Turn the Page Blog
Thoughts, Musings & Advice on All Things Writing
Why did I choose these books? You've heard me talk about some of them before, but there are some of the reasons:
· They have twists, turns, reveals, and reversals that completely surprised me
· They have compelling characters
· Their pacing and plotting is top-notch
· The vibe - the "feel" of book is unique
· They are fun homages to bookstores, classic authors, etc.
This week I’m talking about another favorite American author of mine, Joan Didion. She frequently explored themes of loss, identity, and alienation in her work, all universal human experiences that resonate with readers. Known for her distinctive literary style and insightful observations, aspiring authors can learn countless lessons from her work. Here are just four of those:
Pat Conroy’s writing style is/was descriptive, evocative, and lyrical, and it allows you to vividly imagine the landscapes, characters, and emotions he is depicting. He had a talent for capturing the beauty and complexity of the southern United States, and his descriptions of its people, culture, and history were both nuanced and powerful. His gorgeous descriptions of Charleston and Beaufort inspired me to make those stops on my first ever solo trip, and I'll forever be drunk on the memories of walking along the marshes on hot summer nights, the Spanish moss draping over the tree branches, just as he described.
Today's book review: Mrs. Mike, by Benedict and Nancy Freedman
This book taught me everything about making someone's (true) story accessible to readers. Katherine and Mike were sympathetic, enjoyable characters, for sure, but they were terrific guides into the world of wild Canada, somewhere I had certainly never been. The minor characters are even more enjoyable. Reading this book teaches you about so much, but it is written in such a beautiful way that you feel like it was a story made up just for you.
You just never know where your “big break” will come from as an author. Maybe it will be a book review, maybe it will be a chance encounter with a literary agent, maybe it will be a phone call made on your behalf. Who knows? The secret is to not depend on that big break, but rather to focus on doing the legwork to get yourself there.
A reading recommendation for authors and readers alike - The Maid is a mystery (the eponymous maid discovers a body at a swish hotel and soon finds herself in the frame for it), but the puzzle feels like the least important part of the story. Molly is such a compelling character, and the writing is just so good, that the whodunnit almost feels like an afterthought. I even found myself bawling multiple times while reading.
Today is the final (for now) newsletter/article featuring book recommendations. As mentioned over the past few weeks, books are, no surprise, my favorite things to talk about, and I get asked for recommendations all of the time. I've started a reading section on the Turn the Page website, so be sure to visit the site to get even more great reading ideas!
You Unstuck: Mastering the New Rules of Risk-Taking in Work and Life by Libby Gill
In You Unstuck, Libby Gill uses cases studies, client stories from her coaching work, and brain research to help readers understand the biological basis of fears that hold them back. She shows how to reframe what she calls Riskophobia, turn off the fear voices, and circumvent ancient defense systems. Readers can then create an Escalating Risk Hierarchy by "chunking down" their vision into small, actionable steps, ordered from least to most anxiety inducing. By combining stress-busting relaxation techniques with small action steps, the readers’ odds for realizing their vision greatly increase in this Relax, Risk, Repeat cycle. Gill also shows readers how to "Avoid Limiters & Embrace Liberators," keeping naysayers at bay while seeking influential supporters who can help free their creativity and productivity. Capitalizing on her business background, coaching expertise, and a personal history of risk-taking and resilience, Gill makes complex concepts relevant and accessible through immediately applicable tools, exercises, self-tests, and questionnaires that challenge readers to change.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ipD3Zp
Exactly What To Say: The Magic Words for Influence and Impact by Phil M. Jones
This is such a great, quick read, and it is packed full of fabulous information and advice. This is all about having better communication – knowing what to say, how to say it, and “how to make it count.” This is a great example of a business book that is well-written and to the point – Jones doesn’t waste time trying to teach you everything he knows, and he gives you tips that you can apply to your life immediately, so you can make changes today – not in some best-case scenario later on down the road.
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9781989025000
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CxSBBf
The Ultimate Guide to Platform Building by Wendy Keller
In the interest of full disclosure, Wendy is my former mentor and colleague – but she is also a longtime literary agent, industry insider, and platform guru.
If you are a writer, you NEED a platform – this is true if you are writing fiction, and it is ESPECIALLY true if you are hoping to build a career as a nonfiction author. The world of building (and sustaining) a platform is a new world for a lot of writers, and this book will help you get started, and start adopting the salesperson mindset.
(She also has a ton of great resources here.)
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9781599185989
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Cw5SdE
The Author Power Pack: 4 Mini-Trainings to Make Your Writing Dreams Happen and Get Your Book Published Now
Discover Industry Insider Tips and Tricks to FINALLY Write and Publish The Book You’ve Been Talking About Forever
I’m sharing:
• Why you need a nonfiction book proposal, how to write one, and how to make yours stand out from the hundreds of others agents and editors see every day
• The 16 common mistakes and missteps that even the best authors make when writing, editing, and pitching their manuscripts
• The #1 mistake that most authors are making (without even realizing it!) and how you can fix it so you can finally get your book written and published
• The 12 specific strategies my clients use to build their platforms
• The secrets to creating a stellar “elevator pitch” and becoming a pro at pitching yourself
Click the link below to purchase your game-changing Author Power Pack Today!
As mentioned over the past few weeks, books are, no surprise, my favorite things to talk about, and I get asked for recommendations all of the time. I've started a reading section on the Turn the Page website, but I will continue sharing some of those recommendations here!
These books are tons of fun, but the authors also know EXACTLY who their target audience is, and they deliver in spades.
Get Rich, Lucky Bitch: Release Your Money Blocks and Live a First-Class Life by Denise Duffield-Thomas
This book has been life-changing for me on a number of levels, but even on it’s own this is an almost perfect self-help/personal development book. Having a positive mindset is such an important part of succeeding in all areas of your life, including as an author, and Duffield-Thomas’ voice is so accessible – you feel like you’re talking to your best girlfriend.
The author is also great to follow because she is a rising queen of the platform. She knows her audience inside and out, and she is constantly innovating and connecting with them in new ways. A self-made millionaire, she initially self-published her books, but they were later acquired by self-help powerhouse publisher Hay House.
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9781788171335
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IBgR9g
To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion by Philip Greene
Whether or not Ernest Hemingway is your guy, this is a delightful book that is part-biography, part-cocktail appreciation. Written by the cofounder of the Museum of the American Cocktail (!!!), this takes a look at the myth and legend of Hemingway through a unique lens.
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9780399174902
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VWc45n
Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist by Tim Federle
Even if you are not a cocktail fan, you can appreciate this book for the punny drink names. The Last of the Mojitos? Love in the Time of Kahlua? Vermouth the Bell Tolls? Come on! Paired with witty commentary on some of the greatest books ever published, this book is a fun romp for all the fellow book nerds out there.
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9780762448654
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IBgR9g
The Author Power Pack: 4 Mini-Trainings to Make Your Writing Dreams Happen and Get Your Book Published Now
Discover Industry Insider Tips and Tricks to FINALLY Write and Publish The Book You’ve Been Talking About Forever
I’m sharing:
• Why you need a nonfiction book proposal, how to write one, and how to make yours stand out from the hundreds of others agents and editors see every day
• The 16 common mistakes and missteps that even the best authors make when writing, editing, and pitching their manuscripts
• The #1 mistake that most authors are making (without even realizing it!) and how you can fix it so you can finally get your book written and published
• The 12 specific strategies my clients use to build their platforms
• The secrets to creating a stellar “elevator pitch” and becoming a pro at pitching yourself
Click the link below to purchase your game-changing Author Power Pack Today!
As mentioned over the past few weeks, books are, no surprise, my favorite things to talk about, and I get asked for recommendations all of the time. I've started a reading section on the Turn the Page website, but I will continue sharing some of those recommendations here!
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
Full disclosure: this is my favorite book of all time. It’s an epic story of the extraordinary, turbulent Wingo family, and focuses on Tom Wingo and his gifted but troubled sister, Savannah. Conroy’s writing is out of this world, and it is impossible to not fall in love with his depiction of the beauty of the Low Country of South Carolina. Unforgettable.
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9780553381542
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GsAE82
In the Woods by Tana French
This is another great depiction of a world, though this one is way across the ocean. If you haven’t experienced Tana French yet, you should – and this (her first book) is a great place to start. This is the first book in the Dublin Murder Squad series, and, in my opinion, is still the best one.
In the summer of 1984, three children go into the woods, and don’t come out. When the police arrive, they only find young Rob Ryan, gripping a tree trunk in terror, and unable to recall a single detail of the time that has passed. Twenty years later, Rob is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad, working with his best friend Detective Cassie Maddox. When a 12-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, Rob is called to investigate – and comes face-to-face with his past. Complex, addictive, heartbreaking, and very atmospheric.
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9780143113492
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ItdSQl
Introducing the Author’s Roadmap, a boutique service offered to authors who are ready, really ready, to realize their long-held dreams of being published.
First we’ll begin with a 60-minute call in which we’ll get to know one another. You tell me about you and your book and what your big, audacious dreams are for getting it published (and even after that). You ask me whatever questions you have and together we identify which roadblocks are keeping you from getting to your last stop.
After we meet, you’ll send me your manuscript and I’ll dive deep within it, identifying which aspects will be most attractive to publishers, literary agents, and readers – and which might need a little work (and then I’ll tell you how to fix them).
Finally, I’ll give you the steps you will need to take to get your book published, and beloved by readers everywhere. Looking for a literary agent? I’ll tell you how to get there. Self-publishing? I’ll get you there, too.
It can be hard to know which way to go, and the options can feel overwhelming.
I’m here to get you where you need to be: published.
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