Author: Brenda Poulos

Will This Work for Me?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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PickFu.com is a consumer research platform that instantly connects authors to real people giving honest opinions. In just minutes, you’ll get in-depth insights on ideas, products, designs, and more!    

Last week, I said I was going to try this with a couple of versions of my title. I found that a “free” membership is just $1 per response. It covers 7 poll types, 90+ audience traits, and 12 countries (15 million respondents worldwide).

All of this sounds wonderful, but I’m not ready to jump, yet.

I need the assurance that I can just poll in the US and that I can put a cap on the number of responses I can afford to pay for.

Stay tuned.

Will Yours Be One of the 800,000?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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Fiction authors, did you know there were 800,000 NEW TITLES published last year?

Just like singers and actors who think up things to make them stand out in a sea of their contemporaries, we must find ways to do the same.

I’ve received this advice this week: Target the right demographic, then focus on your book’s TITLE. Consider your book’s contents and then: 1) Write one that communicates the promise of your book, 2) Make it intriguing, 3) Be concise, 4) Create tension.

Last week, a few of you “voted” for your favorite (among three) title for my new book.

Since there was no clearcut “winner”, I broke my own rule by consulting AI. Here’s AI’s title, which I personally don’t like but realize it just might fit the above criteria: The Baby Between Us. 

Please weigh in on this one, if you’d like.

In addition to your input, I am going to visit a website that was recommended to me to test my title. It is called PickFu.com and I will let you know next week if it was helpful. I know there is a free trial available, but can’t seem to find the cost of joining this. (Not sure if it would be cost effective, either, since how often does one choose a title–once or twice a year?

      

Perhaps the Most Important Words

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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Fiction authors, once you have decided on a title and cover, turn your attention to the back cover copy—which may be the most important words you’ll write.

Why?

Because it is an ad for your book, read by shoppers after the cover and title grab them. (It may take a while to write, but remember if can also be used as your Amazon description.)

This summary of what your book is about, should only be a paragraph or two, and include the story’s most compelling plot points. 

The best descriptions will end with an intriguing question or something that will hook the reader.

You should leave enough room for a professional-looking, clear photograph of your face.

Next to it, include a mini-bio. Your formal author bio should also be included INSIDE, near the back cover. 

If you have room on the back cover, you can include one or more endorsements. Some authors use endorsements instead of a book description.

But, a word of caution. The endorsements should be from well-known authors in your genre. Any others you may have can be used as reviews.

The Back Cover

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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Fiction authors, once you have decided on a title and cover, turn your attention to the back cover copy—which may be the most important words you’ll write.

Why?

Because it is an ad for your book, read by shoppers after the cover and title grab them. (It may take a while to write, but remember if can also be used as your Amazon description.)

This summary of what your book is about, should only be a paragraph or two, and include the story’s most compelling plot points. 

The best descriptions will end with an intriguing question or something that will hook the reader.

You should leave enough room for a professional-looking, clear photograph of your face.

Next to it, include a mini-bio. Your formal author bio should also be included INSIDE, near the back cover. 

If you have room on the back cover, you can include one or more endorsements. Some authors use endorsements instead of a book description. Your choice.

But, a word of caution. The endorsements should be from well-known authors in your genre. Any others you may have can be used as reviews, if the authors have read your book.

Help Me Title My Book

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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What’s harder than writing a book? For me, it’s choosing a title!

I’m having difficulty choosing a title for my latest book. It is a story about three families who live in a fictitious town, Sunset Pointe. Readers will experience a full range of emotions caused by the decisions these people make. Realistic dialogue and flawed characters are “trademarks” of my page-turning novels.

I am hoping to choose a title that intrigues, yet doesn’t “give away” too much.

Here are some titles I am considering. Would you please read these and then offer your opinion? Which one would you most likely “buy” on the basis of title?

Either explain your reasoning, or simply share the number of the title. If the choice is hard, perhaps rank your top three.

Thank you for your help!

    1. Miracles in Sunset Pointe

    2) Finding Love in Sunset Pointe

    3) Miracles in Sunset Pointe: A Story of Love and Forgiveness

    4) Finding Love in Sunset Pointe: Unexpected Blessings

    5) Sunset Pointe: The Miracle of Finding True Love

    6) Sunset Pointe: BOUND BY FAITH, REDEEMED BY LOVE

    The Browser Bar and the Rule of Three

    Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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    Sometimes a good subtitles can be the difference between your book selling and it being ignored in the marketplace. 

    A title may get all of the attention, but a subtitle hooks the reader because it gives added information, such as whether the book will be humorous, scholarly, etc. It helps readers decide whether to purchase your book—or not. But, most importantly, it should contain KEYWORDS that potential readers type into their browser bars to FIND YOUR BOOK. 

    TITLES ARE OFTEN VAGUE.

    KEYWORDS ARE SPECIFIC.

    Since brain research tells us that humans best remember things in groups of threes, experts suggest subtitles use the “Groups of Three” rule. For example: Finding Happiness: List here three ways that are covered in your book.

    Sound easy? It’s not. Especially for fiction writers. There are often not three recognizable keywords. That’s the nature of the beast. So, for us fiction writers we need concentrate on those keywords.

    I’m going to purchase a vanity light for my bathroom today. The browser bar is my friend. I type in the size (23-25 inches), the number of lights (2-3), and color (matte black). Once I do that, I end up with photos of lights that should be similar to what I want. Then, I can whittle down my list further by price, manufacturer, and style.

    Remember: Readers are first shoppers. And this is what shoppers do every day. 

    Make the browser bar your best friend by feeding it KEYWORDS.

    Runaways: The Long Journey Home

    Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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    It’s unbelievable, but this is the 10-Year Anniversary of the publishing of my first novel, Runaways: The Long Journey Home. 

    I wrote the book as a promise to myself to do so when I retired from elementary school counseling/ teaching. 

    I had long “suffered” from a recurring dream in which a boy ran away from his abusive father. My book uses that dream as a springboard for a story which takes the reader inside the mind and emotions of both the abused and the abuser.

    I’ve found that readers’ tastes haven’t changed that much in a decade. They still want to be taken into the depths of the human psyche… inspired by the struggle of identifiable characters who confront their fears… and ultimately win over the forces of evil.

    If you’ve read and enjoyed A Child Called It, and The Lost Boy by David Pelzer, you will find my story equally compelling. With its underlying message of forgiveness, it is sure to inspire and encourage readers to become overcomers in their own lives.

    As a a way of celebrating my anniversary as an published author, please enjoy the Runaways e-book free this week, October 6-10,2025.

    Here’s the URL:  amazon.com/dp/B01A5X5LZK Be sure to choose the e-book!

    More on Creating That “Book Buzz”

    Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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    Be sure to start talking early—months ahead of time—via social media: Facebook, X (Twitter), Pinterest (Yes, it’s not just for hairstyles, recipes, and decor), Goodreads, and so on.

    Post/Blog: Whether you have a book coming out or not, you should be connecting at least weekly. Besides writing a blurb, you can include RELEVANT images, quotes, excerpts, etc.

    Cover Reveal: Reveals aren’t just for baby announcements! You can narrow your cover choices down to two or three, and ask for opinions on Facebook, for example. (I couldn’t resist the opportunity to show off my romance novel’s cover, above.)

    Once you’ve chosen a cover, post it. Thank participants by offering them “freebies” in exchange for their email addresses.

    Get That “BUZZ”

    Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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    Authors, you can use book reviews to build credibility and buzz about your book BEFORE IT IS PUBLISHED.

    Here’s how:

    1- Identify reviewers who read in your genre. (In other words, if you write mysteries, target people who read mysteries—or, better yet, other mystery authors who are willing to review your book for you.)

    2- Offer to review their work, in exchange for their review of yours. (If they are not an author, offer them a free, signed copy of yours AND let them know their review will be published on the back cover of your book or inside page following the title page).

    3- If you don’t have contacts of your own, you can use platforms, such as BookSirens or Net Galley, but they require a fee and the sending of free copies to their reviewers.

    On those platforms, you are able to read reviews written in the past, and choose one or more reviewers (based on what kind of job you think they did) to review your book.

    **Stay tuned. More information in next week’s blog.

    Don’t Jump Into This Blindly

    Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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    An internet search will tell you that thousands of retirees aspire to be authors, with the goal of writing the next best seller.

    But, did you know that less than 2% actually go down that road?

    Before embarking on any new career, and especially that of writing, it’s important not to jump into it blindly.

    Here are some things to consider:

    Can you give it your all? Have you interviewed writers—or at least read about them—to find out if the life of a writer is really what you envisioned?

    Then answer this question:

    What will motivate you enough to get started? Money? Fame? The fun of creating a “story”?

    And this one:

    Are you able to set aside a block of time each day to write? Realistically, will you follow through?

    And finally:

    Will you allocate a portion of your finances to go to conferences, purchase books on writing, publishing/marketing, and so on? An internet search on the cost of these can be daunting, but it will help you immensely in the decision process.

    Hopefully, I haven’t burst your bubble. If you’re still interested in writing, visit my website at www.brendapoulosauthor.com