I guest post over at Alchemy of Scrawl

I have a guest post over at the Alchemy of Scrawl blog by Coral Russell. I yak a bit for beginning fiction writers, making a few suggestions. This post was originally supposed to run as part of my November 2011 blog tour, but things slip past sometimes. Still, here it is, and I hope you enjoy.

2011 blog tour comes to an end

November 2011 is over, which means my blog tour promoting my new fantasy e-book Ghosts of the Asylum has come to an end.

This was my first blog tour, and I had a great time with it. I also learned quite a bit.

For instance, I learned guest posting on others' blogs for 30 days straight is a lot of work. There's a lot to keep track of, and a lot of people to keep track of. It was almost like having a real job again (ya know, instead of just writing all day). Would I do it again? Yes, I would. I would even go so far as to say I would guest blog for 30 days straight again. I might even consider doing it with the release of my next novel. I had planned ahead this time, and that helped quite a bit, but now I know to plan even further ahead. I gained experience this time, experience that should help me in the future.

Actually, originally I contacted about 40 others to see if they would be interested in hosting me. Some did not want to take part, and others I never heard from. But I hold no hard feelings for that. Folks are busy and have stuff to do, and I'm not exactly a well known author.

But a lot of strangers, people who I did not know at all, were willing to take part.

And this was one of the greatest things about my blog tour, meeting people online who I otherwise might have never got to know. For that alone, the blog tour was worth.

Now, for you writers out there wondering if a blog tour is worth it, the thing upfront in your mind is, "Well, did the tour help your sales?"

The truth? Yes. I wouldn't say the tour helped my sales dramatically, but I can say my sales for November were higher than the three months before. To me, that's progress. It's not just about money, but about readers. More readers discovered me, and hopefully they will find something to enjoy in my writing.

Star Wars memories

I got a busted nose
over this guy
when I was 11.

Technically this is not part of my November blog tour (which just wound down), but I have a guest post about my early Star Wars memories over at the site of author Darby Harn. Some of this will be old news to my regular readers (both of you), but for others it will be something new. Enjoy.

And thanks, Darby!

Blog tour: I interview Midge Highwater

Midge Highwater is a minor character in my new fantasy novel, Ghosts of the Asylum. Though his role is small in the tale, it is important.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Instead, I'll let Midge speak through an interview I did with him a while back. The interview is now live over at the blog of fantasy author N.R. Williams.

Fantasy blog tour: Excerpt from "Ghosts of the Asylum"

Pal and fellow writer Steve Goble let me take over his blog today to post an excerpt of my latest epic fantasy e-book novel, Ghosts of the Asylum.

Find out what trouble my Eel character faces in the excerpt.

Thanks, Steve!

Blog tour: I talk religion, sort of

Buddy and fellow writer Clark Goble is hosting me today over at his blog, The Imperfect Disciples, where I chat about my approach to fiction from a sort of spiritual point of view.

Thanks, Clark!

Blog tour rolls on: Author Spotlight at Morgen Bailey's Writing Blog

As part of my November blog tour to promote my new e-book epic fantasy novel, Ghosts of the Asylum, fellow writer Morgen Bailey has featured me in one of her Author Spotlight posts. I talk about one of the ways I approach fiction writing from a philosophical point of view.

Thanks, Morgen, for sharing me with your readers!

Interview with fantasy author Ty Johnston

It's a double-dip Saturday (whatever that means) as I appear at a second blog today as part of my blog tour to promote my new e-book fantasy novel, Ghosts of the Asylum.

This time around on the blog tour, I'm interviewed by author Jason G. Anderson over at his site.

E-book blog tour: Reviews and reviewers

Author J.R. Tomlin hosts my blog tour today. Reviews and reviewers are my subject matter, and I hope you'll check it out, as well as giving my new e-book fantasy novel Ghosts of the Asylum a look.

Book blog tour: Black Friday!

It's Black Friday, so get out there and buy some e-books! Preferably mine!

Now that that's out of the way, the blog tour continued to promote my new epic fantasy e-book novel Ghosts of the Asylum.

Today the blog tour takes me over to the site of the popular author BV Larson, who writes fantasy and science fiction and probably whatever he wants. He was gracious enough to give me some space on his site, and I type away about world building for fantasy authors.

Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving from the blog tour

Just because today is Thanksgiving doesn't mean I'm putting a halt to my blog tour promoting my new fantasy novel, Ghosts of the Asylum. Oh, no.

Charles Gramlich over at the Razored Zen blog probably has better things to do today than put up with my nonsense, but he has been kind of enough to allow me to appear as a guest poster today. I chat about what I'm thankful for this holiday season.

And, I've said it before but I'll say it again, if you're a fan of Sword and Planet fiction, you must check out Gramlich's Talera Cycle series. I personally enjoy it more than even Burroughs.

Blog tour: Movies and music that influence me

Fellow Kentuckian and author J.M. Martin hosts my blog tour today, the day before Thanksgiving. Yet again I talk about my influences, but here I skip literature and go on about movies and music that have influenced me over the years.

Blog touring is a lot of work, but also a lot of fun

Yes, the blog tour continues for promoting my new e-book fantasy novel, Ghosts of the Asylum, now available.

Today the tour takes me over to the site of author S.J. Higbee, where I talk about how much work and fun it is to do a blog tour. This is my first blog tour, and I was silly enough to try and do a guest post every single day of the month, but I've also met a lot of new people online.

Blog tour: Excerpt from new novel, 'Ghosts of the Asylum'

With the release of my new e-book fantasy novel Ghosts of the Asylum, today the Indie Books Blog has been so kind to allow me to guest post at the site with an excerpt from the novel itself. What you get is a big chunk of Chapter 1, though not all of it. Enjoy!

And don't forget to check out the other reviews and articles at Indie Books Blog!

Blog tour at Pure Textuality: Digital vs. print

Jena over at Pure Textuality hosts me today for my blog tour promoting my e-book fantasy novel Ghosts of the Asylum. In this post I talk about my basic take on the never-ending battle between digital and print book publishing.

Thanks for hosting me, Jena!

Blog tour: My road to being an indie author

Author Terry C. Simpson was gracious enough to host me today on my blog tour promoting my new e-book fantasy novel Ghosts of the Asylum.

This time I chat about my own path to becoming an indie author, how I made the jump from trying to be traditionally published (and doing so in some instances) and to becoming mostly independent.

And since a lot of fantasy fans are usually the ones to check out my blog, don't forget to check out the works of Terry C. Cimpson. That cover at the right looks pretty nifty, doesn't it? And Terry has some sample chapters available at his site.

Blog tour post: How screenwriting saved my life

Screenwriting saved my life. Really, it did. Don't believe me? Then you need to follow my blog tour this month over to the site of author Lisa Mondello where I give my evidence that screenwriting saved my life.

And while you're over there, check out some of Lisa's great books, too!

Blog tour: Even fantasy writers have to do research

Some writers and readers tend to think fantasy is just "making it up as you go along," but that's far from the truth. I talk about this today over at author Chris Northern's blog during my blog tour to promote my new novel, Ghosts of the Asylum.

Blog tour: What I try to accomplish with my fiction writing

Author Brian Rathbone was gracious enough to host me today while on my blog tour. I talk about what I hope to accomplish with my fiction writing.

Check out the post right here.

Brian, thanks!

Blog tour: What is epic fantasy?

Author Lindsay Buroker has been so kind as to host me on her blog as part of my November 2011 blog tour promoting my new novel, Ghosts of the Asylum. I talk about trying to define epic fantasy and my own conclusions about such.

Fantasy fans will want to check out Lindsay e-books while over at her blog. Enjoy!