Talking to an author friend about tweets I found out an ingenious way to make a tweet from an excel spreadsheet. In the world of awesome sauce and I can do everything and be everywhere this was ingenious.

Here is where I dispel people -- when I don't schedule my tweets, they don't happen. So what's worse? Not tweeting at all or scheduling? I can tell you that when I don't tweet it's not good. I think of witty things at 2 AM, but you're not going to be awake at that hour to see it are you? Not unless you're a late night writer like me. So, I schedule my tweets.

What my friend did was take an excel spreadsheet and in column A created a formula. In column B she writes her tweet and the Characters remaining show up in column A. Here is what the formula looks like:

=$B$1-LEN(B4)

So let me show you what it looks like:

ACTION ITEM: Try the code if you want to keep track of tweets!

My greatest latest marketing ploy was something of a team effort!

You see, I'd been wrestling with one of my authors about a particular method she uses in writing that heightens curiosity but drives me nuts.

Of course if I were such a person that takes everything personally, I'd believe she did it on purpose to drive me out of my mind. In reality it's just her writing style...and it's 'fricking perfect for an idea I had because of this thing she does.

I can't begin to explain so I'm going to show you. I've included an exclusive passage from the book Hers to Claim as it is the passage that inspired my marketing ploy.

ADONIA ISN'T THE ONLY PERSON THAT'S WANTS TO KNOW WHAT DORAL SAID!

Daaaammmmm yooooouuuuuu!!!!

Am I the only one with the burning curiosity? No--apparently not! See for yourself:

One of my authors wanted to go international after about six months of having her book published. That's when I started researching the details of doing such.

I found one company, Babelcube, who seemed to be the right fit for us at the time and I'm here to report back my findings.

In short, Babelcube is a company that connects authors and publishers with translators. You set your book up on their website and wait for a translator to ask to translate your book or your search and invite them to translate your book. The translators payment comes in the form of royalties, 30% after Babelcube takes their 20%. Because the translator doesn't know how much they will get for their time I suspected the translation would progress very slow. I projected it would take someone 6 months to translate a novel. I haven't been far off.

The service is built on gains from royalties and does everything free--connecting you to a translator and setting up your book in different platforms. You need to supply a translated book cover and new ISBN but otherwise Babelcube sets up the book in many platforms of the language in which its translated for. To me this is the best part of the service. I could not afford to hire a translator and once done--I didn't know how to market it in another language. 

Now, here is what I have found. The shorter novellas were completed in short order, however--as I predicted--the novels might take up to 6 - 9 months. Set up is easy, getting the book covers was no problem and Babelcube set it all up and reported back to us what the links were for the different platforms they put them on.

However, it should be noted that you have to wait for a translator to come to you or search through the profiles and invite others to translate your book. Customer service is fairly responsive -  somewhere between 24 - 48 hours.

In short this service has potential.

The main question I get is: How do you know the translation is correct?

You don't. Unless you have a friend that is bi-lingual in the translated version, you don't know. Sure, you can buy two or three translation editors but if you can do that, you might not need Babelcube. I discussed this with my author and the end result was, if it's not perfect translation we will accept that. This service was the only way we could go international. So basically it's a question of whether you want to do it or go without.

If you feel there is a market for your books but don't have the money to get it translated, then here is another question: How are you going to market it?

See this was a question I answered to my author: I couldn't. But dreams are big and Babelcube was the best solution. Just remember, you need to market your book in any language or country it's in. There are two sides to selling books. Production and marketing. Make the best book you can then market it.

ACTION ITEM: Before taking your book international--figure out how to market it. Just like writing, translation is the easy part.

This hot little read is smokin! ... and FREE! Debut author Elizabeth SaFleur has a new series called "Elite Doms of Washington" and this novella is about one of the secondary characters in her novel, "Lovely", coming out in January 2015!

Her stories are based around Hot Male Doms in the Washington D.C. scene. In a way it's her imaginings of giving the discipline Washington needs to those who need it!

I found this book enchanting and know the New Year will be Lovely when her first novel comes out! (Har-har, I thought that up myself! :)

When Yvette Sava takes a spill on the ice outside of her Washington, D.C hotel, she knows the handsome man that helps her up spells trouble. Ryan Knightbridge is strong, passionate and demanding—and far too young for her. But Ryan has waited a year for his chance with the lovely submissive, who withdrew from society following her high-profile divorce. Unable to resist his charm, Yvette agrees to spend two days and two nights with him, allowing herself to indulge in desires shuttered long ago—but with a clear deadline. Now, Ryan has one wintry weekend to prove to her she’s worthy of love—and he’s worthy of her submission.

4.0 out of 5 stars I'D VOTE FOR HIM!, August 12, 2014 By IRISHLASS - See all my reviews Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Holiday Ties (Elite Doms of Washington) (Kindle Edition) @ 40 pages, the story moves quickly & there's only one major sex scene.... but an older woman (32) being seduced by a younger man (25) is unusual & the telling was sensitive & hot! Age isn't, & shouldn't be, a factor in their relationship.... just wish the book had an epilogue.

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredibly well-crafted story from an author who knows how to tell it, July 30, 2014 By Christine Louise Hohlbaum "award-winning auth... (near Munich, Germany) - See all my reviews This review is from: Holiday Ties (Elite Doms of Washington) (Kindle Edition) Elizabeth SaFleur's debut novella is more than a hot read. It is an incredibly well-crafted story from an author who knows how to tell it. Her ability to build tension in the reader while showcasing the tension between the protagonists is electrifying. I have seldom read a work that kept me on the edge of my seat like this one. A must-read for any time of year, the holidays included!

5.0 out of 5 stars I WANT MORE!, July 29, 2014 By Kris - See all my reviews Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Holiday Ties (Elite Doms of Washington) (Kindle Edition) So good, so hot and oh so refreshing! I am amazed at the way this author was able to draw me into the story. Before I knew it the characters had wrapped themselves around me and it was impossible to put this story down. It is immediately evident Ms. Safleur knows the gritty underbelly of D.C. society and her storytelling propelled me through a fresh, fantastic ride. A dynamic voice! The only thing wrong with this read was there wasn't enough of it! I would love a novel or twenty of the Elite Doms of Washington!

5.0 out of 5 stars Sexy, hot romance for the holidays, or anytime., July 28, 2014 By M.L. - See all my reviews Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Holiday Ties (Elite Doms of Washington) (Kindle Edition) This story has a strong, confident, younger Dom; and a brave, sensitive heroine. Let me say, the chemistry between them sizzled.
I adored the way they met, the sex scenes, and the how the characters interacted with each other in private and public.
The heroine, a woman recovering from divorce and scandal, dreams of having a dominant lover again ... but only risks it for the weekend.
'Dominance was her drug of choice, not love. She must keep him focused on the task at hand, away from the dangerous emotions she had no courage to revel in anymore.
He pressed a kiss into her back. "You can't stop me from loving you."'

I really enjoyed this short story and look forward to more of this author's work.

3.0 out of 5 stars Great hot little read 3.5 stars, July 22, 2014 By Deborah - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)    This review is from: Holiday Ties (Elite Doms of Washington) (Kindle Edition) Before I start my review I'll just let you know that this book is currently free on Smashwords.com.
Yvette Sava is at the end of a terrible year, her divorce was high profile and she's taken to hiding herself away but then a slip on the ice lands her in the arms of Ryan Knightsbridge. A strong powerful dom who recognises a submissive when he sees one, but this isn't the first meeting of these two and this time Ryan isn't taking no for an answer.
I really enjoyed this book, it's a great hot little read just a shame it's so short I wanted more, more of their pasts and well just more.

1. When I was seven, my mother took away my Barbie doll after I tied her up to the make-believe railroad tracks. Yeah, bondage fascinated me at an early age.

2. Hard rock (from Evanescence to Killswitch Engage) is my most favorite music style.

3. I spent my teenage years on a horse farm and by the time I was 16 I could train a horse and haul a 100 pound hay bale onto a truck.

4. I teach exotic dance to everyday women. No, I was never a stripper, and don’t train them. It is all just for fun, and my student’s husbands often thank me.

5. My first car at age 20 was a bright blue, stripped-down 15 year old corolla named Sputnik that had no A/C, roll-down windows, and an AM-only radio. Most maintenance-free car I’ve ever had.

Elizabeth SaFleur is an erotic romance author and recovering public relations practitioner who writes, tweets and posts under a pseudonym since her former business clients might be shocked at her new career choice. She wrote the Elite Doms of Washington contemporary erotic romance series, debuting in January 2015, after a thirty-year career serving D.C. clients. Today Elizabeth shares twenty-eight, wildlife-filled acres in Central Virginia with her husband and dog, and is sometimes separated from her laptop to indulge in dance classes and local wineries. Elizabeth is a member of the Romance Writers Association and avid reader of all fiction genres. www.ElizabethSaFleur.com

Streams, Tribes, Bonfires, Campaigns -- Triberr has a language of its own and understanding that language means this blog sharing resource will become easy to navigate.

First I'd like to tell you what Triberr is. Triberr is a blog sharing resource where you can import your RSS feed into Triberr, join groups of other bloggers and then share your content through those other bloggers through facebook, twitter and Linkedin. This system is reciprocal. Meaning, you must share to be shared.

When I signed up, the whole process was easy yet confusing. What was I doing? What were tribes? Who makes Bonfires? What do you mean share content and how?

Thank goodness I understood what an RSS feed was and knew how to copy/paste my RSS feed to my stream. Triberr does make it easy, it's just a different way of connecting. Now, what are streams?

Streams are the same as your Facebook stream. Everybody who has a blog post they want you to share is up on that stream. Yours should be there as well!

Tribes are groups of people who share a common theme. I belong to a few. Some are erotic authors, others are "how to" authors. I can seperate what each shares in the settings so my "how to" authors don't have to share my smut. You must apply and be accepted into Tribes. You simply cruise Bonfires or you search Triberr for your people.

Bonfires are topics that people create. I'll be honest...if anyone can fill in a little more about Bonfires, I would be grateful! I get that they are topics of discussion and people do connect there.

Campaigns are what are great about Triberr. Last year the creators of Triberr said to themselves..."we are innovators, drivers of traffic and influences! We need to get paid dammit!" and so campaigns are a way for bloggers to get paid for blogging.

Since Triberr is very intricate I've created a Google Hangout that might help explain it better!! Please bear with me--I have an explanation on what triberr is at the 40 second mark--after that skip to 4 minutes (4:15 to be exact) while we get our shit together.

I do apologize, I have not done many Goggle hangouts. It took installation of certain applications. I recommend them highly!! They are a wonderful thing :) Hopefully, I will perfect the art of the Google hangout!

I wanted to call this Essentials on hiring a VA, but I find "How to..." more effective for SEO--evil marketer that I am. But I've determined after hiring a few, there are some key elements you might want to think about before hand.

First, do you need a VA?

Silly question because if you're looking for a VA, you've determined you need a VA. However, review your motives for hiring. You'll be able to ask better questions that way and it's possible you can just go to fiverr or mechanical turk for projects.

Next, evaluate yourself. Again, sounds silly, but people don't always express what they are looking for in a VA. If you're a type A personality, you may, or may not, work well with other type A personalities. That needs to be acknowledged and expressed. Type A is difficult to get along with and needs a certain finesse. Here are some things to ask yourself:

1. Do you feel you could do a better job than anyone else?
2. How much time are you willing to train this person?
3. How much time do you want from this person?
4. What is the best personality type that you can work with?
5. What kind, or how much, communication do you need from this person?
6. What work style do you prefer? Structured? Spur of the moment? You don't care as long as the work gets done?
7. What is your budget?

Reflect on those answers. Ask your own questions. Manage your expectations and communicate those expectations to your VA.

Next are the questions you should ask the VA to determine if they might fit you well. Based on the answers you give above, ponder on what type of person you want. Here is where that "who is your reader" exercise in writing applies to "who is your VA".

Are they a stay at home mom? Do they work when you're online? Do you want them to report in everyday? Everybody wants a worker who "Pays attention to detail", is "available" at your whim, but lets face reality...unless you pay them a fantastic wage of $50,000 - $150,000/year they have to manage their time with you and other clients. Which means time sensitive projects should be handled by you. Daily work is awesome for VA's. Here are some things to ask your potential VA:

1. How many hours do you have available to work per day/week/month?
2. What is your process for...(here is where you can ask a few questions specific to authors like: finding reviews? scheduling interviews? preparing a virtual blog tour? or anything you need)
3. What time of day would you be able to devote to my spur of the moment requests?/or conversly, How much time can I expect a project completed?
4. How do you organize your time?
5. Are there any specific days you do not work?
6. Do you prefer structured direction? (Meaning, do you need to give them a step-by-step instruction on how you do things by email, google-chat or skype? Do they need daily list of tasks?)
7. Are you willing to do projects or do you want an hourly rate?

ACTION ITEM: If you're looking for a VA--prepare your questions ahead of time!

Words I never want to hear: "Authors don't sell to other authors. We don't read each others books."

Silent, pregnant pause.

Perhaps. Perhaps not. Granted I don't read often as I'd like, but I still read authors in the genre I write. I read out of the genre I write. I read genres I'm not really interested in until a real storyteller jumps out at me and grabs my attention. Then I have to read it because a storyteller doesn't have a genre. Storytellers have your rapt focus because they are so good at their craft their writing goes beyond genre boundaries. Think Neil Gaiman. 

But when authors say this--I don't know what to say. I can't tell you how many authors have read my stories. However, more important is how many authors that have promoted me.

Even if writers don't read your books, there is still the collaboration and sense of belonging when you find a good writing group. These people are your fans. Fans of you. They promote you through word of mouth. They are the ones that understand your triumphs your crazy notions or when you get excited because you figured out what the next plot twist would be. For most, your family doesn't understand--even if they are supportive. If they aren't writers, they will never understand and shouldn't be expected to. *pat, pat, pat* Yes dear, that's nice dear. I'm so glad you managed to get Bob the talking head into your story dear. The type of attention you want like, squeals and round eyes of admiration is not the type of understanding you'd get from anyone other than an author.

Here are some things authors do and why you should collaborate with other authors. Group Blogs, Blog Hops, Virtual book tours, cross promotions, and story ideas are the ones I can fire out right away. But the real truth of the matter is camaraderie. There is nothing like having a group to fall back on, to complain to, to have your back and give you a boost when you need one.

The fact is...authors do read other authors books. They also don't just buy them, they become fans and promote your work. It's what I call author coalescence. Two promoting your book is better than one. Five promoting your book is better than two. A thousand promoting your book is the road to success. Few get there alone.

ACTION ITEM: Before you say "Authors don't sell to other authors..." try buying another book that hasn't been written by an author or a group of authors. Hard--isn't it? Not many books out there written by machines, huh? Only those without a book shelf have the ignorance to deny the special bond writers can have with each other. The main action item here is--don't tell me authors don't read or promote other authors. I see it happen every day.

Marilyn is a rather shy and quite girl with a gentle manner and a soft voice. Her tone is soothing and can sometimes be shocking when she cusses. Marilyn was so gracious when answering these questions. Please enjoy this debut author with a passionate heart!

1. Male Dom BDSM romance
2. Historic role-play (1700s)
3. A handsome “lord” and an American submissive.
4. English cottage setting
5. Whips, cuffs, cane, ring-gag … well, you get picture. :)