Southern Writers THE
www.southernwritersmagazine.com
AUTHOR’S
MAGAZINE
$12.99 January/February 2013
The mance Ro
e u s s I
JOSHILYN JACKSON Fearless Femmes
Working with an Editor Turn your book into an
AUDIOBOOK
COLLEEN COBLE
Romancing the Story
ROBIN PERINI Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me
This could take forever.
Trying to assemble the pieces of your promotional platform without really knowing how it all fits together is a sure way to waste time...time you could be spending writing. Steel Winds will work with you to develop a publicity platform that capitalizes on your unique strengths and goals. Tell us where you want to go and let the power of Steel Winds propel you there. We’ll help you see the big picture.
AUTHOR PROMOTION SERVICES www.BlowSteelWinds.com
Southern Writers radio SHOW
Now hear this ... the author’s magazine is on the air! Southern Writers Radio Show features engaging conversations about the writing craft with leading authors, along with informative segments by the voices of experience in selfpromotion and social media. Free, and free-spirited, it’s a lively mix of words, wisdom and inspiration. Tune into the frequency of writing success with the new Southern Writers Radio Show.
Listen online now at www.southernwritersonline.com
,sesssesevcs
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR HAPPY NEW YEAR! Can you believe it? 2013 is here. How exciting to be living in the 21st Century. There is so much to do, so much to learn and such great technology to help us on our way. For authors, it is an especially exciting time. We can put words to paper as fast as we can talk. We can publish books in eBook form as soon as we are through writing and editing, and the books are instantly available. Publishers and agents still need authors and, because of the Internet, we can easily sell internationally. I can’t wait to see what the year brings for authors. As for Southern Writers Magazine, we are kicking off the new year with a short story fiction writing contest January 1, 2013. Don’t miss this opportunity. There are cash prizes, and we will publish the winning entries in a special short story magazine. The top three winners will share the cover. Plus we’ll give away online subscriptions and a chance to be on Southern Writers Radio Show. Be sure and check it out at www.southernwritersmagazine.com/fictioncontest. Since it will soon be Valentine’s Day, in this issue we are delighted to highlight award-winning author Colleen Coble, who shares some of her romantic writing revelations. Joshilyn Jackson reveals how she creates strong female protagonists and sends them places we wouldn’t dare to go. Robin Perini lets us peek at her technique of blending mayhem with romance. If that’s not enough love and kisses for you, relationship authors David and Lisa Frisbie are also speaking your language. Marni Graff gives her advice on setting your stories in faraway lands. Margaret Daley explains her formula for being a prolific, focused writer. Edie Melson provides valuable tidbits on upgrading your blog and helping it grow. Gary Hensley is here to assist writers by taking the guesswork out of taking deductions on taxes. You will meet author J.T. Baroni, who mixes humor with horror, as well as compassion, for a portion of the proceeds from the sale of his book goes to Leader Dogs for the Blind. Meet Hemingway’s new girl, Erika Robuck. Collaborators Diane T. Ashley and Aaron McCarver testify that teamwork makes the dream work. A must read is Michael Meeske’s take on the classics, and you’ll be entranced by C. Hope Clark’s Exorcising your Demons. Bette Lee Crosby hears the voice of home, and Angela Dolbear has a refreshing take on writing romance for a YA audience. Terry Whalin helps us set realistic goals. Tracy Crump helps us avoid clichés. Barbara Ragsdale brings characters to life in Nuts and Bolts. If you’ve ever considered turning your books into audiobooks, Sandra Balzo is the voice of experience. A new feature in Southern Writers Magazine is What’s the Story?, where you can check out Christine Nolfi, Stephanie Alexander, Dan Walsh, and Emily Ford’s words of pearls. Kimberly Rae’s article The Taste of Cow Brains – well, she’ll explain! Speaker George Lucas tells us how to win over an audience. Jane Tesh proves that writing a mystery series is murder. Ramona DeFelice Long gives us advice from the Editor’s desk. Vicki Hinze tells us about her interesting promotions, and Shelly Frome gives us our Last Word. Check out www.southernwritersmagazine.com and see all the venues we have for authors to promote themselves this year. You can showcase your books on these venues and let people know Southern Writers is promoting you. Click on the buttons to see the author’s blog Suite T, Mic Nite, Take Five, and Must Read TV. Don’t forget to tune into our newest source of writing inspiration, our online Radio Show. I hope 2013 is your best year ever. We wish you lots of writing, many books published, events, promotions and, above all, lots more friends and readers. We’re here to help you reach your goals. Happy Writing,