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Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Practical Advice for Beginner Writers with Delta James



Hi! I’m USA Today Bestselling Author Delta James. I write steamy paranormal and contemporary romantic suspense. I was asked to give some helpful hints for those who are either at the beginning of their journey as a writer or who are considering it.

1. My top tip is to decide whether or not you want to write as a hobby or as a way to make a living. Trust me when I tell you there is no right or wrong answer to that question, but the answer will drive every other decision you make.
2. You only have one chance to make a good first impression. I can’t tell you the number of times I hear from authors who have not experienced a lot of success “I can’t afford to do xyz…” And often times it is followed up with, “when I make some money on my books, I’ll go back…” It really doesn’t work that way. If you don’t do everything you can (professional editor, proofreader and cover) to make your first book the very best you can make it, you will find it difficult, if not impossible to get readers to take a second chance on you.
3. There is no free ride in becoming a published author. There are a number of different ways but it is either going to cost you money up front (and no I don’t mean vanity publishers that you pay to publish your work) or via a royalty agreement.
4. It isn’t as simple as write a book and get published. You have to format, load and market your manuscript (or pay someone to do that for you) onto the various retail sites.
5. Consider KU—yes you have to be exclusive to Amazon and you don’t get paid as much for one read-through as you do for the sale of one book. The two things to consider before rejecting KU—readers are far more likely to take a chance on a new author in KU and you do get paid for every page read. You will make up in pages read the difference in what you are paid. For example, my royalties are pretty much 50/50 KU pages read vs. e-books purchased.
6. If you chose to write for a living—treat your writing like a job.
a. Write each and every day
b. Educate yourself regarding genres, tropes, cover styles, etc.
c. Look at what you spend vs. what you make
d. Learn the art of pivoting—if something isn’t working, acknowledge that and make a change. To me it makes no sense to keep throwing money at something if it isn’t working
7. Write to market! I know, you want to write what you want to write—that’s all well and good for the hobbyist, but if you want to make a living, you have to write what it is that people want to read.
8. Pick a lane! This goes hand in hand with writing to market. It’s going to take time, skill and a certain number of books to establish yourself with readers. If you’re jumping all over the place, people won’t know what to expect from you.
9. When writing in an anthology, make sure its in line with what you plan to write. For example, if you write historical romances, writing in an anthology for dark mafia isn’t going to help you. An anthology is a way for you to pique a reader’s interest. You want to lead them to your backlist.
10. Treat your readers with the same respect and friendliness that you would like to be treated.


Magic Unleashed
The Grimm Files
Book One
Delta James

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Date of Publication: 9/20/24
Number of pages: 131
Word Count: 32,000
Cover Artist: Dar Albert, Wicked Smart Designs

Book Description: 

Mysterious deaths. Impossible magic. And the sexy dragon who might drive her to murder.

In the shadowy heart of modern-day New Orleans, where the supernatural simmers just beneath the surface, Phoenix Duvall is a force to be reckoned with. As a formidable fairy enforcer, she stands as the city’s last line of defense against the demonic threats that prowl the night. She’s trained from childhood and is armed with lightning-fast reflexes, mastery over fire, and deadly weapons, Phoenix knows she’ll only come into her full power when she finds and bonds with her fated mate. But Phoenix has never been one to wait for fate—until it throws her into the path of Griff Broussard, a hard-nosed dragon shifter detective with secrets of his own.

Griff has been investigating a series of gruesome deaths that defy all logical explanation. As their paths intertwine, Phoenix is forced to confront the truth: Griff is her fated mate. Together, they form an uneasy alliance to combat a rising demonic cult. But as their chemistry ignites, so too does the danger surrounding them.

Griff becomes possessed by the very demon lord they’ve been hunting. Phoenix faces an impossible choice: uphold her duty as a fairy enforcer, or risk everything—including her life and the fragile balance between worlds—for the man she’s come to love.

As the battle for New Orleans intensifies, Phoenix must confront her deepest fears and make a heart-wrenching decision in a final showdown that will determine the fate of both worlds.

Magic Unleashed, the first book in The Grimm Files, is a gripping paranormal romance where love is a double-edged sword, and the price of power could be everything.


Excerpt:

With no warning whatsoever, Phoenix bolted after it—whatever it was. She might be some badass faery enforcer, but he wasn’t about to let her go alone. Griff flung a handful of bills at Finn and bolted out the door behind her.

The muggy night smacked him in the face like a slap as he emerged, keeping one eye on the retreating figure and the other on Phoenix. Whoever or whatever it was, was fast, but Phoenix was faster. She seemed to levitate just above the ground—even without her wings—as she closed the distance.

“Phoenix!” Griff called, but to no avail. Phoenix didn’t break stride, turn around, or even slow down. The figure ducked into an alley, and Phoenix followed, the darkness swallowing her up.

Griff raced to catch up with her, rounding the corner just in time to see the figure disappear through a door at the end of the alley. Griff saw Phoenix skid to a halt. He could feel the presence of magic in the alley. Many parts of the city felt as if magic had been mixed into the mortar that held the buildings together.

Griff caught up to her, breathing heavily as he glanced at the door. “Looks like we found our lead.”

Phoenix nodded, her grip tightening on her knives. “And it’s not going to wait for us.”

With one last glance at Griff, she pushed the door open, stepping into the unknown.

Griff Broussard wasn’t a stranger to darkness. It lingered at the edges of his life, always threatening to swallow him whole. But tonight, as he stood at the threshold of the old door, staring at the door Phoenix had just disappeared through, that familiar darkness felt different. It was alive, pulsating with magic and danger, pulling him into its depths like a predator sizing up its prey.

The metallic tang of the night air filled his lungs as he pushed through the door behind Phoenix, muscles tense and instincts flaring. His senses sharpened. Even in human form, his dragon nature simmered beneath his skin, the beast pacing impatiently, ready to be unleashed at the first hint of a threat. He couldn’t help it—not here, not now, not with the echoes of his father’s unsolved murder still whispering at the edges of his mind.

Phoenix was already a few steps ahead, her movements fluid and silent as she navigated the narrow hallway beyond the door. Griff’s gaze swept the space, noting every detail—the cracked tiles on the floor, the flickering overhead light, and the faint trace of something old, something ancient lingering in the air. Magic. He could smell it, thick and oppressive, curling around him like smoke.

“Phoenix, wait,” he hissed, his voice low but urgent.

She glanced back at him, her eyes sharp and alert, but there was a flicker of impatience in her expression. Phoenix always charged headfirst into danger, relying on her instincts and speed.

Griff had always been the opposite—calculated, methodical. He needed to understand what they were walking into before they stepped too deep. But there was no time for planning now. The person they’d been chasing—their only lead—was somewhere ahead, and they couldn’t afford to lose it.

Without another word, Phoenix continued forward, her hand brushing the wall as she moved. Griff followed, the tension between them thickening with each step. He knew she could handle herself—hell, she was probably better suited for this than he was—but that didn’t stop the protective instinct that flared in his chest whenever they were in a situation like this. He hated that about himself. Hated how being around her always made him feel more… vulnerable. More aware of the fact that she was a storm he could never quite tame.


About the Author:

Delta James is a USA Today bestselling paranormal and contemporary romantic suspense author, whose goal is to captivate readers with stories about complex, curvy heroines and the dominant alpha males who adore them. For Delta, romance is more than just a love story; it’s a journey with challenges and thrills along the way. 

After creating a second chapter for herself that was dramatically different than the first, Delta now resides in Florida where she relaxes on warm summer evenings with her loveable pack of basset hounds as they watch the birds, squirrels and lizards. When not crafting fast-paced tales, she enjoys horseback riding, walks on the beach, and white-water rafting. 

Her readers mean the world to her, and Delta tries to interact personally to as many messages as she can. If you’d like to chat or discuss books, you can find Delta on Instagram, Facebook, and in her private reader group 













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