Thursday, September 22, 2011

It's A New Day And A New Dream! Welcome Elaine Cantrell!!!

Happy Friday, TLN'ers!!

Has the strains of the work week gotcha down? Well, stress no further!

Elaine Cantrell's A NEW DREAM is the perfect way to escape the mundane and broaden your reading horizons!

Grab a sweet treat and cop a squat, because we're getting down to the good stuff!!



1)If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

After doing exactly what she should her entire life, Elaine resolved to please herself a little more and not worry about others and what they thought. In the face of life’s struggles, can she keep her promise to herself?


2)Using three words, describe your voice.

Original, engaging, appealing

3)What has been the biggest challenge you've had to overcome in your career?

I’m a tremendous introvert, and these days you have to be an extrovert to promote your work. It’s very difficult for me, but I try. I recently accepted a speaking engagement from a woman’s club in the area. I dread it like you wouldn’t believe.

4)Networking: What's your game plan for entering "the mix" and getting the word out about your books?


I have a Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/elainepcantrell) and belong to several groups on Facebook, a blog at http://www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com/, a newsletter (subscribe at http://www.elainecantrell.com/), a website at http://www.elainecantrell.com/, and take any invitations to either blog or do an interview that anyone will offer.

5)In your opinion, how soon should a novice writer enter the social scene? Are there any advantages to getting into the swing of things early? What about disadvantages?

I don’t think it’s ever too early to make your presence known. It doesn’t matter if you’re published or not. You’ll be making friends and contacts who’ll hopefully be willing to promote you later. As far as promotion of a book goes, I’ve tried it both ways. I promoted for months several years ago before a book came out, and I did sell a lot on the first day it was available. But overall I sold less than I have on my new book which I didn’t even mention until it came out. I believe the biggest disadvantage to early promotion is that people might get tired of hearing about it. With epublishing and POD publishers you have time that you don’t have with a traditionally published book.

6)Describe for us your writing schedule? Any tips for the novices visiting today?

Since I’m a teacher I don’t have as much time to write as I’d like, but this is my ideal day. I get up around eight and have breakfast. Then I check my email, post on my Facebook page, tweet whatever I have, and then I get down to writing. I like to write until lunch time after which I take a break to do my errands, etc. Then, after dinner I work for another hour or so. For the novice writer I’d recommend setting up a schedule that works and then stick to it. I think the worst thing a writer can do is not write at least a little bit on a daily basis.

7)What's new for you? Any news you'd like dish up?

Actually, yes. Astraea Press who published A NEW DREAM for me is having a super sale. Everything is on sale for $2.99 or less, and of course I hope you’ll check out A NEW DREAM. Also, I have a new release coming in December. The title has been changed about a zillion times, but right now it’s called HER KIND OF MAN. It’s published by Lachesis, a Canadian company.

BLURB for A NEW DREAM:
What do you do when you lose everything?
After an auto accident destroys his pro-football career, Matt McCallum struggles to find a new dream for his life, but nothing engages him the way football did. After a stint in rehab, he takes a job managing a grocery store where he meets Violet Emerson.

Violet works in the bakery department, but her dreams carry her far beyond the doors of Chef’s Pantry. As soon as she can save the money, she plans to open a catering business. And she thinks the new manager’s broad shoulders and blue eyes are simply divine.

Thrown together at work, Matt and Violet find a common dream for their lives, but a loose end from Matt’s past returns to jeopardize their future. Will love be enough to save their new dream before it turns into a nightmare?



Ah, romance and baked goods . . . definitely a delicious match! A NEW DREAM sounds mmm-mm-good! I'd like to thank Elaine for letting me interview her. Here's wishing her all best of sales! If you'd like to know more about Elaine Cantrell, please check out her website: wwww.elainecantrell.com

THANK YOU, TLN'ers! It's been a blast getting back into the thick of it all again. I appreciate every last one of ya! Hope your weekend is full of fun and productivity!

8 comments:

Felicia Rogers said...

Elaine,
Thanks so much for sharing about your book. I can't wait to read it.

Doreen McGettigan said...

The new book sounds good! Thank you both for sharing:)

Elaine Cantrell said...

Thanks so much for coming by Felicia and Doreen. I'm glad you like the sound of A New Dream.

Stephy Smith said...

Hello Elaine,
I can relate to the introvert! Love the blog and the book sounds really good also.

Wicked Leanore said...

I came in from The Author Exchange at FB. What a lovely person you are, Elaine!
I am known as Wicked, lol. But that is just for the type of books I write I, too am shy. I really enjoyed this interview.

Lindsay said...

You'll do great with speaking at the womens club. Just have faith

Elaine Cantrell said...

Ladies, thank you so much for the encouragement. I appreciate it more than you know!

Joselyn Vaughn said...

I totally understand about being an introvert and trying to promote. It is so hard to put yourself out there when you usually are the observer. good luck with the speaking engagement. You'll do wonderful.