• Home
  • About us
  • Journal

WriteAngles Conference

By writers, for writers. for over 30 years in Western Massachusetts

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« Popular panelist!
Dori Ostermiller: “Finding” time to write – as if! »

An interview with Barry Eva

September 22, 2010 by writeanglesblog

Barry, who will be on the panel Launching Your Book into Cyberspace, writes YA romance under the name of Storyheart. By mixing online book promotion with more traditional marketing methods, he has garnered over 100 reviews on Amazon.com for his debut novel ACROSS THE POND.

Let’s begin by having you tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
As you said my name is Barry Eva, though I do write under the name of Storyheart (long story about that name). I moved to the US from England in June of 2000, though I must say I miss my beloved England every day. After writing numerous short romance stories, many of which were included in a book called STORIES FROM THE HEART, I produced my first YA novel in 2009. I hesitate to say YA as I have had reviews and feedback from people from 8 to 80, so I now say for the young and young at heart. As well as my writing, I host the popular blog radio show “A Book and a Chat” with over 200 shows already under my belt since I started in February 2009. The shows have gone from one a week to four shows now, with a waiting list of guests three to four months ahead.

When did you decide to embark upon a career in writing? Did someone or some event influence your choice in any way?
I have always dabbled in writing; though having issues with spelling I was really glad when spell checker became available. Like many I started with poems which became songs, which became short stories and then novels. I never class myself as a writer, more a story teller.

What do you enjoy about writing YA romance novels?
ACROSS THE POND is more than a romance novel. It has adventure, first love, humor and even a little sports thrown in. Did I mention humor? As anybody who’s heard my radio shows will tell you, humor is very important to me. As for YA, it is one of the questions I often ask guests ‘why they think YA has become so popular?’ I believe YA novels tend to me more rounded, characters better developed, the story line more believable and you’re not going to get a shock by what you read when you turn the page. The YA bloggers and readers, I call them the “Sham Wow” of young adult literature, as they soak everything up, will tell you if a book is no good. So you know if the book is out there, it must be worth reading.

You’re a big fan of virtual book tours. You’ve even begun your own podcast (internet radio show). What can you tell us about these methods to promote books online?
The internet is the way to not just launch your book, but to get your name out there once you have the book published. Many authors think that once the book is published that the hard work over and done. Far from it. That is when the real work starts. Also don’t expect to be an overnight success. A lot of this work is just getting your name known; this I an important first step. As for virtual tours, it is another way to get your name known, like being a guest on blogs etc. I tell people all the time about my own virtual tour with the fantastic Pump Up Your Book (formerly Pump Up Your Book Promotion) group. I went on tour the week I came out of hospital after major back surgery. In the next month I was in Korea, Italy, England, Canada, and all around the US, without leaving my sick bed.

You’re sitting on the Launching Your Book in Cyberspace panel at this year’s Write Angles Conference. Can you tell us a little bit about what you’re planning?
As stated, I’m a great believer in using the internet to spread the word about you and your book. However be warned, don’t part with your hard earned money without checking things out first. I recently produced a 5-day blog about “Promoting Your Book on a Budget.” In this I give an example about one “major” publisher who was “now proud to offer a ‘Social Media Setup Service’ that will help an author into ‘the world of social media’.” It included:
A blog on the popular and easy to use WordPress platform
A Facebook profile for your identity as an author
A Facebook page for your book
A MySpace page for your book
This was available at a “Special Introductory Price of $999.” Setting up these social networking options and locations costs “$0.00… Nothing… Zero.” Any person who has access to a computer can go on the internet and create exactly what these companies offer without spending a dime and achieve the same results in under an hour.

What are you working on now?
I get nagged all the time about where the second and even third book have gotten to. I am working on them … honest; but with the radio shows, a full time job, several blogs, karaoke singing and life, time for writing seems to not happen. I know… I have to make time, and it will happen one day.

Can you tell our readers where they can find you online?
You can find me all over the internet.
Book Site
Radio Blog
Humor Blog
Across the Pond Blog
Blog Talk Radio Show
Romance Site
Amazon Reviews
Video

[Thanks to Cheryl Malandrinos for conducting this interview.]

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Print
  • Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posted in writers conference | Tagged Barry Eva, internet book promotion, Storyheart, YA books |

  • Date: Good news: Although the date remains indefinite, plans are underway to revive the conference!

  • Pages

    • About us
    • Journal
  • What is WriteAngles?

    Note: Our in-person conference is not being held in 2020. After more than thirty years WriteAngles has earned a reputation as Western New England’s leading conference by writers, for writers. The annual conference is produced by WriteAngles, Inc. At this one-day gathering, you’ll mix with experienced writers and agents in panel discussions, hands-on workshops, face-to-face meetings, and in casual networking opportunities. The affordably priced conference fee includes a continental breakfast and a bountiful buffet lunch. The conference is held in Mount Holyoke College’s gracious Willits-Hallowell Center in South Hadley, Massachusetts.

  • Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 444 other subscribers
  • Contact us!

    We are happy to answer your questions or add your name to our mailing list.
  • Recent posts

    • Congratulations, Steve!
    • New flash memoir
    • New flash fiction
    • New flash memoir
    • Daisy Mathias’ poetry show
    • Journal submissions
    • Coming virtual event
    • Paths to publication
    • In memoriam
    • Conference news
    • Event of interest
    • New flash memoir
    • New flash memoir
    • New flash fiction
    • New flash memoir
  • Who we are

    We are a group of writers living in Western Massachusetts, Southern Vermont, and thereabouts who organize and run the WriteAngles conference on an entirely volunteer basis. We are incorporated as a non-profit, WriteAngles, Inc., in the state of Massachusetts.

  • We are “budget-friendly”

    A few years ago our WriteAngles conference was featured in Writer’s Digest “Conference Scene” as one of four “budget-friendly events.” Under normal conditions, our all-day conference, with continental breakfast and buffet lunch, is still quite a bargain at $110 in advance and $120 at the door (general admission), while full-time students and those age 65 and up pay only $90 in advance and $100 at the door.

  • Also of interest to writers

    • Amherst Writers & Artists
    • League of Vermont Writers
    • Patchwork Farm
    • Poetry News
    • Straw Dogs Writers Guild
    • Woven Word Young Writers
    • Writer's Voice
    • Writers in Progress
  • Search this site

  • Add this

    Bookmark and Share
  • Like us on Facebook

    Like us on Facebook

Blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.


  • Follow Following
    • WriteAngles Conference
    • Join 444 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • WriteAngles Conference
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Copy shortlink
    • Report this content
    • View post in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: