Welcome Jennifer!!
This is a first, you are a blogger plus an author, tell us more about 'The Jennifer (Author) Diaries':First of all, I’d like to thank Kat for interviewing me today. The Jennifer (Author) Diaries is blog I created to set a personal challenge for myself to do one thing per day to promote my novel, The Pet Washer. It’s become a resource center, not only for me, but for other authors. I share everything I’m learning about book and blog promotion on my site. My focus is on low-cost and free ways to promote books and blogs. I encourage other writers to join me and take up the 366 day challenge to break out and beyond their inner circle!
Tell us how you come up with a topic for 366 days? Do you have them listed in advance or are you inspired with a new topic each day?
It’s a combination of both. I have a lot of ideas and I jot them down in a Word file. Each morning I decide what I’m going to do after I’ve had my coffee! I’m either inspired or I comb through my list of ideas and look for one to implement that day. There are days it is challenging and days I don’t want to do it—it’s like a diet!
It’s a combination of both. I have a lot of ideas and I jot them down in a Word file. Each morning I decide what I’m going to do after I’ve had my coffee! I’m either inspired or I comb through my list of ideas and look for one to implement that day. There are days it is challenging and days I don’t want to do it—it’s like a diet!
When and why did you decide you wanted to blog about your successes and failures about self -promoting your book/brand?
I got the idea from the movie, Julia and Julia. In the movie, Julie cooks one recipe per day out of a Julia Child’s cookbook. She forces herself to do it no matter what and, by the end, she has accomplished an amazing feat and cooked the whole book in a year. I knew I needed a challenge like that to keep me going. Book or blog promotion is hard and it’s easy to get discouraged. Every author sells 50 to 100 copies of their book to friends, or they get 20 friends to subscribe to their blog and then sales/subscriptions stop. I’m all about breaking out of that. Since I started The Jennifer (Author) Diaries, it’s happening!
I got the idea from the movie, Julia and Julia. In the movie, Julie cooks one recipe per day out of a Julia Child’s cookbook. She forces herself to do it no matter what and, by the end, she has accomplished an amazing feat and cooked the whole book in a year. I knew I needed a challenge like that to keep me going. Book or blog promotion is hard and it’s easy to get discouraged. Every author sells 50 to 100 copies of their book to friends, or they get 20 friends to subscribe to their blog and then sales/subscriptions stop. I’m all about breaking out of that. Since I started The Jennifer (Author) Diaries, it’s happening!
So far, what’s the hardest part of being a book blogger?
It’s time consuming. I just completed a second book and I need a few hours a day for editing. Blogging creeps into that time. I love it too much to stop though. Every day I strive for balance.
It’s time consuming. I just completed a second book and I need a few hours a day for editing. Blogging creeps into that time. I love it too much to stop though. Every day I strive for balance.
What do you do when you are not blogging?
I speak at elementary schools about writing. I’m also married and the mother of three kids aged 7, 10 and 14 and we have nine pets. When I’m not speaking or writing, I’m with them. My job enables me to go on field trips and watch all their games. I have an active family, a big old suburban and the perfect career. Life is not easy, but it’s good!
I speak at elementary schools about writing. I’m also married and the mother of three kids aged 7, 10 and 14 and we have nine pets. When I’m not speaking or writing, I’m with them. My job enables me to go on field trips and watch all their games. I have an active family, a big old suburban and the perfect career. Life is not easy, but it’s good!
How many followers do you have? How often do you post to your blog?
This blog is just over 40 days old. I have 414 regular, returning visitors which accounts for half of my traffic and I have an 8% bounce rate. My blog is also syndicated on JacketFlap and Goodreads. I post every day. Or to be more specific, I post every single day. It's tough, but worth it! In addition, I accept guest posts from anyone who has tips on low-cost, book or blog promotion. (Only I would choose to do this on a leap year! That last day will be a killer!)
This blog is just over 40 days old. I have 414 regular, returning visitors which accounts for half of my traffic and I have an 8% bounce rate. My blog is also syndicated on JacketFlap and Goodreads. I post every day. Or to be more specific, I post every single day. It's tough, but worth it! In addition, I accept guest posts from anyone who has tips on low-cost, book or blog promotion. (Only I would choose to do this on a leap year! That last day will be a killer!)
Who are your three favorite authors?
That is a hard question for an author and a harder one for an English Lit major. I don’t have favorite authors because I’ve learned to appreciate so many different styles and genres. I would say I have favorite books and characters rather than authors.
That is a hard question for an author and a harder one for an English Lit major. I don’t have favorite authors because I’ve learned to appreciate so many different styles and genres. I would say I have favorite books and characters rather than authors.
Which author would you most like to meet (dead or alive)? Tell us more..
I would choose Jean Craighead George. She wrote, Julie of the Wolves. I bought the book for my daughter this year for Christmas. I re-read the opening few pages and was blown away. She nails concise prose, beginning with a hook, and showing not telling beautifully. Her book is gripping from the first sentence. I would want to meet her for writing tips!
I would choose Jean Craighead George. She wrote, Julie of the Wolves. I bought the book for my daughter this year for Christmas. I re-read the opening few pages and was blown away. She nails concise prose, beginning with a hook, and showing not telling beautifully. Her book is gripping from the first sentence. I would want to meet her for writing tips!
Finally, if someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
The Jennifer Diaries
The Jennifer Diaries
On a Personal Note:
Jennifer Lynn Alvarez graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. She is a full-time author, blogger, wife, and mother of three.
The Pet Washer is her debut novel for middle-grade readers. It is the first book in a three-book-series chronicling the friendships and adventures of young Cianna. The second book in the series, The Wishing Star, is scheduled for release in 2012.
Jennifer also writes about her family's experiences with the recession at The Jennifer (Recession) Diaries. Her blog is about keeping your chin up on the way down!
Jennifer lives in Northern California with her family and their pets--Maddie (horse), Calvin (horse), Comet (pony), Koda (dog), Daisy (dog), Rainbow (cat), Dash (cat), Muffin (cat), Kovu (guinea pig) and Storm (fish).
The Pet Washer is her debut novel for middle-grade readers. It is the first book in a three-book-series chronicling the friendships and adventures of young Cianna. The second book in the series, The Wishing Star, is scheduled for release in 2012.
Jennifer also writes about her family's experiences with the recession at The Jennifer (Recession) Diaries. Her blog is about keeping your chin up on the way down!
Jennifer lives in Northern California with her family and their pets--Maddie (horse), Calvin (horse), Comet (pony), Koda (dog), Daisy (dog), Rainbow (cat), Dash (cat), Muffin (cat), Kovu (guinea pig) and Storm (fish).
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4 comments:
As always a great interview I love reading the in the spotlight post.
Thanks for stopping by Kerry. I am learning alot myself!!
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