Sam Swicegood

4 Seasons, 4 New Year goals for authors

December 23, 2019 Sam SwicegoodBlog

Here’s my New Years resolutions, but to help make them a reality, I’m setting due dates on them: each of the four seasons. Feel free to steal them and make them yours.

It’s time to have the book cover conversation

October 22, 2019 Sam SwicegoodBlog

I’ve rubbed elbows with self-published, independent-published, and even vanity-published authors on a daily basis. I’ve gone to conventions and browsed the author’s alley, and I’ve spent countless hours scouring the web for new reads. One thing[…]

Yes, self-published writers need a business plan

August 14, 2019 Sam SwicegoodBlog

I recently came across this article by editor Rob Bignell, an esteemed editor and owner of Inventing Reality Editing Service. And I thought I might offer another perspective.

5 rules for writing a plot twist

July 8, 2019July 8, 2019 Sam SwicegoodBlog

Think of the best twist you’ve ever read or seen. That incredible plot twist that blew you away. A perfectly-executed twist can make your readers scream “Aha” and pull them deeper into the climax of your book.[…]

5 Disney Princesses Reimagined as Stock Photos of Toast

June 25, 2019December 23, 2019 Sam SwicegoodMusings

Welcome back and check out this awesome article that definitely wasn’t created by a data-scraping bot or an unpaid social media intern! #1 – Princess Belle In this incredible reimagining, Belle is a stock photo[…]

Is it a vanity press?

June 14, 2019October 29, 2019 Sam SwicegoodBlog

It’s one of the most common questions for new writers who are querying their novel. “I got an offer! Is this a vanity press?” “Is this publisher legit?”

Advance Reader Copies: What they are, why they’re important

April 5, 2019April 5, 2019 Sam SwicegoodBlog

If you’ve ever worked in a bookstore, you’ve probably seen a stack of books labeled “Not for Retail Sale” sitting in a back room for people to peruse. What you may have not realized is[…]

FAQ for writers looking for advice on Social Media (Updated January 2019)

January 19, 2019June 14, 2019 Sam SwicegoodBlog

I belong to a handful of social media groups that target writers of all kinds. I see a lot of the same questions posted a lot, and wanted to do my part to help answer[…]

The Trust (Lampert Files #1)

January 16, 2019 Sam SwicegoodBlog

Buy it now on Amazon.com. Many years ago, a wealthy businessman left behind a trust whose sole purpose was to investigate the paranormal activities of a small Kentucky town. After the murder of a researcher[…]