Friday, November 10, 2017

Pamela Harstad - An Author Interview in the HBS Author's Spotlight

Today our blog puts the Spotlight on Author Pamela Harstad. She is an inspirational romance writer.

Author: Pamela Harstad

Author Genre: Inspirational contemporary fiction with romantic elements

Website: Pamela Harstad - Inspirational romance writer
Author's Blog: The Write Inspiration
Twitter: @pjhpjh1
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Amazon Author Profile



Author Description:
Pamela Harstad writes inspirational romance and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When not writing, Pam enjoys traveling, nature, music, and reading. She lives with her husband in the Midwest.


SPOTLIGHT Questions and Answers with the Author

Congratulations on your book: Their Greek Key. What do you have on the drawing board next? Can you tell us the timeline for its release and give us a little tease?

Thank you. I enjoyed writing THEIR GREEK KEY, because it spans from the present to WWII and from Chicago to Greece with a bit of intrigue. So I’ve started my fourth novel, working title, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE, which is set in Florida and Venice, Italy, and also includes some intrigue, heart wrenching emotion and is full of hope. It should be ready for publication June-July, 2018.

Do you do any book signings, interviews, speaking and personal appearances? If so, when and where is the next place where your readers can see you? Where can they keep up with your personal contacts online?

I won’t be doing a book signing until next year in Waverly, Iowa, and have done online interviews regarding my novels. As for online contact, see the profile above. I love to hear from readers!

You belong to the American Christian Fiction Writers. Do they help with the writing, marketing and the publishing process? What other writer support groups do you belong too? Do any of the authors bundle their novels together?

ACFW has online courses on various aspects of writing. They also have a loop where writers can ask each other questions. Also, they have critique groups. Some of the courses touch on marketing, but publishing is up to the author. I also belong to several groups on Goodreads that are author related. And yes, some authors bundle their books for sale.

What has been your experience in giving your books away free? Have you been involved in any other type of giveaways and how did that work out? What was your main goal in doing this? Did you run into any obstacles?

A few giveaways have been run on one of my Amazon E-books. It is always good to have exposure so one’s books may get into the hands of readers who might enjoy them. There were no obstacles.

How do you start your book launch process for a new book? Give a brief outline of the steps you go through to get your book to market. What methods were the most successful?

After critiquing, beta readers and editing, the books are listed on social media before the release date by at least one month. My books are pre-orderable. A combination and balance of these elements are necessary to create a successful launch.

What is your primary genre? What has been your best marketing approach to this group?

Inspirational, contemporary fiction. There are many online groups dedicated to inspirational fiction.

How do you manage your plots, characters and timelines to keep your stories going? Do you use any software to keep track of your books?

I use Excel to create a template where I can map out scenes, main action, point of view, goal, conflict, and the sequel. The characters and their arcs I fit into the plot of the book and also the timelines, without writing them out as I do the scenes.

Do you maintain a reader list? What are the methods you use to find your readers and create the list and the relationship? Do you use social media, forums, newsletters and/or support groups to build your list?

My readers mostly come from social media contact. I keep in touch by blogging on my Facebook author page and my Wordpress blog. My blogs also connect to my Amazon profile page and my Goodreads author profile.

Being a self-publisher myself, I have to ask this question. How does doing everything yourself work out? Do you outsource much of the process?

I write my novels in Microsoft Word, according to general guidelines for a manuscript. Ebooks are formatted by Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Publishers have slightly different criteria for how they want manuscripts formatted, so those are used for submission. I do no outsourcing.

What is your method of getting reviews for your novels? Do you seek professional reviews, use social media or do you rely on your reading audience to supply them?

I use social media to market, and mainly rely on my reading audience to supply reviews.



Author's Book List
Their Greek Key
Abandonment. Trust. Intrigue. A complicated past and present span from Chicago to Greece.

Connie Pappas has a lifetime opportunity to leave Chicago and design fashions in New York when the love of her life returns, and spins her world around.

For Nick Kanelleas, all that remain are two pendants from his deceased father and uncle, who were abandoned. He follows their mystery, but he also wants business success. He reconnects with Connie when he renovates her father’s restaurant, but past issues and new conflicts arise.

Connie questions Nick’s business transactions. His job leads to problems at the restaurant, and his own future.

Will Connie move to New York and leave Nick when trust affects their relationship? Will Nick pursue Connie if she can’t trust in him? From Chicago to the Aegean, will their faith be strong enough to overcome their difficulties?


Order the Book From:
Amazon


HEALING JOURNEY - As a tragic past unfolds, present life is torn apart and the future uncertain.
Tragedy. Devastation. Unanswered questions.

Kate Scott’s proposal from Jake Collins is put on hold when Kate’s mother is injured from a stabbing. Why, before surgery does Kate’s mother tell Kate she must speak to her grandmother?

When Kate comes across her mother’s journal containing cryptic passages, she’s mystified. As a tragic past unfolds, Kate’s present life is torn apart, and her future uncertain.

Will Kate overcome devastating information that will affect her life forever? Can she hope for a future with Jake and turn her life over to God’s will?


Order the Book From:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble


ERIN'S MISSION
Nurse Erin Bruns is compelled to leave the clinic for a medical mission, but family challenges erupt, including an estranged father and issues regarding her heritage and background.

When Doctor Tyler Kendrick is hired, he is promised and insists on a full, experienced staff since he knows what can happen without one, as he harbors a secret deep inside.

Can Erin overcome more family turmoil and can Ty surrender control of his career plans when they take an unexpected turn? Will Ty and Erin be able to let go and let God, to have a relationship?


Order the Book From:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble


Author Recommended by: HBSystems Publications
Publisher of ebooks, writing industry blogger and the sponsor of the following blogs:
HBS Author's Spotlight
eBook Author’s Corner
Top Shelf Author Advice
Mystery Reader’s Circle

Check out the index of other Spotlight authors. Spotlight Index.

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