What Goes in a Newsletter? (And I’m giving away a book)
As you can see, I’ve run out of Writer’s Window interviews to post. And I won’t have time until after this rapidly upcoming book deadline to do more of those (who would you like to see interviewed here?).
I am wanting to get my first monthly newsletter out on October 1. I have a couple of ideas of things I’d like to include in it, but other than book/manuscript production info, info about covers/release dates, etc., I’m not sure exactly what y’all might like to see in a monthly newsletter that would be different from what I do here.
So I need your suggestions of the types of articles/blurbs/info you’d like to see in my monthly newsletter. And when you leave a comment with a suggestion, your name will be entered into a drawing for a signed copy of either Love Remains or Ransome’s Crossing (or one of the others if you already have signed copies of both of those). Get two entries in the drawing by leaving one comment with suggestions for the newsletter and another comment with a wishlist of authors you’d like to see interviewed for Writer’s Window—or the second comment can be one or two quirky/zany questions you’d like to see used in the Writer’s Window interviews (no guarantee they’ll be used, though). Deadline to enter is midnight CDT tonight (9/27/10).
(And if you haven’t already signed up to receive the newsletter, you can subscribe here.)
Comments are closed.
KayeDacus.com 
I am excited about your newsletter! One thing I am interested in seeing would be ebook deals.
Also, I am interested in reading Depression Era inspirational fiction. Leisha Kelly does such a good job with this genre. Please consider an interview with her.
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All of my books are available in e-book format—is that what you mean? At this point, I don’t think I’m likely to be doing any separate e-book deals from my regular publishing . . . with three books a year, I just don’t have time.
I’ll see if I can find a way to contact Leisha Kelly. Part of the limitations of whom I might be able to interview is whether or not I have any way of easily contacting them.
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helpful writer tips? maybe links to literary agents you would recommend? spotlight on those who have influenced your writing? what gives you inspiration?
amber
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I’m trying to keep the newsletter as “reader” friendly as possible—in other words, to focus on stuff readers who aren’t writers will enjoy and find interesting. Since I cover so much writing-related information on the blog, also, I don’t want to double up.
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Have you interviewed Deeanne Gist before? I love her writing, and Mary Connealy, or Tamera Alexander.
Jenny B. Jones, Cathy Marie Hake….
Maybe ask them what their favorite food is?
What they love doing….
i cant really remember off the top of my head what you already ask the authors you interview.
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Mary Connealy was the first writer I featured for Writer’s Window:
I’ll definitely put the others on my list, as I know most of them and would love to feature them.
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thanks Kaye! Mary is so funny! It was a good interview!
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Okay, question #1’s answer: I was thinking about what would be a good idea for your newsletter, and I think a monthly book and movie recommendation would be good.
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That’s a great idea!
I’d love that…
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I like the idea of this suggestion . . . but am not quite sure how I can make this different from the movie features I already do on my blog. And since I really don’t have time to read anymore, I wouldn’t feel right recommending books I haven’t read myself.
What kinds of recommendations are you looking for, exactly?
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I don’t know, it was just something I was thinking of since movies are so prevalent on your blog. I was thinking maybe like your favorite movie for that month or something.
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“What movie I’m obsessed with this month” —something like that? đŸ˜‰
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Question #2’s answer: I have not really seen many interviews with Lynn Austin but she would be a neat author to interview. Hmm… Denise Hildreth, Julie Klassen. Lori Wick would be awesome too. I tried to think of some I had not seen before.
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I LOVE Lori Wick! She’s like one of my all time favorites!
Great ideas Adrienne
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From what I have heard, Lori Wick doesn’t do interviews—not even with actual media outlets, much less on a wee little blog like mine. Since she doesn’t really have an internet presence, I’m not even sure how to get in touch with her. But I’ll try, since so many have requested her.
I’ll add Denise Hildreth (who’s local here in the Nashville area, and whom I’ve met before) and Julie Klassen to the list.
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How about book or author recommendations for your newsletter?
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Again, as mentioned above, since I don’t really have time to read, I’m not sure I would feel comfortable doing this. But I’ll add it to the list of suggestions.
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When I read a newsletter most of the things I like to see are the things you put on your blog anyway. Things like new book updates, book signing announcements, pictures of you and the various people that come to the book signings are all usually included in other author newsletters that I see. An “At Home” feature would be nice. You take a picture/video of some particular place or thing in your house and write about it. If they don’t mind we always like read and see pictures of the author’s friends and family, church, etc. Some newsletters I’ve seen are basically a list of links to all the new blog/website updates. I really enjoyed the last newsletter that you did where you had the book covers for us to vote on.
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Some of these things (like book updates, new cover reveals, etc.) are going to move to the newsletter.
An “at home” feature from me would get tapped out pretty quickly, since it’s just me alone in a house with five rooms (and that includes the bathroom!). (I did post a video tour of my office on Facebook a couple of weeks ago—is that the kind of thing you’re talking about?)
Since I’ll probably be doing as much traveling next year as I did this year, including pictures of where I’ve gone and whom I’ve met will definitely be something I’ll include in the newsletter.
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I like this idea. I always think it is neat when authors have pictures of their travels. Jenny B. Jones does that sometimes.
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Oh, yes. There are lots of authors that I would like to see interviewed. Here’s a list for you.
Lori Wick, Robin Jones Gunn, Deeanne Gist, Karen Witemeyer, Julie Klassen, Gayle Roper, Margaret Brownley, Sarah Sundin, Ronie Kendig, Annalisa Daughety
Here are some questions to ask them.
What are your top five favorite books/authors?
What are your top five favorite films?
What’s your favorite food?
What’s your idea of a romantic get-away/evening?
What’s the strangest gift you ever received?
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I’ll add these authors and questions to the list.
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I have an idea for your newsletter. As a writer myself, I always have questions that pop up, and I will undoubtedly forget them by the time our writer’s guild meeting takes place. If you had an area for questions about style, grammar, publishing, submissions, etc., it would help all of us who love to write.
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A Q&A section is a great idea!
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I can’t even imagine having to write a newsletter on top of writing books!!! Your newsletters are always fun to read, so it’s hard to even think of any suggestions…recipes, maybe? I guess it’s a cool, rainy day, so I’ve got snacking & reading on my mind! LOL!!
Take care!
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You know, I do include lots of references to food in the books . . .
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Three authors jump to mind…Debbie Macomber, Susan Wiggs & Brenda Novak. Thanks!
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Any idea how to get in touch with any of them?
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How about a scripture or uplifting quote of the month? I’m always curious about a writer’s personal life. If you’re comfortable with sharing — just a simple little ditty that helps your readers get to know you better. Like if you’re a gardener, what you’re planting, or what’s eating your plants alive — or if you’re a knitter, what project you’re working on. You’ve shared your musical talent in the past which is kind of hard to share on a newsletter, but even mentioning a favourite hymn, including the words each month would be a fun and uplifting way to get to know you better.
About authors to interview: There are some great new authors just releasing books that would likely be pleased for more internet coverage as they’re just getting started. Authors like:
Melanie Dickerson (just released YA Healer’s Apprentice)
Lorna Seilstad (just released Making Waves)
Shannon Taylor Vannatter (released White Roses — Heartsong book club — in the spring but it will be hitting bookstore shelves in November so that’s kind of like a second debut)
Tina Russo Radcliffe — (first Love Inspired novel coming out January 2011)
That’s just a few I can think of for right now!
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Thanks, Kav—I love featuring new/little-known authors, and I’m pretty sure I can get in touch with all of them!
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I like little pieces from the authors real life. Not anything too personal but I enjoy knowing what they do with their family, free-time, etc. I also enjoy hearing quirky stories that happens to them while writing (if any.)
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Great suggestions, Wendy!
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I would love to see Sigmund Brouwer interviewed and Francine Rivers.
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I’ve never heard of Sigmund Brouwer. I’ll try to get Francine Rivers, but she/her publisher just did a huge push for her recent release, so I may have missed my opportunity to get her. But we’ll see.
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Since your blog is so writer-in-training oriented I would second your idea that your newsletter be more reader-only friendly – and in that vein – don’t worry about doubling-up – more than likely those who get the newsletter won’t read your blog on a regular basis and those who read the blog on a regular basis probably won’t read the newsletter (case in point – I read Angela Hunt and Kristin Billerbeck’s blogs on a daily basis and I always ignore the newsletters when they come in but some of the other writers – I don’t even have them liked on Facebook, but I read the newsletter when it comes out)
I would second (or third) having a movie blurb but I wouldn’t recommend doing a book review (even if you were reading books right now) because the newsletter should be all about YOU
I second (or third) the idea of having a scripture and/or short devo
I second (or third) the idea of having a recipe (as long as its legal to reprint)
Have a section of upcoming events (have all upcoming events, not just those that are between “now” and the next newsletter)
And a little blurb about what you’ve been up to (places you’ve visted, deadlines, etc…)
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Editorial tidbit:
Recipes are not copyrighted. Though it’s a good idea when re-using one to do a little tweaking and reworking to make it your own (which is easy enough to do if you make notes while you’re testing the recipe). I learned this when working for Ideals Publications, where we produced cookbooks and regularly included a dozen or so recipes in the holiday-themed Ideals Magazines and 160-page holiday-themed giftbooks that were sent to Guideposts subscribers.
So I’m all over the recipe thing!
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Huh. When I agreed to review a recipe book that was a tie-in for a book series we were told we could only print one of three recipes from the book because of ….copyright….laws – maybe they just told us that to keep us from giving away recipes to people – maybe they were afraid if there were too many recipes posted that people wouldn’t buy the book (legitimate fear).
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Here’s the actual copyright law on recipes:
http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl122.html
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Hi Kaye,
I love that you’re doing a newsletter cause I love reading them and catching up with my favorite authors, of which you’re now one!
I like reading about what the author is doing, what they’re currently working on, maybe a favorite recipe, how their pets are (I’m a major dog lover.), what their tour schedule is. Maybe a short devotional or favorite scripture.
I think I’d like you to interview Cathy Marie Hake, Mary Conneally, Tamera Alexander, Debrorah Raney, Jamie Carr, Delia Parr, Robin Lee Hatcher, Francine Rivers, Kim Vogel Sawyer, Susan Paige Davis, MaryLu Tyndall, Robin Caroll, Linda Windsor. Any or all of those. Wait, I forgot Minday Starns Clark. I love hearing about all my favorites.
Looking forward to the newsletter!
Susan Snodgrass
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Here’s my feature on MaryLu Tyndall:
And Mary Connealy:
I’ve added the rest to my list!
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Definitely interview Mindy Starns Clark. If you haven’t read her Million Dollar Mystery Series you have missed out big time. You have to read them in order though. They are going to be re-released in 2011. Wonderful books! You not only get great mysteries, but you learn alot about non-profit organizations (the heroine’s job) and the further you read in the series the more you learn about the characters’ personal lives as well.
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I love that your going to do a newsletter. I enjoy getting your email, and best of all I adored your book you sent me. I did leave comments on Goodreads, Amazon, Christianbooks, and BarnesandNobles. Thank you so much for the privilege!
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Thanks, Maureen!
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Something that has been niggling at my brain since ACFW is the growth of speculative, sci-fi, and fantasy fiction in the CBA. What about a spotlight on different genres? We’re not just bonnets and Christian chick-lit anymore (although I must admit I do love chick-lit, even though the term has gotten a really bad rap lately).
Another idea is contest or award-winners. Maybe the Carol award winners? or the Editor/Agent of the year winners? As both a reader AND a writer, I like to know what other writers like!
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Hmmm . . . those sound more like topics to explore here on the blog for a more general audience. As Leslie mentioned (and as I was told repeatedly in the marketing seminar I went to), the newsletter should be more focused on me, personally, and on my books/life/interests, etc.
My problem is that I don’t find myself that interesting, so it’s hard to know what kinds of things readers might be interested in knowing about me.
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Hey, all–
I really like the Q&A idea. So what are some of your Qs that I can A in the October newsletter this week?
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Here’s a question: What is your favorite football team and why? (I notice all your tweets, you know!)
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how about tour dates? A book list of all your books. And a list of what you are reading or have read this month.
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The first two I can do. The third . . . that’ll be a pretty empty space unless I list the books I’ve edited.
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The author I’m curious about is Dee Henderson. Is she writing anymore?
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I haven’t heard about anything coming out by her recently.
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Okay, here is my question: Where is the place that gives you the most inspiration when writing a book, if you have one?
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Great question!
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Here are more authors to interview (I like the suggestions already made): Nancy Moser, Stephanie Grace Whitson, Rene Gutteridge, Judith Miller, Nancy Mehl and Deborah Vogts. These are all wonderful ladies and great writers. They have all been gracious enough to meet with my Christian fiction book club. Kim Vogel Sawyer and Deb Raney have too but they have already been mentioned.
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I featured Nancy Mehl about a month ago:
I’ll add the rest to the list.
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You can find the list of published authors and unpublished writers I’ve already featured on Writer’s Window here.
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