South Padre Island's Creating the Story Conference

02/08/2024

Do you know what's fun? Wrapping up giveaways for the next 3 movie events!! Holy cow we have some super cute prizes for Thursday (Nephi), Friday (Thanksgiving Point!) and Saturday (South Jordan) Can't wait to see you there!!

02/05/2024

Sending all our love to the incomparable who is currently at the GRAMMY Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album! She is OFFICALLY ATTACHED to my movie LOVE AT SNOWPINE! We're so excited to have her play the adorable role of Jody!

12/20/2023

On sale now for a limited time. 99 cent e-books

02/14/2023

This is really cool!!

02/13/2023

Tristi here again . . . It's Contest Time! What can you win this week? A DVD copy of Jenni James' movie "Not Cinderella's Type." (US only) And how can you enter? It's so easy! Just post on Facebook about this conference and how awesome it's going to be. Include the link to our website (included in the comments) then come back here and tell us when you're done. That's it! Good luck - and thanks again for your help in spreading the word about this amazing event!

(Contest is open until Wednesday night at midnight MST)

02/06/2023

Good morning! Tristi Pinkston popping in to thank you for the support you're showing our conference. We're excited to share the word with as many people as we can, and that's another way you can support us - by telling everyone you know about this fantastic event! Would you like to help us out?

I'm going to hold a weekly Spread the Word contest here on this page where you can win prizes just by hanging out online . . . which you're already doing! Each week, I'll post a small task, and once you've done that task, you'll be entered into a drawing for a fun prize. Should we get started?

Your first task is super simple. Head over to the website for the conference and click "subscribe" on the right-hand side of the main page. Then come back here and let us know you're done. It's that easy! Everyone who enters before midnight MST tonight will be entered to win an ebook copy of my book Self-Editing for Success, a valuable resource for anyone who writes.

The website link is in the comments. Have fun, and good luck!

02/02/2023

What are the most important things to get done every day?
Completing goals?
Marketing?
E-mails?
Social media?
How do you balance your time?

01/30/2023

Marketing 102: The Funnel Theory
Don't look at marketing as a short game but a slow growth. Every blog interview, podcast, link you put out there widens up the top of the funnel. They are always there for someone to see. First books are usually sold to friends and family. Each share, each review opens the end of the funnel. Series are the same theory each book brings in more fans they build up on each other.
Pro tip: Have blogs put direct links to your site/blog that then sends them to apple/Amazon/Barnes and Noble not the book on Amazon. Sad story. 2 publishers closed, rights were reverted back to me ( different reasons)all previous review links went straight to books online not my author page. Funnel shrunk as the links became dead ends.
Here is a spotlight cover from Jenni James what do you think?

01/28/2023

Pepperjack Pictures
On the secret set of a short film written by Jenni James these guys killed it. So much fun to see writing come to life. Big things are coming.

01/27/2023

Author spotlight- Shanti Krishnamurty I have watched this author grow over the past two years as she finished this book. It has been an amazing journey. Let's help celebrate her new book!! Give her a follow even better read the book. Just 99 right now so get a copy and leave a review. Thanks for the support everyone.(link in comments)

01/25/2023

Marketing 101 we all dislike it. So here are some tips to help you. I attached my algorithms to show that these tried and true tips work.

1- set aside time daily for social media work. I like half an hour twice a day or whenever I need a break.

2- The 80/20 rule 80% of posts on social media should be about YOU solely personal posts (most books are sold to friends and family first). Your interests, life, joys.. stay positive.

20% of your posts can be work related. What is going on--where are you? What are you working on? Share snippets of what you have written.
WARNING: Again. Keep it positive. No one wants to buy from someone who wreaks negativity. Real struggles are fine--harping on them will drive people away. Stay positive. Find the light. Inspire even through trials.

3-Avoid the 3 P's. P@rn, preaching, and p@litics.
You may be hot in that Speedo but you're probably not attracting readers. More than likely they are just passing by.
Politics no matter what side you're on 1/2 the people are on the other side. It's so easy to alienate potential readers.
Preaching no one likes to be told what to believe or how to live.
Hopefully this helps with your marketing goals. It's a start at least. You've got this. I'll post some more tips later.

01/24/2023