Why I love Twitter and btw, what the hell is Bluesky?

I recently (mistakenly) thought I suddenly lost Twitter followers by the droves. Having been on Twitter for years, I never was a pro on the site, but it always felt like the best place to introduce strangers to my books. Facebook was only helpful in getting eyes on my books if it happened to be someone I already knew or someone specifically seeking me out. But at the end of the day, Twitter was my favorite and continued to be as it became my preferred news source. It was my go-to. 

But back to my story. So, I thought I was losing many followers and couldn't understand why. It happened immediately following the US election (I'm Canadian) and it was noticeable. Then I started to stumble upon tweets where people (especially other authors) stated that they were 'done' with Twitter and if you wanted to find them from that point on, you could do so on Bluesky. 

What the hell is Bluesky? Also, as an author, I try to meet potential readers where they're at, I would never demand them to follow me or fuck off. If that were the case, I would've left Facebook and Instagram years ago. But that's not how it works. It shouldn't be about your ego or image, it's about your books. 

From what I can gather, people left Twitter because it was too 'toxic'. And hey, sure, that's possible. Of course, the easier solution would be to stop following those you think are toxic. It's like having an annoying coworker so you quit your job. It's a bit dramatic and laden with victim mentality, but then again, that's pretty common in today's society, so I shouldn't be surprised. 

Not that I have an issue with Bluesky. It might be a wonderful site. I don't know. The problem is that there are only so many social media sites and people only have so much time. I like Twitter because I have deep roots there, having joined in 2010. I also connected with many cool people on Twitter. I also appreciate, respect, and want to support Elon Musk. I know there's a lot of criticism for the man, but he fights for free speech and in this day and age, that shouldn't be taken for granted.

I respect everyone's decisions and preferences. If you're an author or a reader, what are your favorite social media sites to promote your books, meet other writers, or in the case of readers, discover new books? I would love to know. I am sincerely curious about how everyone feels about the topic. 

Feel free to follow me on Twitter (@mimaonfire) If you're an author, I would love to retweet your book. If you're a reader, I share many indie author's books, so you might find your next, great read in my feed. 

And as always, thanks for your support. 

Books I'd recommend 📚

I recently was asked to make some book recommendations. I'm unsure if this person meant my books or general recommendations, so I did both. 

As for my books, I always recommend that people visit my website, check out my book covers, read the synopsis, and even jump on Amazon for a FREE sample. I'm not comfortable recommending my books because reading is a personal experience and it's always hard to predict what people want in a book. 

As for my go-to authors over the years, off the top of my head, VC Andrews, Kristin Hannah, and Lisa Genova. I mention all three ladies in my video (see below) but I forgot to mention another important one, George Orwell. Unfortunately, it's hard to say if that falls under fiction or non-fiction anymore. I love all these authors because they make me think. I love authors that leave me something to ponder, which is also what I hope to do with my own writing. 

Regarding non-fiction and more specifically, books I've read recently, one of my favorites is, A Woman Makes a Plan: Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty, and Success by Maye Musk. She's a smart, elegant lady with an honest approach to presenting life advice while sharing her story. Another would be Jordan Peterson's book, 12 Rules For Life (which I stupidly called 18 Rules For Life in my video below 🤦🏼‍♀️) As with Musk's book, Peterson's advice is practical, sensible, and in this day and age, a great guideline for readers. Like most books, you can take or leave the advice presented to you, but both authors have a lot of wisdom to share.

Of course, as I stated in the video, I've read many great authors over the years, including many independent authors. I love discovering new books and this list is not a complete one. If you want to see some of the books I've read over the years, check out my Goodreads profile and if you friend me, I will add you back. 

What are some books you recommend? Are you an author? Let me know and if you wish, I can share your books on my X account. 

Summer isn't over yet! Grab a book and go outside for a relaxing afternoon in the sun. ☀️

If you don't have a great book, I still have a few copies of my FREE ebook (pdf file) to give away. Just reply to this message or get in contact with me through social media. You can find me on all the big platforms @mimaonfire - Wondering what book I'm talking about? 

Check out the Amazon link to read a FREE sample and of course, if you'd rather a paperback version, you can order a copy on the site or whatever retailer you prefer. If you want to buy it from a local bookstore, ask the manager to order it to be picked up at the store and of course, you can always suggest it as a purchase to the closest library. In fact, this would be a terrific option because it would give more people the opportunity to discover my book. And remember, you don't have to read the entire series to enjoy the book. 


I have a couple new blogs and videos to share. 

Why I no longer bug the shit out of people for reviews (and what is way easier...)
   
     Rumble
     YouTube
     Blogger

Gangsters, villains, and vigilantes....and my Hernandez series 🔪

     Rumble
     YouTube
     Blogger


I continue to add my video library to TikTok. 

Thanks for checking out my newsletter! Enjoy the rest of your summer.

Mima

Protagonist switch....what does that mean? 🤔

One of my favorite things about writing is switching up the protagonist. So, what does that mean, exactly?

As you know, most books have a protagonist. Sometimes it is more than one character, but most times, there is one main character that the reader follows throughout their journey together. The great thing about this is that you can get an in-depth, personal understanding of that character. The not-so-good side is that you only get that character's perspective; therefore, it may need to be more accurate. Occasionally jumping to another protagonist allows you a broader view of the story. Think of it like talking to two friends about an argument they had as opposed to just one of them. One person may only mention some aspects of the argument, giving you a limited view of the scenario. Hearing both sides allows you to see both perspectives, allowing you a much greater understanding.

To have a better understanding, check out this video. 

Helping other authors 📇

As an independent author, I enjoy helping my community. It can be an uphill battle without the support of a traditional, larger publisher. You want to share your book with the world but must compete with best-selling authors, celebrity memoirs, and the internet. Despite your best efforts, it's often a challenge to get your book into a potential reader's hands. 

Trust me, I know.

Although I'm on various social media and try to post regularly on most, I prefer X (Twitter) because it tends to be the stomping ground for most authors. It's so easy to share other authors' books on my page. They often do the same for me too. It allows you to find a whole new set of eyes that might want the exact book you wrote. It's so simple to do, so why not?

I sometimes also purchase other indie authors' books and donate them to my local library. It's another easiest thing to do that helps an author's sales, while giving them a new, potential audience. 

Of course, there are many ways you can promote your book, such as creating and giving out bookmarks, having events at your local library or bookstore, or making videos like I do and hope someone watches. 😉 (hint hint)

Why you might like my books (even if you don't normally read) 🤔

Over the years, many people have told me they would read my book, but they aren't readers. In other words, they didn't have the time or weren't interested in reading a book. I never took offense to this because I can completely understand. As it is, I barely have time to read a page of a book some days, especially when life gets busy. 

My books are probably a little bit different. I try to essentially cut the crap out that makes people not want to read a book. What are those things?

 In my opinion, things like over-the-top descriptions of every detail of every room can be a bit too much for some readers. Don't get me wrong! I know some of you love that kind of thing, but if you aren't a reader (and you're busy) chances are, you might skip over that part because it's too much. 

I also write short chapters. I think short chapters make it a little easier to digest a story. You can find time to read a few short pages and feel you've accomplished something. 

Of course, I try to write a book that moves quickly and has compelling characters and storylines. I feel this is more important than going over the top to impress readers with your vast vocabulary. Sometimes, in fact, that can turn people off. 

What kind of things would make you read more? 

May 2023 Newsletter 🌼

I'm checking in for another month and giving you a quick update on new videos, blogs, and writing news!

First things first! May 1st marks another Book Birthday! 🎉🥳🎂 

The Rock Star of Vampires was released on this day in 2014!! Haven't read it? Click on the above link and read the first chapter for FREE on Amazon! To this day, it remains one of my more popular books.

What else is new? I'm working on book #18 (13th in the Hernandez series) along with dreaming up a new series! 🤔🦞   

I have a couple of news videos and blogs to share with you. Check them out and don't forget to like, share and subscribe! It all helps get my work out there for others to learn about, which is especially important now that Bill C11 (Canada) has recently passed. This may make it difficult for my videos to be found or discovered. It's FREE and easy to do, so please help me out.  🥰

What are your writing fears? 😱

     YouTube / Rumble / Blogger

Why Jorge Hernandez isn't in the first book of his own series? ☠️

     YouTube/ Rumble/ Blogger 

I have more videos and blogs to come! If you have a topic you would like me to discuss in future videos, please contact me through my social media of website.

Thanks for your support! 

What are your writing fears? 😱

If you always wanted to write a book but never started, what is the reason? Is it because you lack the time? Are you intimidated by the process? Do you have writing fears?

Writing a book is like eating an elephant; it's a one-bite-at-a-time process. You might only have a few free hours a week. You mightn't be able to write enough words. You may have a general idea but aren't sure how to communicate them. Many reasons might keep you from writing that book, but don't let that hold you back. If you want to write, start slow and see where it takes you. 

Remember, you don't have to share your writing with anyone. You don't have to announce you're about to write the next best-seller. You can work on it over months or years. You can start tomorrow and decide it's not for you. But I would recommend starting, even if that means writing a blog for your eyes only. Writing is cathartic. It doesn't have to have a purpose.

Concerns such as grammar, plots, and word counts shouldn't hold you back. I only check my word count when I finish a book. I don't care how many words I write per day. I never know the entire plot when I start a book. I allow it to flow naturally and see where it takes me. I don't worry about grammar because there are apps that can catch a lot, and friends and family will catch the rest. 

To learn more, check out my writing playlist for tips and ideas. 

Be your own media 📺🎙📻 (updated)

I wrote my first book in 2010, and at the time, the idea of getting media attention seemed essential. Having said that, when I finally did get an interview, I was a bumbling idiot when attempting to answer questions. I wanted to sound confident, but I wasn't. I wanted to say how great my book was, but I didn't want to sound arrogant. I quickly discovered that while I had a knack for throwing words together in writing, I wasn't so great at that whole talking thing.

What helped to improve my interviewing skills? My confidence grew after I started to record videos for my YouTube channel. When you record yourself speaking, you quickly catch some flaws upon playback, and this allows you to improve your weak areas while building confidence when speaking with a potential audience. I say potential audience because even though you record a video, it doesn't mean you're obligated to release it. The first few might be cringe-worthy, but that's ok because this is how you learn. How do you think all these well-spoken people in the media first learn how to talk on camera? No one is perfect the first time.

 Of course, the second problem is to get media attention at all. It's pretty easy when you're a best-seller with a big name and massive sales, but when you're new, unfamous, unrich, and untrendy, it's a whole other story. So, what do you do?

I'd recommend you take a stab at writing a press release. If you're not sure how to do so, find an example online and model yours off of it. Then send it to everyone; local, big and small newspapers, television and radio stations, free newspapers, and anyone else that might be interested. The key is to get as many sets of eyes on it as possible. You don't know who might be interested, and you never know who's paying attention.

Do press releases work? With some books I've published, they've resulted in radio and newspaper interviews and other times, one lone paper will contact me. It varies from book to book, the time of year, and other factors that sometimes you often can't predict. Newspapers are often downsizing, or have too many other things taking place at the time, competing for an editor's attention. Don't take it personally.

Whether or not the media contacts you, you have to take the bull by the horns. Write blogs, record videos for YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or whatever social media you use. Find creative ways to capture people's attention. When you think about it, the media is essentially the loudspeaker that lets the world know what's going on, but we live in a time where we have outlets to do this for ourselves. Social media is powerful, but at the end of the day, so are you.

Why readers love to be shocked? 🙀(Updated)

I'm sure there's a part of our brains that light up like a Christmas tree when we read something shocking. Let's talk about why. 

It's interesting how we're iffy about surprises in our everyday life, but we do love it in our entertainment. There's something about the unexpected that is alluring. I've often said that I'm sure there's a part of our brain lights up when something exciting or stunning happens to our favorite character (in books or television) that we never saw coming. That's entertainment.

When I'm writing a book, I tend to be very conscious of when the story starts to take a low point. It doesn't mean it's terrible to do so, but I don't like to have things go an even course for too long. My rule is if I'm feeling a little bored, so is my reader, and therefore, it's time to shake things up.

Shocks can come in many forms. It could be as simple as a character's comment or reaction to a situation or something more alarming, like violence, an impromptu sex scene, an argument, unexpected news, sudden death, illness, or when surprising characters show up. Of course, there are many other options, but the main idea is to add something that readers didn't see coming, and ideally, neither do you, as the writer.

Shocking twists keep the story alive. Readers want to be entertained, so entertain them.

Let's Help One Another! (Updated)

Independent artists and small business owners have a lot in common. They both work hard to get noticed (often as a side project along with a job) and don't have much money to invest in advertising. It's a struggle - but it's a struggle that's filled with passion. Anyone who has a side project probably isn't doing it for money alone because any new business owner or indie artist will tell you, it takes time to show a profit. They'll probably also tell you that they wouldn't be doing it if they didn't love it.

Somewhere between the time I published my first and second book, I had a friend insist I was crazy. Not to suggest she wasn't completely wrong, but her specific reason was that I invested in a book and advertising and wasn't making stacks of cash back. To her, I was wasting my time. Here's a spoiler alert; we weren't friends much longer. 😄

We have to follow our passion. It's not just for potential financial gains but the personal growth stemming from the challenges and the many learning opportunities along the way. Had I never written a book, would I be the same person? Where would I be now? Would I still be friends with that imbecile I mentioned in the last paragraph? I can't even imagine.

Artists and small business owners need to work together and help one another out. Be open-minded and know that by helping someone else, you're indirectly helping yourself too. It's an unselfish act that makes you feel pretty good about giving a hand to someone you know has been working hard to get ahead. Always be open to new ideas. Maybe you never considered (or wanted to) having a YouTube channel, but another artist suggests you start a project together. Maybe another business owner wants to collaborate on a promotion. Hear people out and consider their ideas. You never know where it might lead.

Follow your dreams because without them, what do we really have?

Support an indie author and they will love you forever ❤️ (Updated)

How can you help out an indie author? Here are a few suggestions:


1. Write a book review. It doesn't have to be fancy. It doesn't have to be very long either. Just something to let others know that you loved their book!

2. Social media!! You got to socialize. ☺️ Share, retweet, post a comment, like, share the author's
book cover on your wall. Be creative.

3. Suggest the book to your library. It gives the author a sale plus puts their book in more people's
hands.

4. Word of mouth! Talk about the books. Tell people.

These are just a few simple ideas. Thanks for the love.