Friday Reads – Purple Snowflake Marketing by Dave and Lillian Brummet

My Friday Reads today will be of interest to the writers amongst you. Purple Snowflake Marketing is a guide by the dynamic writing duo Dave and Lillian Brummet. I’ve invited Lillian over to the blog today to talk about the book, and their writing.

Purple Snowflake Marketing – How to Make Your Book Stand Out In A Crowd  (Revised, May 2021) …offers a realistic view on what an author can expect upon publishing a book and how to make a memorable first impression. Learn from the experience of seasoned writers, develop a frugal marketing plan, run your career like a pro, be inspired by effective advice and discover quotes from PR experts and agents. Learn how to promote any service, product or book that you produce in your career.

(US) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1475204310

Welcome to the blog, Lillian. Your book looks a very useful guide. Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Actually, no. There was a time when the idea of writing for a living made me cringe because it meant having to deal with mild dyslexia… and yet I have always been drawn to the pen. The career popped up as an option a few times in my life but I did not believe that my voice could have value, that people would want to read my work or that I had the skills to write for a living – in such a tough industry. The change came after an accident closed my business and the sustained injuries had me rethinking my life, my legacy, my passions. After taking a writer’s course and dipping my toes in the ocean of words as a serious writer, I realized there could be something to this after all! (She laughs.) It’s been such an amazing ride ever since.

Has any author inspired you?

Most authors inspire me… some intimidate the heck out of me or leave me awestruck… some teach me what NOT to do. However I’m inspired all the time. I love to read and am often distracted from the joy of reading because I’m analysing the writing. I have to stop my critiquing or seeking thoughts, and restart the reading with a different mind-set.

What do you like about writing most?

I love the creativity, the playful crafting with intent. I feel fulfilled with the genres I write in professionally because I know those published articles, poetry and books are out there making a difference in the world. Writing helped me honor and celebrate our ancestors, by interviewing family members while they were alive, publishing their memoirs and poetry, sharing our versions of favorite recipes of theirs, or telling their stories.

Do you have a special place for writing?

I usually write in my office, which is a part of the main floor of the house – where the dining room traditionally is. I am most productive as a writer in the winter, but I’m writing all the time. Occasionally I will take the laptop out to the deck or sitting area in the yard, or I’ll take it along on a trip – and try to do some work but I’m often in the mood to relax and take in the scenery out there. That darn sun hits the screen in such uncomfortable angles that finding just the right spot can be a challenge.

Are you a pantster or a plotter?

Organization is kind of my thing, over planning and over thinking is also one of my traits. As such, I plan out the project at hand and discuss it often with the man (Dave) and we collaborate with brainstorming sessions that might change a lot of things along the way. So I plan, but I’m super flexible too.

You mentioned your family earlier – was your writing inspired by your family or real life incidents?

Yes – Towards Understsanding shares my journey of recovery from an abusive childhood and then discovering that my life has value, that I could make a difference… and this gave me purpose. It is a story told through poetry in chronological order. The trilogy we are currently getting published is actually a collection of Dave’s late father’s poetry, short stories, photos and family memoirs. Some of the recipes we shared in our cookbook were also from late-family members. A couple decades ago, as a staff writer, I interviewed my mother and step-father (separately) about their amazing life experiences that were published in the magazine I was working for. My mother was a master gardener and she played a role in our upcoming backyard / market garden guidebook (due for publication in 2023/24).

What inspired you to write Purple Snowflake Marketing?

Actually the first edition was based heavily on my own prewritten guide for myself to follow, making sure I didn’t neglect something along the marketing plan journey. Once I became known as a marketing and networking guru, I realized that there was a market out there for this. A couple years later, I had introduced all the notes I had taken from dozens of marketing, writing and business management courses, hundreds of webinars and decades of research. I also included business management advice, and tax tips learned from our experiences managing businesses. There are quotes from friends, professionals in the industry, who share valuable advice and encouragement. …I feel like I’m missing a bunch of stuff, but yeah – there is a lot packed into this 370-page guidebook for writers. Readers get to access 30 years experience, hosting radio shows and podcasts, professional book and product reviewing, staff writing and freelance positions that we held, managing blogs and newsletters or managing and starting up businesses. The main focus of this book is to guide the author to design frugal, unique book launch and marketing strategies that will have their book standing out in a snowstorm like a purple snowflake. 🙂

What time of the day do you write best?

When the muse strikes, the dogs are quiet, Dave is working or down in the studio and ambient music is playing. In the winter, this is usually somewhere between 11AM-3PM during the weekdays. It totally varies in other seasons. When I’m into the depths of a chapter I don’t like to stop, pauses irritate me, and I’m aching to get back to it… and at that point, time is irrelevant and resistance is futile.

What are your hobbies?

I dabble at hand drumming occasionally because it is fun and it is Dave’s thing. I love to paint, sketch and carve but haven’t had time in ages. I’m super passionate about gardening and it is hard to tear me away from “playing in the dirt” whenever the weather permits. This year, I’m stepping back from intensive gardening and planting a few more potatoes in stead so that the season allows more time to focus on our projects. In a good gardening year, when I have the time to grow intensively, we can produce 60-70% of our vegetable, fruit, preserves and wine.

During work breaks, and days off, I like to play with the dogs, listen to the birds and relax… watch some movies or read. Occasionally we’ll go for a long drive to get away from the home office and household to-do list. I love to sing, too, but nobody else likes it. – ha ha – Actually I’m super shy and actually enjoy the quiet, isolation that running a home office sometimes brings. My mind is constantly churning, so I try to find things that take me out of my head. I used to do yoga every day and walk the dogs twice a day but I’m old now and everything hurts, all those old injuries haunt me regularly. I hope to get back to yoga soon, as it has been over a year since I have done it regularly and I miss it. It is easier to do when the warm sun hits the deck and the birds are out. 🙂

What advice would you give to other writers?

Prepare to evolve on a regular basis. Learn every chance you get – by joining webinars, attending writer’s groups, researching Youtube, reading books or listening to interviews. It is a tough industry to make a living in, there’s a lot of competition and it is harder to get readers to reach into their pockets to count the change they have left after paying bills. It is a difficult time, economy, war, strife, pandemic… and that plays a huge role in sales and marketing efforts too. Be flexible, patient, be kind and gracious… and find some bliss in playing in the sandbox of words. 🙂

Very sound advice, Lillian. Thanks so much for dropping by to talk to us today.

A Brief Author Bio.

Lillian and her husband Dave are the team behind Brummet Media Group, high-fiving cheerfully as they pass each other on the way from checking off one item or other from their long to-do list.  Today we help them celebrate their latest book – their recently revised Purple Snowflake Marketing guide for authors Visit the Brummets @: www.BrummetMedia.ca  -&- drop by their Amazon Author page @: https://amazon.com/author/lillianbrummet

Links:

Amazon’s Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/lillianbrummet

Find the Brummets elsewhere online here: https://linktr.ee/LillianBrummet

Social Media:

https://ConsciousDiscussions.blogspot.com

https://DrumItWithBrummet.blogspot.com

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRY2pD6ma5iJTG3iBUHXnvw

Social Networking:

http://facebook.com/lillian.brummet

Twitter

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ldbrummet

https://www.facebook.com/dave.brummet