Blog Ring of Power YIR with Heidi Garrett


As 2012 comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of the joys and triumphs of the year. To that end, we bring you the 2012 Blog Ring of Power Year in Review! We’ve teamed up with this past years’ BRoP interviewees to bring you eleven days worth of “year in review” guest posts and ten fabulous giveaway prizes! Each day we’ll share a new guest post on the year in review from a previous BRoP interviewee and you’ll have another opportunity to enter the giveaway—so get hopping! And be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of this post!

The Blog Ring of Power Year in Review Presents…
Heidi Garrett




Thank you to the readers, book bloggers, and Goodreads reviewers who have read and enjoyed Nandana’s Mark. Connecting with readers is the most rewarding aspect of being an author. It inspires me, motivates me, and makes me feel like it is all worth it. The readers who discovered my debut novel, Nandana’s Mark, made 2012 one of the best years of my life.

After doing some research in January, I made the decision to self-publish. It was clear ebooks and ereaders were revolutionizing the publishing industry, much like the printing press had done in the 15th century.

The first two books of my series, The Queen of the Realm of Faerie, had already been critiqued through a writer’s group, so I felt like they were close to their final versions. I needed to finish the books and build an author platform.

The author platform is the all-important bridge to readers. Thousands of books are being published, so finding the readers who would love my books has been the challenge, one I have thoroughly enjoyed. My author platform includes:

My website, where I provide news, links to author events, and the background to my writing and my series.

My blog, Eating Magic, a stream-of-consciousness reading journal, where I share some of my unfiltered reactions to books that I am reading.

Twitter, where I tweet all sorts of random things and I connect with readers through @s.

My Goodreads relationships where I interact with readers and invite them to free events and new releases.

One of the highlights of the year was my in-depth author interview with The Blog Ring of Power. This detailed five-part interview offered me the opportunity to delve into my motivations for writing, the inspiration for my series, and my creative process. If you want to find out anything about me as an author, you will find the answers there.

Now, that the year is coming to an end, and I am preparing to release The Flower of Isbelline, Book 2 in my series, I realize that self-publishing was the right choice for me. I love connecting directly with my readers and I love being in control of my publishing process. I get bored easily. However, the variety of tasks that self-publishing requires means there is always something else to do and something new to discover.

In 2013, I plan to release the next two books in my series. I hope to continue growing my presence on Twitter and Goodreads. I hope that more readers will find my blog, Eating Magic.
 
The future looks limitless, as well as challenging and fun.

Thank you for being part of it.

If you have not yet become enchanted by the half-faerie Melia and her world, I invite you to pick up Nandana’s Mark at Smashwords or at iBooks via iTunes. It will be free for the rest of the year.

Nandana's Mark is Free on the Kindle Nandana's Mark on Amazon:

Links:

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/258073
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/nandanas-mark/id554801786?mt=11
Website: http://heidigwrites.blogspot.com
Eating Magic Blog: http://eatingmagic.blogspot.com



Be sure to stop to check out each of the stops on the Year In Review – new chances to enter the giveaways each day!
(M) Dec. 17th – Jacqueline Seewald (at http://ulbrichalmazan.blogspot.com)
(T) Dec. 18th – Danielle Ackley McPhail (at http://deanswritingtime.blogspot.com)
(W) Dec. 19th – Alma Alexander (at http://www.terribruce.net)
(Th) Dec. 20th – Susan Kaye Quinn (at http://www.twfendley.com)
(F) Dec. 21st – 5. Darke Conteur (at http://emlabonte.blogspot.com)
(M) Dec. 24th – Pauline Jones (at http://ulbrichalmazan.blogspot.com)
(T) Dec. 25th – James Garcia (at http://deanswritingtime.blogspot.com)
(W) Dec. 26th – Barbara Ann Wright (at http://www.terribruce.net)
(Th) Dec. 27th – Sandra Saidak (at http://www.twfendley.com)
(F) Dec. 28th – Heidi Garrett (at http://emlabonte.blogspot.com)
(M) Dec. 31st – Sue Burke (at http://ulbrichalmazan.blogspot.com)
Two winners will be chosen (by Rafflecopter) and each winner will receive one of the prize packs listed (our choice).

Grand Prize Rafflecopter 


General Giveaway
Winners will be chosen from among eligible rafflecopter entries (chosen by rafflecopter) and receive a prize of our choice. We’ll do our best to give the print books to those that don’t have an e-reader, but we can’t make any guarantees, so please be aware when entering that you are most likely going to win an e-book.




Comments

  1. James Garcia JrDecember 29, 2012 at 3:31 PM

    Congratulations on a great year, Heidi. You sound very positive. I'll have to visit you whenever endless promotion gets me down. *laughs* Seriously, it isn't easy, is it? I commend you on the year you've had and wish you nothing but the best in 2013. *waves to Em*
    Happy New Year, ladies!

    -Jimmy
    http://jamesgarciajr.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. heidigarrettDecember 29, 2012 at 4:44 PM

    James, thank you:) yes, please do visit me! because you're right, it's not easy, but it is...I don't know...if we keep it fun, it helps. A lot, lol. Congratulations on your achievements this year, too. I am hoping 2013 won't be such a steep learning curve.
    Heidi

    ReplyDelete
  3. heidigarrettDecember 29, 2012 at 4:45 PM

    E.M. LaBonte and the Blog Ring of Power, thank you for hosting A Year in Review!

    ReplyDelete
  4. TerriBruceJanuary 1, 2013 at 3:43 PM

    Here's hoping 2013 brings even more success (and varied tasks :-) )!

    ReplyDelete
  5. heidigarrettJanuary 1, 2013 at 10:55 PM

    Terri,
    Yes, more success and varied tasks for all of us, lol!

    ReplyDelete

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