL) readers for a 90-day period.  As such, your work has the potential to be seen and bought by millions of readers worldwide.  What's more is, for every time pages are read for the first time, you can also earn a share of KDP Select Global Fund royalty payments.

To promote your book(s) to the Kindle store, you can either run a Free Book Promotion or a Kindle Countdown.  With a Free Book Promotion, each selected book is free for a limited time.  If you so desire, your promotion can run for 5 consecutive days, or on specific dates of your choosing.  With a Kindle Countdown, each select book is discounted for a limited time.  Both end after a 90-day period, and you have the option to re-enroll at its conclusion.  While I won't bore you with more of the particulars on the program, feel free to read Amazon's KDP Select.

Why I Did it

I never expected to be an independently published (indie) author.  Throughout my teenage years, when I'd first written the basis of what became my debut novel The Ellises Series #1 A Place to Call Home, I envisioned having an agent/publicist, and having my work picked up by a publishing house so that I would be featured in bookstores everywhere.  I may have been a tad overly ambitious, but at the same time, there were a lot of years where I saw so many authors gain notable mention and publicity because of their work, and so I fully expected that once I was published, it would all click into place.  Moreover, in print magazines, newspapers, and journals were all still the only way people had at their disposal during this time, because the internet wasn't even a thing.  And even when it was, not everyone had it in their homes (because smart phones didn't exist quite yet, either).  Scary times!  But that's all to say that my rationale was based off of what people did then, and so by the time I first saw my name in print for magazine and journal articles, and was also able to publish online articles, I began to see how much easier it was to "become a writer/author."  I didn't realize that it would also make it harder to market myself!

At the same time technology finally caught up, businesses started seeing the value of having websites for customers to find them more easily, so I enrolled in a certification program akin to an associate's degree in journalism to officially call myself a freelance writer.  It was where I learned to fine-tune the skills I'd started using, and how to approach potential publishers of all types.  After that, I enrolled in another certification program akin to an associate's degree in desktop publishing and design, which enabled me to know how to market myself visually, both in print and online.  Because of both certifications, I spent many years writing ghost blogs and articles, designing invitations and flyers, and typing resumes and letters as paying side-gigs, all while working a full-time office job in customer service.

What I knew then and now is that people are everything.  That's why I enjoy customer service - because helping others matters to me.  But what I found in the traditional publishing world is that there is a huge disconnect between how that works to bring people together with what they want (to read).  I've mentioned it before, but my novel was first published with a local, boutique press.  Advertising was minimal, but I naively assumed they had the tools to take me where I wanted to go.  Sadly, in under a year after the book released, my publisher made the decision to shut down because of the ease of self-publishing through Amazon affecting her bottom-line.  My options were to look for an even bigger publisher, or try Amazon for myself.  Right away, I saw Amazon as a double-edged sword in terms of helping and hurting traditional publishing houses, but it resonated with me in terms of wanting to get my novel back out there in print, and go forward with more of them, without having to soliciting manuscripts to publishers in hopes of getting a book deal in a few years.  I didn't have that kind of time to waste, not when I had a fan-base I wanted to maintain.

That was two years ago, and it's been a constant learning curve to keep up with how I'm supposed to "do things right" as an indie-author.  It's still a work in progress.  I participate in author groups, read all the blogs I could, and scour whatever free and low-cost resources are out there (mainly because of having a zero budget, but also because I have a penchant for good deals and am known for my frugality).  I've learned that to be successful, authors must achieve maximum exposure, while providing lasting value.  How that value is expressed is by how attainable and affordable my work is, as well as what others have to say about it (i.e., reviews).  So when I saw that Amazon KDP Select was FREE, I had to try it, just once, to see if it would be the marketing tool I had been waiting for.

Before and After Data Results

Prior to the start of my promotion, the Kindle version ranked (from Amazon's Kindle store):

• 788,816 in Top Paid Kindles
• 2,347 in Historical Christian Romance Fiction
• 4,840 in Historical Christian Romance
• 6,465 in US Historical Fiction

Compare that with the Paperback, which ranked (from Amazon.com):

• 2,660,671 in Top 100 Books
• 28,942 in Christian Romance
• 29,877 in New Adult and College Romance

Keep in mind, all advertising I'd done prior to this was word of mouth on social media, with an occasional boost from free advertisers on social media sites and email lists.  Additionally, I had 5 Amazon reviews, and 3 ratings on the book site Good Reads.

Promotion days were strategically set for 5 day in May: the 5th, the 11th-12th, the 27th, and the 29th., and I advertised with the sites Awesomegang, eBookasaurus, It's Write Now, Indie Book of the Day, eBookLister, Five Star Reads, and Frugal-Freebies, as well as some Facebook groups (see here for a list of ideas on social media promotions and hashtags to use).  I also Googled the book a few times, and saw a few other random sites that also listed the promotion without my having to - bonus advertising!!!

While not ALL of the sites I submitted to listed me consistently (some only let me choose one date per 30-90 days at a time, versus needing continuous dates, or just one date at a time) I immediately gained mention on It's Write Now and saw the most activity on May 5th's promotion, which carried over into May 6th, generally between 9 a.m. EST and midnight, with some but not all of those sales from KU readers.  

Best Rankings on May 5th for Kindle included:

• 89 in Top Free Kindles
• 2 in Christian Historical Romance
• 2 in US Historical Fiction
• 8 in Religious Romance

And while the paperback was NOT in any way free throughout my promotion days, I thought I would keep tabs on how it did, too.  Surprisingly, removing the Kindle version from all digital platforms except Amazon actually hurt the paperback's rankings:

• 3,414,225 in Top 100
• 33,031 in Christian Romance
• 33,327 in New Adult and College Romance

Kindle sales were amazing!  1,109 free on that first day, with 5 more that carried over to the next day, as well as 3 paid sales and 68 pages were read.

Best Rankings on May 11th-12th for Kindle included:

• 724 in Top Free
• 3 in US Historical Fiction
• 4 in Historical Christian Romance Fiction
• 22 in Religious Romance

Sales started as early as 6 a.m. EST, with 97 sold on the 11th, 96 sold on the 12th, and 2 that carried over to the next day, as well as 2 paid on the 18th, 1 on the 20th, 1 paperback on the 21st, and 1 paid on the 22nd and 26th each.  Pages read during this time varied, but started out at 180 pages on the 11th, to 331 on the 12th, 138 on the 13th, and then I also received two book inquiries on the 20th.

For the rest of the dates, sales dropped off considerably.  On the 27th, I only sold 43 free, with 1 carrying over to the 28th.  14 sold on the 29th, with 2 carrying over to the 30th.  

As of today, June 7th (which happens to be my mom's birthday!!! 🎂 🍰 🎉 🎁 ), I now have 9 Amazon reviews and 11 ratings on Good Reads, a few more followers and likes on social media platforms, and my rankings for Kindle are:

• 125,103 in Paid Kindles
• 933 in Historical Christian Romance
• 1,776 in US Historical Fiction
• 580 in Historical Christian Romance

Compare that with the Paperback:

• 1,746,082 in Top 100 Books
• 25,767 in New Adult & College Romance
• 23,621 in Christian Romance

As you can see, both sets of stats are greatly improved in the span of just one month!  It's also important to note, that I'm still in KDP Select the remainder of the 90 day period, so future rankings may dwindle once I'm no longer in it - who knows!  That's not to say I've not ever sold Kindle or Paperback copies of the book before, because I have and continue to see sales roll in for both ever since its release.

3 Things to Change for Future Promotions

Overall, I have been pretty pleased with how things turned out, but these are the things I would do differently:

1. Mention promotion days on social media ahead of time using hashtags and visual advertising posts a month in advance where applicable (with this round, I had a couple weeks lead time before starting the first promotion day).  On the day of, I would vary advertising posts so that there are different ones used, and not the same one over and over to bore people to death.  I created a total of 4 which I will definitely eventually re-use at a later time.  Also, some groups and sites I post to will only let me submit on the day(s) of the promotion, so even more advance planning will be necessary to ensure I don't forget to do them when I need to!
2. Offer promotional days consecutively or in intervals that coincide best with listing policies by advertising sites used.  This was my biggest downfall, especially when I wanted to be listed again on It's Write Now but couldn't because of it being too soon to be re-listed.
3. Enroll in KDP Select more than once.  I do plan to go back to having my other digital platform versions reinstated after KDP Select terms have ended, so I may have to check my rankings then and see what happens.  I will keep you posted!

Talking Books with Award-Winning Author Melody Carlson

This month I got to chat with another one of my favorite authors, Melody Carlson.  She's a woman who wears many hats, so I was honored that she agreed to be interviewed!  As a recipient of the RT Career Achievement Award, she has authored countless best-sellers, including Christmas by the Sea, Harbor Secrets, The Mulligan Sisters, Under the Summer Sky, Against the Tide, Diary of a Teenage Girl...and much more.

N: You are a busy lady!  Not only did you recently release Courting Mr. Emerson (which was refreshingly funny!!!) and Riptide Rumors, but you've also got your latest Christmas novel coming out this fall - Christmas in Winter Hill.  I'm looking forward to reading it!  What do you hope people remember about the book (CIWH)?

MC: I guess I am still pretty busy (I even have some releases that didn’t make your list!) but, believe it or not, I’ve slowed down a bit in the past several years.  Our world is in such need of (God's) grace these days, and so I try to inject some into each book and hope it will stay with the reader even after they end the story.  My hope for Christmas in Winter Hill is that readers will be uplifted and encouraged - ready to take on the holiday season.  Because Christmastime, while delightful for some, can be difficult for others.  Sometimes a good story can help.

N: Tell us about any literary pilgrimages you've gone on?

MC: I’ve done numerous ‘research trips’ over the years. From following part of the Oregon Trail to Martha’s Vineyard . . . not to mention touring Europe or living in a third world country. All these diverse places have found themselves in one or more of my novels. Writing really is a good excuse to travel.

N: Does writing energize or exhaust you?

MC: Mostly it energizes me, but sometimes—like if I’m crunching a deadline—I might feel a bit exhausted afterward. But it’s a good sort of exhaustion, like a sigh of relief.

N: How do you select the names for your characters?

MC: After writing around 200 novels for women and teens, finding character names can be a challenge - and I'm afraid I've used some more than once.  But I try to think of a name that somehow suits the character - although that can be pretty subjective.  Sometimes I'll use a placeholder name while I'm writing in the hopes that the perfect name will present itself before I'm done.

N: If you had to pick a super power, what would be yours?

MC: I like the idea of weightlessness, so either flying or being able to swim underwater without resurfacing sounds like fun.

N: Do you read your book reviews?  How do you deal with good or bad ones?

MC: I read book reviews from sources like PW (Publishers Weekly) or USAToday (forwarded to me by a publicist) but I barely read reader reviews from online bookstores like Amazon or B&N, etc...Because even if almost all are good, it's the one harshly worded negative review that will stick with me for days.  So, I just tend to avoid them altogether.

N: What's your favorite line from any movie?

MC: That's a hard question because I love so many old movies, but I know I've used Scarlet O'Hara's line from Gone with the Wind a lot.  "I'll think about that tomorrow."  It comes in handy sometimes.  "After all, tomorrow is another day."

N: Are there any surprises you learned along the way in your career?

MC: There have been a lot of surprises - from publishing so many books (which still staggers me) to getting some pretty cool awards.  I guess I'm surprised that I'm still writing - and enjoying it!

N: What are you creature comforts?

MC: I like my creature comforts.  I like being surrounded by beauty - not extravagant beauty - like simple beauty like you find in nature.  Right now, I enjoy sitting in a comfy chair on my patio, near the fish pond, surrounded by flower pots, tinkling wind-chimes, and hummingbirds.

N: Do you believe in love at first sight?

MC: I do believe in love at first sight.  But I also know it's easy to be tricked by infatuation.  But I think some people experience something magical or chemical or spiritual at first meeting - and they just know.  That's how it was for my husband and me.  Although he seemed to get it first.

N: Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction?

MC: I remember a time, as a young Christian eons ago, that I thought fiction was sort of frivolous.  Then I read a really good novel that made me see people and situations differently - and it was like the light-bulb went on.  I realized that story was a fantastic tool for teaching about life.  After all, Jesus taught through story...we call them parables.

N: What life experience has tested your faith the most?

MC: Raising my sons has been my biggest test.  Their lives have not been easy - not on them nor their parents.  Again and again...I have to give it to God and to trust Him for the final outcome.

N: How many pets do you have?

MC: Right now, I have one dog, a twelve-year-old yellow Labrador retriever named Audrey.  She always comes to work with me (in my studio) and she's a sweetheart.  And, oh yeah, I have a bunch of pond fish that are like pets too.

N: What period of life do you most enjoy writing about (childhood, young adult, adult, middle age)?

MC: I actually like writing for all ages.  It depends on what I'm working on.  My Courting Mr. Emerson characters were older than usual, but I also am doing a tween series and absolutely loving those quirky young girls.

N: Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

MC: I feel like there are almost always 'secrets' in my books.  Sometimes I don't even realize it myself until I'm done.  That's just one more thing that keeps writing fun for me.

N: List 5 adjectives to describe yourself.

MC: Creative, diligent, hopeful, loyal, sensitive.

N: Fill in the blank.  Someday I want to...

MC: Someday I want to get into our motor-home and travel across the country, making stops at libraries, bookstores, schools, and national parks.

N: Tea or coffee?

MC: Coffee mostly.  But I like tea too.

N: What's your motto in life?

MC: I'm not sure I have a 'motto,' but I'd like to it be: 

I love God with all I've got and I love others with equal enthusiasm.

For more information about Melody Carlson, visit:

http://www.melodycarlson.com