Two and a quarter years ago, I drove home from a writers conference and decided I would start blogging. Since many of you blog, you'll know that one of the things you need to decide on besides the name of your blog is the email address you want attached to your blog. I knew I wanted my name, "Elle Strauss" in the mail address, but unfortunately, I'm not the only one in the world with that name and the straight domain name and gmail name was already taken.
So I had to come up with a twist on the name. I saw that other writers had taken names like Authorxyz or xyzbooks.
I had issues with both of those address tags. I didn't have any books published and I didn't feel qualified to refer to myself as an author.
Still, I had to chose something and in the end the BOOKS handle was less intimidating than the AUTHOR handle.
Even though I never had any books.
It was a leap of faith that one day the moniker would be true.
So, for almost two years my email address was ellestraussbooks at gmail dot com. And I had no books.
Then in September of 2011 I finally published CLOCKWISE. I suppose now, if I'd chosen the Author handle, it would be true. I was the author of a published book.
As it was I was still technically Elle Strauss BOOK.
I'm happy to announce that that has all changed. My second book, a middle grade called IT'S A LITTLE HAYWIRE, is officially coming out tomorrow on a two day blog tour.
I am now and forever will be Elle Strauss BOOKS!
I'm doing a number of guest posts on the tour, talking about subjects such as The Story Behind the Story, Small Towns as Characters, Illustrations in E-books, Why I Included a Playlist, among others. There will also be a number of interviews where you will find out things about me and my books you never knew before.
And as a BONUS to you, IT'S A LITTLE HAYWIRE will be FREE for the 22nd and 23rd only.
How about you? Have you taken a leap of faith on your writing journey?
About Me
- Elle Strauss
- I write Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction. I'm a married mom of four, and live in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, famous for beaches and vineyards. I'm fond of Lindt's sea salt dark chocolate and hiking in good weather. My Young Adult rom/com time-travel CLOCKWISE series and contemporary/otherworldly Middle Grade IT'S A LITTLE HAYWIRE are now available on Amazon.
Congrats on your new book. And awesome that you took the leap of faith. I took a leap of faith and became Casey's blog partner. Glad I did.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Partnering up with other writers definitely makes the process less lonely. :)
DeleteCongratulations! I feel like I'm constantly taking little risks and banking on them paying off in some small way. So far many of them have.
ReplyDeleteLove the title: It's a Little Haywire!
~ Wendy
Yes, the little ones are so important. It helps when we need faith for the bigger ones. :)
DeleteThanks for loving the title!
Congrats, Elle.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteCongratulations!! I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I took a big, anxious, hand-trembling leap of faith when I e-pubbed my first novel, Screwing Up Time. And though it's been a lot more work than I realized, it's been worth it all.
I know that hand-trembling feeling...! Good for you for taking the leap. And I know, the work. Good thing I didn't know what I was getting into, or else I might not have. So glad I did though.
DeleteYey!! Isn't it great to be able to look back at that leap from the safe ground that you landed on, and say "If I hadn't jumped, I wouldn't be here now"? It doesn't necessarily make the next leap any smaller, but it can sure give you courage to jump in spite of the shaking knees.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice when you have a few of those shaking knees moments to look back on and can see that you landed on safe ground every time.
DeleteI took a leap of faith a couple of years ago when I quit my day job, sold my house and packed up the van to travel for a year. Since then I've learned a lot about faith, how it can sustain you when you think you have nothing and how it can provide you with the most amazing things when you least expect it. I'm so glad you took that leap of faith. Feels good doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteThat was a huge leap of faith, Jane. So glad you see the rewards in it. Makes life more exciting and rewarding.
DeleteIt's wonderful that you took that leap of faith.
ReplyDeleteTaking chances can seem daunting. Scary, even. But without leaps of faith, many of wouldn't be blogging, writing, querying, self-publishing or seeing our dreams come true.
I'm glad you able to see your dreams come true.
So true. And thanks!
DeleteI feel I'm taking a leap of faith everytime I post a blog like the one I did Monday. A lot of the comments call it inspiring, but unless I actually succed, faith is all it is. :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the second book!
I'm off to check out your monday blog. Being vulnerable and honest on the blog can definitely be risky, but usually worth it in my experience.
DeleteHooray for taking a leap of faith. And hooray for books (as in multiple)! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, Hooray! Thanks for stopping by, Melissa!
DeleteCongrats on book #2! You are #books and you are an #author. Sometimes things don't look the way we originally envision them and that's not always bad, either. Best,
ReplyDeleteThanks. And you're right sometime things turn out better than we plan. :)
DeleteCongratulations! What wonderful news.
ReplyDeleteThank you! And thanks for stopping by my blog.
DeleteCongratulations!! And perhaps this is an example of positive visualization in moniker-making?
ReplyDeleteThanks! positive moniker-making visualization, yes!
DeleteYAY for leaps! I'm about to take one soon. I'm excited but nervous!
ReplyDeleteExcitement and nerves is part of the leaping parcel. Congrats on your upcoming leap!
DeleteYay for Elle Strauss BOOKS!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm very happy and excited for you Elle and to be hosting you tomorrow on my blog! Woot!
I think almost every step on this writerly path has required a leap of faith of one form or another, don't you think?
Congratulations!
There's a lot to be said for leaps of faith. Congrats on your book!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you! Hope it's a great release week! :)
ReplyDelete