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Newsletter Ninja 2: If You Give a Reader a Cookie by Tammi Labrecque (book review)

August 1, 2022 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

You know you need a reader magnet. You know it will help you attract newsletter subscribers, launch to a bigger audience, and find more success as an indie author. You know that a good reader magnet can turn casual readers into superfans, and superfans into evangelists.

Everyone says so.

But knowing and doing are two different things, especially when all the advice out there is overwhelming and confusing.

Write this, not that. Use this service instead of that one. Give away a whole book. No, give away sample chapters. No, write a short story.

If only someone would just give you the information you need to craft killer bonus content that lures all the right readers to your mailing list signup, and turns all the wrong ones away at the door!

Well, you’re in luck. Tammi Labrecque — indie author, mailing list whiz-kid, and author of the best-selling Newsletter Ninja — is back with an all-new book that will kickstart you on your reader magnet journey.

Newsletter Ninja 2: If You Give a Reader a Cookie is a thorough breakdown of all the aspects of reader magnets—from choosing which type to write, through planning how it fits into your catalog, to getting it into readers’ hands. Written in the same down-to-earth style as Newsletter Ninja, and packed just as full of solid information and useful ninja tips, Newsletter Ninja 2 will help you:

• Recognize the difference between a good reader magnet and a bad one
• Ditch the false dichotomy of organic vs incentivized subscribers
• Identify the two types of readers you want to attract, and how to lure both with one reader magnet
• Build a solid plan for which reader magnets go where, and how they fit into your catalog
• Discover more than a dozen types of reader magnets
• Sample a variety of existing reader magnets, and see what’s possible!

Whether you’re ready to whip up that first reader magnet or want to optimize the ones you already have, Newsletter Ninja 2 has got you covered.


If you’re struggling to attract readers to your newsletter list, you need to read this book.

This book does exactly what the title promises–teaches you how to create a reader magnet. The book description explains most of it, so I won’t repeat it, but I’ll confirm that the book delivers on all of its promises. Labrecque not only provides lists and ideas for “cookies” (reader magnets), she also provides examples of real cookies that real authors have used so you can see more clearly what she’s talking about.

If you’ve read Newsletter Ninja, you need to read this book. If you haven’t read Newsletter Ninja yet, read it, then get a copy of this book and read it. This is a MUST reader for novelists building their newsletter list. (And double thumbs up for everything coming up Millhouse!)

Get your copy here!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Filed Under: book reviews Tagged With: author newsletters, book marketing, book review, email list, mailing list, Newsletter Ninja, newsletter tips, newsletters, reader magnets

10 Easy Ways to Succeed at Freelancing: #6, Set Hours and Stick to Them

July 25, 2022 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Have you ever pulled up to your favorite restaurant for dinner, walked to the door, and found it locked? I live in a small rural tourist town, and with the current economy’s labor shortages, I always check hours before I go anywhere because many businesses are closed 1-2 days a week; I don’t want to waste my time driving somewhere when I call ahead to make sure they’re open.

But what if I showed up when they were supposed to be open … and they weren’t?

With so many other options available to me, it’s unlikely I’ll risk going back.

With so many freelance editors and writers available to publishers and authors, if you aren’t available when you say you’ll be available, it’s unlikely they’ll risk working with you.

If you want to be a successful freelance writer or editor, you need to set hours and stick to them. Notice I didn’t say you need to be available all the time—because you don’t need to be and you shouldn’t be. Burnout is real, and it’s easy to do when you work from home for yourself.

Several years ago, I realized I was spending 12-14 hours a day, six days a week at my computer. I was exhausted, uninspired, and sick of working. I had to fight hard to turn in edits and blog posts that matched my previous quality of work.

I don’t overwork like that anymore.

These days, I set aside work hours. I don’t necessarily work Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Why would I? One of the reasons I LOVE freelance work is the ability to set my own hours! But I do make sure I put in the time needed each week. For me, that looks like 6-8 hours each day, five days a week. That might be four hours in the morning, the afternoon off for errands and meals, then two more hours after dinner. It might be all day in my chair, clocking out at 6 p.m. for the rest of the night. I always take one weekend day off, then one day during the week (for appointments and errands—who wants to grocery shop on a Saturday?). And if a client wants to meet or talk at a certain time? I can (almost) always be available; I’ll just take the time off somewhere else.

When you set (and stick to) hours, two things happen:

  1. You become someone your clients can depend on.
  2. You give yourself the rest you need to work optimally during business hours.

If you want to succeed at freelancing, be reliable—set your hours and stick to them.

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Filed Under: freelance Tagged With: 10 Easy Ways to Succeed at Freelancing, best practices, freelance editing, freelance editor, freelance tips, freelance work, freelance writer, freelance writing

How I Write: Joan Benson

July 18, 2022 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Writing can be an isolating endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be–there are ways to connect, and author Joan Benson has made some great connections that have helped her on her writing journey.

Thanks for being here! Let’s start with the most important question: what do you write? How did you pick your genre?

My debut traditionally published novel, His Gift, is historical fiction based on a true story from my mother’s life. Because the main character of His Gift is 18, the novel is technically YA. However, many of my readers have been adults of all ages. The story resonates with anyone of any age who has dared to dream and experienced loss.

Since the writing of His Gift, I have co-authored four children’s picture books called The Cornerstone Series. These stories are written to help little ones grasp biblical truth despite anti-Christian ideologies pressing on every side.

I currently am working on a contemporary fiction novel (YA-NA) dealing with the topic of the value of human life. So, I guess you can see that I write according to the purpose I feel God has given me and which audience he has laid on my heart. This defies most marketing branding, but it seems to be who I am as a writer.

What’s the most difficult part of writing your genre? How do you work through those challenges?

For historical fiction, the hardest part was getting an innate sense of the era. My mother’s diaries gave me some direction and an idea of her voice as a teen. However, they were scant in comparison to the length and depth of a novel. I did a lot of online research in the beginning. Then, when I couldn’t locate the information I wanted, I hired library researchers at the Detroit Library to dig through microfiche and old newspapers. Finally, I was able to make an in-person visit to the actual setting of the story in Michigan. That was a thrilling adventure, and I am grateful I could do such a trip. I realize not all historical fiction authors can do first-person research.

The next challenge was using the historical details without making the novel read like an encyclopedia. All that research was to make the story sing with authenticity, not detract from the storyline.

What’s your favorite writer’s conference?

My favorite writer’s conference is my most recent. I had the privilege of God “making a way where there seemed no way” for me to attend the Greater Philly Christian Writers’ Conference in the summer of 2018. My husband had some health issues, and we also had two small dogs he would have to care for. Even still, he encouraged me to go. I met a younger writer who wanted to attend the conference, and though we had never met before, after twelve hours of road trip, the Lord knit our hearts together as only He can do. The conference was a blessing filled with learning and networking. Even more, I met my wonderful agent, David Fessenden there. Since my husband’s health problems do not allow me to travel now, the Lord used that conference to position me with an agent, a publisher, and many lifelong connections.

In addition, the Lord and I had some serious heart-to-heart talks in the wee hours of the night, even as exhausted as I was from the long and busy days. After these times in deep prayer, I was certain of the direction he wanted me to go with my future writing. It was surely a God-encountering conference for this author.

What’s your writing process—plotter, panster, or something else?

I would say I began writing as I felt the inspiration, more of a by-the-seat-of-my-pants, i.e., a pantster, as they say. As a former educator, reading specialist and writing coach, I knew the plot structure I needed before I began. However, I let the muse lead me from one element to another not knowing for sure how it would develop.

How did you find your agent? What advice do you have for new authors trying to find the right agent?

I found my agent at the GPCWC, as I mentioned. He liked my historical novel and saw promise for it when others did not. He also was willing to take a chance on me with a bare essence of an author platform in place. Some agents and editors thought people would not want to read about The Great Depression, and I’m sure some readers feel that way. However, given the Christian theme of overcoming loss, His Gift lifts the reader to see how God steps into our messes, often redeeming them and showing us His grace.

As for picking an agent, I guess it would be a matter of finding someone who likes what you do, and if he or she does, then there will be a mutual benefit and blessing. Conferences are probably the best place to meet potential agents. Be prepared with a gracious heart and your proposal ready according to the recommended standards. Then pray for God’s leading!

What’s surprised you most about the publishing process?

One of the most surprising things about the publishing process was the rigor of in-house editing despite my ability to “write clean.” My editor even told me so while we still had to make several rounds of jot-and-tittle perfecting. I also didn’t realize the impact of Amazon reviews and how important it is to get ranking immediately when the book is first launched. I learned if you are independently published instead of with a traditional publisher, there were more ways to advertise on Amazon and control the book’s exposure through KDP. Amazon has more recently added ways for traditionally published authors to develop advertising, but it wasn’t so in 2020 when my first release came out.

What advice do you have for new authors?

My advice for new authors is the same as what I was told as I began this journey. I wondered how I would know when to stop revising. It seemed like I could revise until the cows came home, and every time I reread, I could see another way to improve it. My mentor, Craig von Buseck, multi-published author and teacher, said when the story was “told,” and I had done my due diligence, stop, knowing the next book would be better than the last. Wisdom.

Other advice would be to read-read-read whatever genre you write, and then write-write-write what the Lord is leading you to write. The more you do both, the more efficient you will be. I would never advise someone to write to the market, looking for a niche in which you can publish. Write your dream, your passion, your hope.

What does your revision process look like?

Oh, the revision process is such a tangled web, is it not? I tend to revise as I write. I think that’s the teacher in me. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t leave mechanical mistakes, especially when I change one part of a sentence, but don’t revise the whole of it. Often revising as you go slows down the drafting process and many writers find it better to just get the words on the page. So, I try to “write clean” as I draft, but then go back and nit-pick both for content, plot structure, dialogue, etc. It really depends on who you are and how you think to find the best revision process, in my opinion.


Joan C Benson is a wife, mother, grandmother, and author/speaker. She has been writing professionally for over thirty years, in addition to her career as an educator, serving primarily as a reading specialist. Her debut historical fiction novel, His Gift, was released in 2020. She has been published in multiple Christian magazines including LifeWay’s “ParentLife,” and Regent University’s “The Christian Leader.” She has published devotional writings on CBN.com. Joan also contributed to children’s ministry curriculum for LifeWay Publishing for twelve years. She and her husband, Jan, live in Chesapeake, VA, with their Bichon Frise, Cupcake.

Buy links: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1649490305/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/his-gift-joan-c-benson/1137413827?ean=9781649490308

https://www.joancbenson.com/

www.bensonjj.blog

https://www.facebook.com/YIHAVEHOPE

https://twitter.com/11Ccaj4life

https://www.instagram.com/joancbenson/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20555254.Joan_C_Benson

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, fiction writing, historical fiction, picture books, writing fiction, writing tips, writing tools, YA fiction

An Independence Day Reminder

July 4, 2022 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

As we celebrate today with fireworks, parades, and hot dogs, please also take a moment to remember what and why we celebrate. To help, here’s our Declaration of Independence:

In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Filed Under: best practices Tagged With: holidays

How I Write: Kathy Cassel

July 3, 2022 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Many people think writing for children is easy–that is not the case. Just ask Kathy Cassel, author of young adult fiction. She works with pros to help her write her books, but she doesn’t work with a traditional book editor. Keep reading to find out why!

What do you write? How/why did you pick your genre?

I love reading YA books, or in reality listening to them on CD while I drive. Most of the books have themes of depression, suicide, death and so on. Sadly, the books don’t offer any real answers or hope, and I felt a strong call to switch from devotion books to YA fiction that would reach teens with the message that there is a God, and he has a plan for them. If they walk away from the story with that hope, then I’ve succeeded in planting a seed of faith.

How long does it take you to: write the book? Edit it? Finalize it?

When asked how I get an idea or how long it takes the write story, I don’t have an answer. For instance, long before Thousand Lies, I would make up stories in my head (while trying to fall asleep mostly) about a girl who needed to find out the truth about her identity and runs away to find out. This included her jumping in the box car of a passing train, hitchhiking, and other means of travel. I had various ideas about her real identity, whether either parent was really her parents, and why she might suspect otherwise.

When I actually decided to write a story about a girl who finds out she’s not who she thought she was, it was different than the stories in my head. I wrote it in weeks, but had to do a lot of rewrites. Just when it looked like the book might be finished, I messaged my fiction coach, “What if Bailey’s birth dad is still alive and comes after her?” That idea totally changed the story and made it a much stronger story.

What’s your favorite book on writing? What do you like about it?

James Scott Bell’s Write Your Novel from the Middle. I reread it before starting each new book because it helps me focus on the true story.

What writing book do you want to read next

James Scott Bell’s Conflict and Suspense because I think it will help me better structure my stories. But I have little reading time, so I hope it’s on audible!

What’s your favorite writers conference?

I was blessed to be able to go to the ACFW convention in Texas the last year it was in person before Covid hit. It was great to connect with so many other authors and to learn from some of the best fiction authors.

If you’ve ever worked with a freelance editor, how did you find that editor? How would you describe the experience?

I have a fiction coach that I work with from the idea stage (Does this story work? Is it realistic? Is the structure sound) to the actual writing and revisions (this scene isn’t realistic, let’s try this instead) to even the final edits for my last book. My first experience with a fiction coach was not a positive one, but the one I work with now is amazing! In both cases we connected at a writer’s conference. It’s important to find the right person or it can be very discouraging.

How do you self-edit your manuscript?

I am not the world’s best editor, but the first thing I do is a word search for “that” and “just,” which are the two words I over use. I normally have to take out 25 to 50 of each. I also sometimes have to make myself cut scenes I really like because they don’t move the story forward. I think that’s common mistake in fiction writing. Adding things to the story that actually slow it down rather than make it more interesting.


For talented teen photographer Bailey Collins, small-town life is good if predictable. Great friends. Loving if overly-protective parents. Academic and artistic success. An amazing new boyfriend.

Until a school field trip to a Chicago photography exhibit turns upside-down everything Bailey has believed about her life. Why are the baby pictures missing from her own past exhibited under another child’s name? Who is this elusive artist whose own identity appears as much a mystery as her exhibit? Or the hostile stranger bizarrely claiming to be Bailey’s birth father?

Above all, if everything about Bailey’s life is a lie, who are the people she has always called Mom and Dad? And if they can’t be trusted, how can she trust the loving God in whom they’ve taught her to place her faith? As a mountain of unraveling lies place both Bailey and those she cares about in danger, she sets out on a peril-filled quest to expose the truth. Will uncovering her true identity bring the closure and purpose Bailey seeks—or turn out to be the worst mistake of her life?


Kathy Cassel is author of more a dozen fiction and non-fiction titles for preteens and teens, including 2021 Selah Award finalist Freerunner and the iParenting award winner Christian Girls Guide series. Kathy has lived on three different continents with her USAF husband, has eight children, five adopted from Haiti and the United States, and four grandchildren. To better relate to her characters, she enjoys learning their skills such as whitewater rafting, scuba diving, and riding a motorcycle, but draws the line at sky diving.

Facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/Kathy-Cassel-author-127514438647724
Website https://www.kathycassel.com/
Instagram: kathycassel17
TikTok:  Novel_Experience
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard?ref=nav_profile_authordash (author dashboard)
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20300951.Kathy_Cassel (author profile)
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathy-cassel (profile)

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, self-editing, writing coach, writing fiction, writing tips, writing young adult books, young adult fiction

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ABOUT ME

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A passionate lover of fiction, Karin doesn't just write novels, she helps others write their best stories! A certified substantive editor with the Christian Editor Connection, her goal is to help authors to put her out of business by equipping them with the tools they need to become better writers.

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