Tag Archives: self-published

Interviews, Writing

Writing Tips and a Poem from Joan Reid aka Gianna B. Reid

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“Writing Tips and a Poem from Joan Reid aka Gianna B. Reid” by Joan Y. Edwards

Hi, Joan Reid.  I’m very happy to have you as a guest on my blog today.
It’s a pleasure to be here with you. 

My readers are anxious to learn about you, so let’s get started.

a. Where were you born?
I was born in New York City.  My family moved to New Jersey when I was 2 years old. I have lived in New York State for the past 20 years.

b. Did you have a favorite place to read a book as a child? Where and why?
I read often on the couch in the living room or at the kitchen table after supper.

c. Who or what inspires you to keep on writing?
My parents and a grammar school teacher, then people whom I have met along the way, and now my husband, daughter and my friends…and you, Joan Edwards! (See Joan Edwards smiling)

d. What do you do for the pure fun of it?
I love riding my bicycle! It helps clear my mind for more writing.

e. What are your hobbies? Do you draw? Paint? Work with clay? Sew? Do woodworking?

Photography, creating collages, and reading are three activities I most enjoy.

f. What are your favorite books that you enjoy reading more than one time? Why?

  • A Year By the Sea by Joan Anderson; and
  • Tao of Writing by Ralph L. Wahlstrom

These books are vastly different, but each brings a fresh focus every time I read a passage.

g. Do you have a funny story to share?

I have a sense of humor for sure, but I cannot recall a specific funny story.

Incidents are funnier when I tell them.

h. Why do you write? 

My reasons for writing:  I have to write what I observe and feel; Writing is enjoyable and fun;  Writing is my connection to myself and others.

i. What are three tips for writers?

  1. When you write, don’t edit until all your ideas are down.
  2. Leave the piece for a day or more to look at it with fresh eyes. When you revisit the work you will be able to edit for content.
  3. READ!

j. What is the most essential ingredient of a poem?

For me, the most essential ingredient of a poem is emotion which is an intangible.

k. Do you have a poem you’d like to share with us that’s not in And the Woman Smiled and is shared first and exclusively in this guest post?

 

I am a Word – © Gianna B. Reid 2017

 

Poetry is—

words scribbled across people’s faces,

on objects, landscapes, in empty rooms,

the splendid and the ugly.

I see and feel words in open spaces, hallways,

in a blade of grass

looking upward to its sun-god.

Soaking in the 24-carat butter of

its rays smeared on blue-toast.

Can we separate ourselves from words?

I am a word.

Today, I am joy.

 

Aww! Thank you, Joan (Gianna B. Reid). That is a great poem.

l. Would you share three of your favorite poems? (Title and Author)

  1. “August” by Helen Maria Winslow
    https://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2013/08/todays-poem-by-helen-maria-winslow.html
  2. “The Sun Poem” by Mary Oliver http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/mary_oliver/poems/15800
  3. Numerous poems by Billy Collins
    https://www.poemhunter.com/billy-collins/poems/
  4. Numerous poems by William. S. Merwin
    https://www.poemhunter.com/william-stanley-merwin/

 

m. And the Woman Smiled is your latest book. What company did you choose to publish this poetry book?

I self-published it on CreateSpace.com/

n. Where can readers buy And the Woman Smiled?

Readers can purchase it on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Woman-Smiled-Gianna-B-Reid/dp/1545143323/ref

o. Did you pay for editing services before you submitted to CreateSpace?

CreateSpace does offer editing services. However, I did not pay them for editing services for “And the Woman Smiled.” I did all the formatting and editing myself.

p. Did CreateSpace design your cover? Did you have any choices?

CreateSpace has many choices of book covers, fonts, and trim-sizes on their website. I chose a design provided by CreateSpace.  

q. How are you marketing your book?

I sent review copies to publications that consider self-published poetry, and two local magazines in the Hudson Valley area.  And, I am thankful for this interview!

r. Did you get to choose the retail price for your book?

CreateSpace determined the retail price. There is a minimum charge which
I made every attempt to stay close to.

s. Were you ever traditionally published?

I was a contributor to a traditionally published book, The Bicycle Book – Wit, Wisdom & Wanderings, Published by Satya House.

t. What are the titles and links to your other books? Are they available on Amazon, too?

I have 16 titles on Amazon as Gianna B. Reid.

I self-published Life is a Bike;  and Yes We Can!

I contributed to the following book with Anisa Claire West:
Crime Flies! (Mystery Collection)
https://www.amazon.com/Crime-Flies-Mystery-Collection-Claire-ebook/dp/B00WIYC76Q/ref

Here are links to some of my other books:

Gold Trotter Mystery Series (First 3 from the 9-book series)

Dogs Never Lie
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C51ASDQ/ref

Blue Hill Heist
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DuGTU3E/ref

Until We Kiss
https://www.amazon.com/Until-We-Kiss-Revised-Expanded-ebook/dp/B00I2DOIJQ/ref

m. Do you have a blog?

My blog is: http://joansview-jbreid.blogspot.com

u. How can others connect with you on social media? 

Readers may connect with me on Facebook and Linked In.  Send an email request to me at joan.reid@yahoo.com

Short Bio

Joan Bellofatto Reid (Gianna B.Reid) began writing plays and short stories in elementary school. She has since written and produced several plays: The Jobless Chronicle (winner of Monologue Mania, performed at The Producer’s Club, NYC); and His Last Word, about Holocaust survivor, Primo Levi.  Life is a Bike was a newspaper column that appeared in the US and UK, the essays are available on Amazon.  She contributed essays to The Bicycle Book: Wit, Wisdom and Wanderings.  Other published works: “The Marriage Game”  “Path to Promise” (Student Aid Transcript Magazine); “Not a Fake Pollock” (Art Times); “Not Guilty” (Modern Collage).  Joan hosted a radio show, “Cool on the Groove” (Rockland World Radio) from 2003-2006, featuring authors, poets and journalists.  She currently freelances on education and healthcare; and writes poetry.

Wow! Joan Reid. I’ve really enjoyed learning about you. I had no idea you’d written so many books! I am very proud of you. Thanks again for being a guest on my blog.

Thanks for reading this guest interview.

 

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Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards, Author
Copyright © 2017-2019 Joan Y. Edwards
Flip Flap Floodle Will this little duck’s song save him from Mr. Fox?
Joan’s Elder Care Guide A guide to help caregivers and elders find solutions.

 

Interviews, Writing

Joy Smith, Author – Tell Me a Story, I’ll Bake You a Cake

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Joy Smith

“Joy Smith, Author – Tell Me a Story, I’ll Bake You a Cake” Interview by Joan Y. Edwards

Thank you for allowing me to interview you, Joy. It’s exciting that in October, 2016 you published “Tell Me a Story, I’ll Bake You a Cake.”
Joan, you are welcome.
My readers are looking forward to learning more about you and the self-publishing path you chose, so let’s get started.

1. Where were you born?
Richmond, Virginia

2. Did you have a favorite place to read a book as a child? Where and why?
Under the covers at night reading with a flashlight.  It was after my bedtime and my parents wouldn’t know I was still awake.

3. What’s your favorite book that you’ve ever read? Why?
Horton Hatches The Egg, by Dr. Seuss.  It was my first book.  I kept renewing it at the library so many times that my parents finally bought it for me.  I met Dr. Seuss at a book signing in New York in 1986.  I took my beat up, crayon marked Horton book with me and when he signed it he smiled and said,  “Do you know this is a first edition?”  Now I have a SIGNED first edition.  It’s one of my most prized possessions.

4. Why did you decide to write your cook book? How did you decide to tell a story with each recipe?
I wrote a cooking column, “Cooking With Joy,” for the Fort Mill Times for ten years.  My readers urged me to put these columns in a book, which I did.

5. Why do you write? 
I started writing as a kid and I’ve never outgrown it.  I just enjoy it.

6. What is your advice for writers?
Write about what you know.

Tell Me a Story, I’ll Bake You a Cake by Joy Smith

7. Why did you choose AuthorHouse to publish your book?
After speaking to several publishers I chose AuthorHouse because they were better suited to meet my needs.  I wanted a hardback book with glossy pages and color pictures in it.  Some didn’t give me this option.

8. Did you pay for editing services before you submitted your book to AuthorHouse? 
I hired Beth Crosby to edit it for me before I submitted it to them.

9. Who designed your cover?
Kim Hajas, a friend and well-known graphic designer designed the cover of my book.  Her company Hajas Design is in Fort Mill, SC.

10. In which formats is your book available?
It is available in paperback, hardback, and eBook.

11. Did you pay separately for ISBNs or were these included in a your package?
The ISBNs were included in the package by AuthorHouse.

12. Does AuthorHouse offer a book return agreement with book stores? Or do book stores take your books on consignment?
AuthorHouse has a book return agreement with book sellers.

13. How does AuthorHouse market your book?
They created a website for me, provided a variety of marketing tools such as business cards, postcards, bookmarks, and sent a detailed step-by-step guide to help me join social media.

14. How are you marketing your book?
I am marketing my book by:

  • Press releases, book signings, media coverage in newspapers and magazines
  • Facebook
  • Group emails to high school class, college class, clubs I belong to, and a long list of friends.
  • Contacting book stores, gourmet kitchen stores, and gift stores.
  • Being a guest speaker at several venues in the Charlotte area
  • Word of mouth

15. Did you get to choose the retail price for your book?
No.

16. Is the cost of the book to you as the author low enough that you can make a profit from your sales?
Yes.

Bio

Joy Smith lives in Fort Mill, South Carolina, with her husband and a quirky cat. She loves cooking, entertaining, traveling, playing tennis and bridge, riding horses, gardening when it’s not too hot (which is almost never in South Carolina), and enjoying good wine. Her sense of adventure has taken her to Antarctica on a National Geographic expedition, skydiving, climbing mountains, and searching for the perfect roller coaster.
Joy participated as a sous-chef on the Food Network show “Ready . . . Set . . . Cook”; was a guest chef on the NBC show Charlotte Today; taught a class, “From the Garden to the Table”; and wrote a popular cooking column, “Cooking With Joy,” for ten years. Readers have enjoyed her stories and recipes featured in several magazines and newspapers. Her stories will entertain you as you read Tell Me a Story, I’ll Bake You a Cake.
Buy a copy of her book:
AuthorHouse
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Visit Joy Smith’s website: http://www.cookingwithjoysmith.com

Joy, I know my readers enjoyed learning about you. Thank you again for sharing your publishing path with us.

Thank you for reading. Feel free to ask Joy a question or let her know your favorite recipe in the comment area.

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Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards, Author
Copyright © 2017 Joan Y. Edwards
Flip Flap Floodle Will this little duck’s song save him from Mr. Fox?
Joan’s Elder Care Guide A guide to help caregivers and elders find solutions.