A Daily Cup of Jo

Your hostess with the mostest, Jo Michaels, of the Jo Michaels blog, interviews author Rachael Brownell about her book convention, Great Lakes Book Bash, happening in Kalamazoo, MI, October 27-28, 2017. We'll be discussing why she holds GLBB, what inspired her to do the first one in 2015, and what plans she has for the fun in 2017! Conventions are popping up all over the United States, but so many authors have been duped out of their money. Know where to go and who to trust. Only the most trusted conventions and signings are talked about on A Daily Cup of Jo. Follow Rachael on Facebook and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/RachaelBrownellAuthor  and  https://twitter.com/HoldingOn2013 Check out the conference website: https://greatlakesbookbash.com/

Your hostess, Jo Michaels, of the Jo Michaels blog, talks about author conventions. Some she's attended, some she hasn't, but all are worth checking out. Plus, a special announcement (or two). Be sure and pop back by Friday as I'm joined by Author Rachael Brownell to discuss Great Lakes Book Bash! But, for today, here are the links you'll need: http://roanokeauthorinvasion.com http://utopiacon.com http://chaptercon.weebly.com http://ozarksindiebookfest.com http://greatlakesbookbash.com If you missed my interview with the amazingness that's Liz C. Long, the lady behind RAI, you can find it in my podcast archives or click here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/adailycupofjo/2015/07/24/roanoke-author-invasion-information-with-liz-c-long If you're dying to find out more about Ann Aguirre, you can find her online here: https://www.facebook.com/ann.aguirre or here: https://twitter.com/MsAnnAguirre And you can find her books on Amazon here: Enclave (book one of the Razorland Trilogy) and Mortal Danger (read chapters 1-5 here on Amazon for free).  

Author Jo Michaels discusses earnings of Indie authors and those published with a small press as well as those published with one of the big five. If you've ever wondered why you should go Indie, this radio show gives you one reason: author payouts. If you take marketing and all the other jazz out of publishing, and just focus on the earnings numbers, it might give you some insight into just how many books you have to sell in order to make a certain amount of money. I'll be breaking it down for you. Be sure you have pen and paper handy. This is going to be fun! Our base numbers will be $4.99 for the ebook against earnings of $5k. I will NOT be factoring in KU pages read numbers or earnings. Book mentioned on the show can be found here: Bean Counting for Authors: Helping Writers and Creative Business Owners Grasp Accounting and Taxes by Christina Mercer

You get a book review and reading of blurb and opening pages from A. R. Torre's The Girl in 6E. That link will take you to the book's page on Amazon so you can purchase it if you want (and if you're over 18 years of age, you want). Other books in the series include Do Not Disturb and If You Dare. Those links also go to Amazon. I reference my earlier blurb fest for my Utopia 2016 book haul here on BTR during the show. You can find that episode here. If you'd like to give Alessandra Torre a follow on all the social media stuffs, head on over to Twitter or Facebook. Those links go to her individual pages so you can click "follow" or "like." You can find my text review on my blog here.

Your host, Jo Michaels, of the Jo Michaels blog, dives into the number skewing happening in the book world by the big publishing houses, and she warns you why you shouldn't believe everything you read. Prefacing all serious discussion is a book review of the fourth and final novel in the Award-Winning, YA, Tala Prophecy series by Tia Silverthorne Bach. In the series are: Chasing Memories (book one), Chasing Shadows (book two), Chasing Destiny (book three), Chasing Eternity (book four), and Chasing Forgiveness (the companion novella). Those links will take you to Amazon where you can pick up Chasing Memories FREE and get started on this amazing series. I mention my reviews for the previous books during the show. You can find them on my blog via the following links: Chasing Memories Chasing Shadows Chasing Forgiveness

My Utopia con 2016 book haul. Blurbs, authors, and all things bookish. Here are the books I'm talking about today: Myst by Stacie Wilson Starstruck by Brenda Hiatt The Girl in 6E by A. R. Torre Dream Girls - Piper by Carrie Thomas Infallible by Bailey Quinn Unwilling by K. D. Wood Unloved by K. D. Wood Revolution Anthology by several authors Bean Counting for Authors - Helping Writers and Creative Business Owners Grasp Accounting and Taxes by Christina Mercer Hear the Crickets by B. J. Sheldon Abby and the Mystic Dancers by L. C. Miller Gilt: by Invitation Only by Geneva Lee You'll hear the blurbs today, and I'll be doing a brief reading from each of these books at a later date on the show.

Debonair guest host and book reviewer Ethan Gregory interviews the award-winning authors of the new release 7. Casey L. Bond, Jo Michaels, Tia Silverthorne Bach, Kelly Risser, and N. L. Greene are the masterminds behind Fractured Glass, and they've come together once again to break traditional thought and construct of what should go into a multi-authored novel. Ethan will ask the women questions he had while reading the book, regale you with his charm, and surprise them with his witty banter while giving you insight you won't get anywhere else. Listen in for details about the book you won't get any other way. Follow Ethan and the authors on Twitter: @egrgry, @AuthorCaseyBond, @WriteJoMichaels, @Tia_Bach_Author, @kar2b, @AuthorNLGreene

Join host Jo Michaels, of the Jo Michaels blog,  as she interviews Utopia veteran and best-selling author Chelsea Fine. She's the author of several contemporary romance novels, including Best Kind of Broken (Finding Fate book 1). You can pick up this newest novel here on Amazon. Chelsea has been with Utopia since year one, and she's commonly a guest speaker at author cons around the US. You can find her on her website, on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Give this little lady a follow and expand your worldview!

Book blogger and Indie author Jo Michaels interviews author and poet HD Gordon to discuss her Utopia con revelations. HD writes young adult and adult fiction, and she has a collection of poetry titled A Mustard Seed you can snap up here on Amazon. But, truly, the book we'll be discussing most is Blood Warrior the first book in Gordon's New Adult Alexa Montgomery Saga. It's about vampires and a girl bent on revenge. HD was also a Quarter-finalist in 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award (which is very difficult to do). Join us as we find out where the idea for the series came from, and find out what HD learned about, and took away from, Utopia. You can find HD on her Amazon author page here, or her website here.

Your host, Indie author and blogger Jo Michaels, interviews romance author Mary J. Williams. She's a finalist in the 50 Greatest Authors You Should be Reading contest. We'll discuss her Harper Falls series (If I Loved You, If Tomorrow Never Comes, If You Only Knew, If I Had You) and her Hollywood Legends series (Dreaming With A Broken Heart), talk about where she sees herself in five years, find out what her goals are as an author, and maybe give you all a little reading from one of her novels. If you'd like to follow Mary on social media, you can do so on Facebook here.

Join host Jo Michaels, of the Jo Michaels blog, and author Teal Haviland as they discuss books, writing, and UTOPiAcon! Teal has been with Utopia since the beginning, and she won an award at UtopYA 2013 for Debut Novel of the Year. We'll be discussing her social networking site for authors My Endless Endings (MEE), awards she's won, and her books. Included in her awesome lineup is Inception (The Reaping Chronicles, 1). You can check it out on Amazon here, and follow her author page by giving it a like here. You can also find Teal's page for The Reaping Chronicles on Facebook and give this lovely author a follow on Twitter!  

Join Indie author and blogger Jo Michaels as she interviews author Silvia Stein. You can check out Siliva's blog here! She's the author of Closure and Chasing Clarity, and she's the recipent of the following awards: The International English Award, The National Society of Leadership and Success Award, and The International English honor society (Sigma Tau Delta). Today, she'll be chatting about Chasing Clarity and reading you a little excerpt she's prepared. Stay in here until the end! Check out Silvia's Facebook page or join the release day event while your'e at it! Here's the hashtag for the Twitter chat: #SylChasers

Book blogger and Indie author Jo Michaels interviews author BJ Sheldon to discuss her Utopia con revelations. BJ was on the team that won the first annual Utopia Lip Sync competition, is a fierce dancer, and to top all that, she's also an award-winning author. Her titles include: Haunting, Imprint, and Inevitable, books one through three of The Dusty Chronicles, and the upcoming Hear the Crickets: book one of The Gibborim Series. We'll be talking about BJ's intro into writing, where her motto “Be Ceaseless” comes from, her Utopia con revelations, and we might just touch on her books (I'm kidding! We're all about those books!).

Blogger and Indie author Jo Michaels interviews UTOPiAcon attendee Christina Benjamin. She's the author of the award-winning young adult series The Geneva Project.  It's a timeless tale of a young girl's adventure to find friendship, love and her true identity.  Along the way she discovers mysteries, legends, creatures and that anything is possible. Book 3, Lies was recently released. You can find it on Amazon here. Christina was born in GA, grew up in PA, and now lives in FL. She strongly believes in finding what makes you happy and doing it.  Her hope for The Geneva Project is that one day, with each book she sells, she can donate one book to a school or program in need of reading material for children. Find out more about Christina on her website here.

Blogger and Indie author Jo Michaels interviews UTOPiAcon veteran Stacey Rourke live on air. She's won the following: RONE Award for Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012 for Embrace, a Gryphon Series Novel Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012 Turning Pages Magazine Winner for Best YA book of 2013 & Best Teen Book of 2013 Stacey Rourke is the author of the award winning YA Gryphon Series as well as the chillingly suspenseful Legends Saga. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. She loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction,  and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. Stacey can be found on her website here. Her most recent release is Steam, book 3 of the Legends Saga. You can check it out on Goodreads here. Info on the Once Upon a Book Author Signing here.

Host Jo Michaels, of the Jo Michaels blog, and award-winning author Tia Silverthorne Bach discuss UTOPiAcon and the revelations had at the conference. Tia is the author of the young adult paranormal shifter series The Tala Prophecy that includes Chasing Forgiveness--nominated for best companion novella at the 2015 Utopia awards ceremony. You'll learn how she found out about the conference, what she learned from it, and why she plans to keep going back each year. We'll also discuss the anthologies she's been a part of the last two years that started with Fractured Glass. Give Tia a follow on Facebook and Twitter.

Links to all the books I'll be talking about today are below. I know you love to be read to, so hang on to your hats and let's get grooving with the reading! ***NOTE: I'm only reading the first little bit, the same thing you can read for free on Amazon or another platform.*** I do hope you'll take a chance on some of these awesome books. Unwilling - Kindle Edition $2.99  ~  Soul Rebel - Kindle Edition FREE  ~  Don't Call Me Kit Kat - Kindle Edition $2.99  ~  Shadow Blues - Kindle Edition $0.99  ~  I, Zombie - Kindle Edition $3.99.

Join host Jo Michaels, of the Jo Michaels blog, and author Amy Evans as they discuss books, writing, and UTOPiAcon! Amy will regale you with stories from the inside track of the conference, talk about her amazing young adult books that center on dolphins, and discuss her experiences with writing, publishing, and Utopia. Amy's Dolphin Prophecy series includes the novels Clicks and Echoes. Her new adult title is Pink Jellybean Kisses. Certain to keep you on your toes, this interview will go all the way to the trenches and back up! You can find Amy here: Facebook and Twitter If you'd like to donate to the GoFundMe fund raiser, you can do so here.

#UtopiaResolutions started as a blog feature, co-hosted by Maria Pease of The Paisley Reader, and Ashley Bodette of Book Junkie: Not-So-Anonymous.  The feature allows authors, bloggers, editors, cover models, designers, publicists, and any UtopYA attendee to share the resolutions they've made for the year between the 2015-2016 conferences.  Although the blog feature continues to run, it has also evolved into a Blog Talk Radio Show! This week, Ashley is interviewing author BJ Sheldon.  To view her original #UtopiaResolutions guest post on the blog, click HERE. Follow BJ: Website Blog Twitter: @BJSheldonAuthor Instagram: BJSheldonAuthor Pinterest: BJSheldonAuthor Amazon Author Page P.S.  If you are attending Utopia Con and are interested in a guest post for our #UtopiaResolutions blog feature, sign up via the google doc HERE.

Join host Jo Michaels, of the Jo Michaels blog, and Janet Wallace, founder of the premier writer's conference for women, Utopia, as well as the ever amazing Social Deviants, a social media marketing intensive that will take your brand to a whole new level, as they discuss what to expect out of the Utopia conference in 2016, how it all started, and why you should be involved. We'll chat about a myriad of topics that'll have you rethinking your strategy in life, and tell you how one woman changed her stars, only to alter the universe for so many others. Be inspired. Be brave. Make it happen, whatever it may be.

Shantella & I got to chat about everything across the board -- from a blogging perspective and a first-time AND indie author persepctive. And it was a blast! Check out all of her social media -- The Wordsmithe Blog https://thewordsmithe.wordpress.com/ The Wordsmithe FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-WordSmithe-blog/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BensonShantella

Join your host, Jo Michaels, for a discussion with UTOPiAcon veteran Raine Thomas. We'll talk about Raine's experience with Utopia, what she gets out of the conference each year, and why she keeps coming back. Raine is the award-winning author of bestselling Young Adult and New Adult fiction. Known for character-driven stories that inspire the imagination, Raine has signed with multiple award-winning producer Chase Chenowith of Back Fence Productions to bring her popular Daughters of Saraqael trilogy to the big screen. She's a proud indie author who is living the dream. When she isn't writing or glued to e-mail or social networking sites, Raine can usually be found vacationing with her husband and daughter on one of Florida's beautiful beaches or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives. Get Deceive, Raine's newest book in the Estilorian series, on Amazon here. Raine online: Website http://rainethomas.com Twitter @Raine_Thomas Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRaineThomas Pinterest http://pinterest.com/raine_thomas/

#UtopiaResolutions started as a blog feature, co-hosted by Maria Pease of The Paisley Reader, and Ashley Bodette of Book Junkie: Not-So-Anonymous.  The feature allows authors, bloggers, editors, cover models, designers, publicists, and any UtopYA attendee to share the resolutions they've made for the year between the 2015-2016 conferences.  Although the blog feature continues to run, it has also evolved into a Blog Talk Radio Show! The two of us were a little nervous about hosting a podcast/radio show, so we decided to do our first show the same way we start each new year of resolutions on our blogs...we hosted each other!  :) As promised during the show, I am included some more information about the Debut Collective Anthologies!  One VERY important thing that I forgot to mention during the interview is this: *100% of funds raised will go to publishing the anthologies and promoting the authors involved. Profits from ebooks will go to charity. Funds will be reported and itemized on the blog as they are spent. Here is the DC Anthologies blog: https://thedebutcollective.wordpress.com/ Follow the anthologies on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Debut-Collective-Anthologies/668119463288234?fref=ts   P.S.  If you are attending Utopia Con next year, and are interested in writing a guest post for our #UtopiaResolutions blog feature, feel free to sign up via the google doc here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xt1VrmvhyKjT2aD3mYII3hykcJasxTyYcb1zl_LNsd0/viewform

Join host Jo Michaels for an interview with book reviewer and soon to be published author Michaela Mills. We'll discuss her UTOPiAcon revelations and how she began her journey with a blog, but has continued it with collaboriation via Utopians! Coming soon, you'll see The Debut Collective; short stories that feature bravery. Not only that, but Michaela is also working on a young adult dystopian novel titled The Bunker. You can read more about it on her website here. You can find Indie-Visible: Literary Justice for All here! Her Facebook page is here. Follow her on Twitter!

Jo Michaels, Indie author advocate, discusses the pros and cons of blog tour companies as she gives you real time numbers so you can decide for yourself if it's the right step to take with your newly published novel. There are things you may not have considered when thinking about the marketing behind your book, and if you're ready to have your mind blown just a little bit, tune in and give a listen. She's doing a series of posts to help guide authors on the path of self-promotion via blog tours. You can find the first of the series on her blog here. Follow Jo on Facebook here, and on Twitter here. Check out her website here.

Listen to Kelly Risser and I chat about all of the things -- from lip sync battles to the start of her anthology writing team and everything in between! Kelly is a young adult and fantasy author, who has written works such as the NEVER FORGOTTEN series to her FRACTURED GLASS anothology, which I've read -- It's amazing! Kelly's Social Media: Facebook Twitter Website Christina Marie's Social Media: Facebook Blog YouTube Twitter Instagram

An interview with author Delphina Henley. She's a veteran of the author event Utopia Con, has been there since year one, and is the author of the new adult series B3, which includes: Unless You Can be a Unicorn, and Ask Me About My Unicorn. She was on the panels Great Sexpectations and What a Difference a Year Makes at Utopia 2015. You can find Delphina on the web at: facebook.com/DelphinaHenley and delphinahenley.blogspot.com Your host is Jo Michaels of jomichaels.blogspot.com Where you can mail the books for the children: Everybody Reads Books & Stuff 2019 E. Michigan Ave. Lansing, MI 48912-3011

From Boyce's Writing Corner and The Indie Pub Podcast, join authors S. M. Boyce and J. N. Chaney on the air, live, with Jo Michaels, to talk about how they're making a huge splash in the Indie author world. You'll also get information on what podcasts they've produced to date and what's in the works. We'll touch on Boyce's site The Haven, and you'll be introduced to a whole new world of information for Indies that serves a practical use.

Join host Jo Michaels and author Allyson Gottlieb on air to discuss her Utopia Con revelations. What are revelations interviews? They include epiphanies authors who've attended the writer's conference Utopia have had and why. Allyson is a young adult author with a number of titles under her belt; Darkest Legacy, and Finding North, to name a couple. She's currently attending college on the East Coast, but she hails from sunny California and runs Athena Interior Book Design. We'll discuss Allyson's books and ask her what she took away from her first year at the con.

Join host Jo Michaels and guest, author and RAI coordinator Liz C. Long, for a discussion about Roanoke Author Invasion 2016. Date for the author signing is April 2. We'll discuss what you can expect to find, a brief schedule, and tell you about some of the authors already on the list as attendees for next year. More information can be found on the RAI website here: http://roanokeauthorinvasion.com/ This one day event will be held at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood in Roanoke, VA.

THE GENEVA PROJECT author, Christina Benjamin, chats with Christina Marie of LuLo Fangirl about Utopia Con and what it's done for her.  Hear the answers to questions of motivation, inspiration, networking, branching out, personal growth and more! Not only will you be hearing about Christina's literary endeavors, but she also shares her heart for children and reading -- with a project that she's now working on because of Utopia Con. As well as something a little more personal that Utopia Con did for her. Christina has two books out currently, which are the first and second books of THE GENEVA PROJECT - Truth and Secrets. The third book is called Lies and will be out on September 1st! Christina Benjamin's Social Media: Website Twitter Facebook Christina Marie's Social Media: Facebook Blog YouTube Twitter Instagram

An interview with author Elizabeth Kirke. She's a veteran of Utopia Con, has been there since year one, and is the author of the young adult series More Than Magic, which includes: Semester Aboard, Snow Bound, Soul Choice, and Danio's Prelude. Also in her YA arsenal is the Curse Collectors series, which kicked off last year with Carved in Cherry. You can find Elizabeth on the web at elizabeth-kirke.blogspot.com. Not only is she an author, she also does formatting for print on demand titles. Find Jo here: Jo Michaels Blog Find Ren here: A Little Bit of R&R

Today, I'm talking about who and what you'll find on this radio show. There are some exciting author features upcoming, and you'll love the myriad of hosts I have lined up for you. We're all about books, reading, writing, and self-publishing. Get the ins and outs before anyone else! Learn from professionals, and get writing tips. I'll also have information about author conferences happening around the US (and other places). Grab your coffee and get comfy. You're in for fun! My social media links: Facebook Blog Twitter Website