I had an amazing interview with Kaye Lynne Booth, one of our valuable members of the How to Write for Success Literary Forum.
Kaye Lynne is well-qualified in Creative Writing and
Publishing and has excelled in her author business.
I am sure that readers and authors will be very pleased to
know her.
BRENDA: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
KAYE
LYNNE: I’ve devoted a lifetime to writing. I sold my first poem
in 1996, and I’ve been at it ever since. I’m a self-taught, do-it-yourself
author.
When I don’t know how to do something, I search for answers
until I do.
I have three Master’s
degrees in creative writing and publishing because I needed to learn how to
craft a book, how to publish it, and set it up for success. I’m learning more
all the time.
I like to pay it forward anytime I can. I offer book
reviews and author interviews on my blog, provide fellow authors with
opportunities to collaborate through anthologies, host virtual writing events,
and offer affordable book advertising through book blog tours. I’m also into
trading services with my fellow authors, such as proofreading, editing
services, or book cover designs.
BRENDA.
When did you first realize that you loved Literature and the Arts?
KAYE
LYNNE: When I was in the fourth grade and we did a unit on
writing Haiku, I fell in love with the poetry form and it opened my eyes to the
power of words.
Unfortunately, in undergraduate school, an experience with
a student teacher in an entry-level English class caused me to abandon writing
in search of something else for several years, but due to encouragement from my
husband, friends, and family, I eventually started writing poetry and
children’s books.
Later, I tried my hand at short stories, and then while
studying for my first Master’s degree in Creative writing: genre fiction, I
wrote two novels, one western and one science fantasy.
Dusty Saddles Publishing published the Western story, then
revised and re-released it six years later through WordCrafter Press as Book One
in my Women in the West Adventure Series, DELILAH, which is Western historical
women’s fiction.
The science fantasy novel idea was epic, so the book I
wrote was the first in a four-book series, PLAYGROUND FOR THE GODS.
I haven’t done anything with it yet, but I’m thinking of
offering this series as a monthly subscription on Ream, before releasing the
individual books through retailers.
BRENDA:
I noticed that you are a Screenwriter. Can you tell us more about what a
screenwriter does?
KAYE
LYNNE: I am probably not the person to ask about this. I’ve
written a few screenplays, which is what a screenwriter does, but just as an
author must get their book in front of the right audience, so must a
screenwriter with their screenplay to get it produced.
You almost need to live in California to get a screenplay
produced for movies or television. Especially for television, where you must be
able to attend meetings and work with a team of writers, California residence
is a must. Or you can write an independent film and enter it in screenplay
contests with the hopes of being noticed, which all takes a lot of time and
money.
I’ve written screenplays for two feature-length films, a
spec. script for television, and a script for a horror short. If I could get it
in front of the right eyes, my screenplay, Bonnie, which is Bonnie’s
perspective on the Bonnie and Clyde story, could be a Netflix or Showtime
exclusive film. Unfortunately, I don’t have the resources to get it where it
needs to be for that to happen.
But I didn’t get a master’s degree in screenwriting
expecting to make movies overnight. I chose to take screenwriting because I
liked it and wanted to learn how to do it. It is a different kind of writing,
for a visual audience, but there are a lot of things, like methods for
outlining and techniques for story or character development, which I have
transferred over into the writing of my books.
BRENDA:
You stated on your Facebook page that you offer WordCrafter Quality Writing
& Author Services. Please elaborate on that.
KAYE LYNNE: WordCrafter Quality
Writing & Author Services has three branches; Write it Right Quality
Editing Services, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, and WordCrafter Press. So, if
you are in need of editing or proofreading, want to book a book blog tour to
promote your book, or are looking for someone to publish your book for you, I’m
your girl. The editing services are affordable, and the book blog tours are
even more so.
As far as publishing goes, I publish through Draft2Digital
and do a 50/50 royalty split with the author. I provide a proofread, but if
your manuscript requires heavier editing, I do charge for that. I also provide
a book cover if needed, and each book gets its own blog tours and other
promotional tasks. I work with the author to get their book as much exposure as
possible and get it in front of the right audience.
WordCrafter Press publishes widely, so our books are available
globally, to reach an international audience. They are available on Amazon, of
course, but also on Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Rakuten Kobo & Kobo
Plus, Apple Books, Gardners, Tolino, Everand, Vivlio, Fable, and more, as well
as being available on Overdrive, Borrowbox, Baker & Taylor, Bibliotheca,
and other library servers.
BRENDA:
Do you have many clients?
KAYE
LYNNE: I recently found myself working at my author business
full time, so right now I have room to take on new clients for all of my
services. I’m also planning to add an offering of custom book cover design by
WordCrafter and Sonoran Dawn Studios later this year.
BRENDA:
How often do you publish posts to your Blog?
KAYE
LYNNE: Writing to be Read publishes at least three posts a week;
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but often we have extra posts thrown in. When
we’re running a book blog tour, I post every day of the tour, so some days have
two posts. I do all the Monday posts and do book reviews on Fridays, but I have
a great blog team, who help to fill the other spots.
We each do one or more monthly blog series. I do “Writer’s
Corner” with writing and publishing-related topics, and “Review in Practice”
reviewing non-fiction writing and publishing books with the practical uses I
found for them.
Robbie Cheadle does “Growing Bookworms”; about kids’ books
and ways to encourage reading; “Treasuring Poetry”, with author/poet interviews
and book reviews; and “In Touch With Nature”, which takes a look at African
wildlife with magnificent photos and video footage. DL Mullan does “Undawntech”
which discusses technology and how it is used, Jeff Bowles does a series on all
things pop culture, “Pop with Jeff Bowles”, and Arthur Rosch does “Mind
Fields”, which features unique and unusual poems and essays.
BRENDA: How many books have you published?
KAYE
LYNNE: To date, I have published three novels, a novella, a
poetry collection, and a short fiction collection of my own. WordCrafter Press
publishes at least one short fiction anthology and a poetry anthology annually,
so I also have seven short fiction anthologies, four poetry anthologies and two
writing reference anthologies under my belt, with two more short fiction
anthologies planned for release later this year. I also publish books for
others, but I don’t count them under my book credits.
BRENDA:
Tell us about your most recent book.
KAYE
LYNNE: My most recent book is a writer’s reference book, The
D.I.Y. Author, which releases through retailers on June 4th, 2024. There will
be a virtual release party, hosted by Writing to be Read on release day, and
everyone is invited to join us in sending off this unique writer’s reference
that only I could write.
You’ll find the blog link in my answer to the last
question, below. I do hope you all drop by and join in the fun. I’ll be there
answering questions and comments throughout the day. Signed print copies and
discounted digital copies and WordCrafter services will be available through
the D.I.Y. Store there until the end of the week.
The D.I.Y. Author is available for pre-order in digital and
print formats now.
https://books2read.com/The-DIY-Author
About the Book
Being an author today is more than just writing the book.
Authors in this digital age have more opportunities than ever before. Whether
you pursue independent or traditional publishing models, or a combination of
the two, being an author involves not only writing, but often, the publishing
and marketing of the book.
In this writer’s reference guide, multi-genre author and
independent publisher, Kaye Lynne Booth shares her knowledge and experiences
and the tools, books, references, and sites to help you learn the business of
being an author.
Topics
Include:
Becoming Prolific
Writing Tools
Outlining
Making Quality a Priority
Publishing Models & Trends
Marketing Your Book
Book Covers & Blurbs
Book Events—In Person & Virtual
And more…
BRENDA:
Can you leave us with a valuable quote on Writing?
KAYE
LYNNE: Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the
talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.”—Stephen
King in Danse Macabre
BRENDA:
What are your social accounts if people want to connect with you?
KAYE
LYNNE: You can find out more about me, my books, and WordCrafter
on my website or my blog.
WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services: http://writingtoberead.com/wordcrafter-quality-writing-author-services/
Writing to be Read: http://writingtoberead.com/
You can also find me on social media.
Facebook:
Kaye Lynne Booth –
Author & Screenwriter: https://www.facebook.com/kayelynnebooth.screenwriter
WordCrafter Quality
Writing & Author Services: https://www.facebook.com/WordCrafterServices
X: @DIY_Author
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayelynnebooth/
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It has been a pleasure learning about you Kaye Lynne Booth. The Administration and members of the How to Write for Success Literary Forum wish you more success in your future endeavours.
Brenda Mohammed
Author and Publisher of 60 books.
Founder- How to Write for Success Literary Forum
National President - International Chamber of Writers and
Artists [CIESART] — Trinidad and Tobago
National President - Unión Hispanomundial de Escritores — Trinidad
and Tobago.
