Happy Monday!
If you didn't notice, I've been featuring Kindle Vella authors lately.
Why?
Because it's a great format for people who want their stories in bite-sized chunks.
Here's how it works:
Authors write their story in a serial format - episodic, like television.
Each episode is between 600 and 5000 words.
The first three episodes of EVERY story, in EVERY genre, from EVERY author, is FREE
That's right!
You can read three episodes of anything and get a feel for the story, characters, writing, plut, all the goodness, for FREE.
After that, you unlock story episodes at the rate of one token per 100 words. 1243 words? 12 tokens, it always rounds down.
Then, if you're new to Kindle Vella, Amazon will GIVE you tokens to buy more episodes. I think they're giving out 200 tokens, which is 20000 words!
After that, tokens work our to a penny (or less) each. The biggest package gets you 1700 tokens for $15.
Let's learn more about Anna!
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I was 12, and participated in school project. My history teacher wanted us to get a feel of what it was like to be a solider at war during Christmas time, and to write home to his parents. That’s when it started, when I pretended to be a WWII solider that was still a kid writing home, while in a fox hole.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
Just about anywhere really. The mob series I’m writing was inspired by a Nora Roberts Novel. My Kindle Vella serial was inspired by a line in Blue Bloods.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I read my stuff out loud, pretending I’m an audio book reader.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
For the most part google. But if it happen to know someone with the information I need, I’ll contact them first hand.
When did you write your first book and how old were you?
2020, I was 34 and very much pregnant.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Reading, taking care of my family and reading.
What does your family think of your writing?
Some of them enjoy it, can’t praise it enough, while others refuse to read it because of the subject content. My writing can be very spicy and very violent. But don’t worry, I never write spicy violence.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
One thing, more like many things. However I would say the most surprising thing is with the right program/equipment, you can literally see your book come to life. (*Cough, I’m talking about Vellum, Cough Cough*)
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I’m currently working on Book three plus a Kindle Vella Serial. Currently I would say the Kindle Vella Serial is my favorite.
Do you have any suggestions to help someone become a better writer?
If so, what are they? Make sure you listen to critique. Sure some of it may hurt, but remember it’s meant to help you grow and improve. But ignore the trolls, because all they want to do is make you feel bad because they can’t feel good.
What are common traps for aspiring writers?
In my opinion I would say solicitation emails stating that can get your book out there and all you have to do is pay a fee. I’m sorry to say I participated in a few of these and were nothing but a waste of money because my sales didn’t increase jack squat.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Probably the same things I’m writing now. Only they’d be a lot sweeter and less spicer.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Honestly, Vellum and pro-writing aid. When you're an indie author you need all the help you can get with as little cost as possible. Granted these items aren’t cheap once you buy them, but they’re either one time payments or long term subscriptions which ends up paying for itself because of how often you use them and how valuable they are to your story telling.
What do you have coming next? T
he second novel in my mafia series called Road to Fate. The second book is Inseparable.
