Castle Gate Press has published using a traditional model from 2013-2018. One of our books is an Amazon genre bestseller, and another won a Selah Award for Christian fiction in the speculative category. Yet another was a finalist for Selah, and another a finalist for the Grace Award. In short, we provide award-winning editing. We […]
Writers, on social media engage your target reader
Reprinted from this blog, Sept. 9, 2013 I’ve got a bit of advice for writers, publicizing themselves on blogs or social media: engage your target reader. Many writers find themselves talking to other writers when they blog, perhaps using writers’ jargon or handing out writing advice. What’s wrong with that? It’s quite possible that other […]
Increase your SEO IQ: One key way to making your website more findable
To make your website better-known, you need to get some better-known websites to link to your website. Google and other search engines rely on page rank signals in their algorithms. You can increase your page rank (and likelihood of getting found) by getting higher-page-rank websites (loosely translated as “better-known” websites) to link to your website. […]
How to write back-cover copy, from James Scott Bell
Back-cover copy–the blurb you’ll put on the back cover of your book– is a key marketing tool. You’ll use the same blurb for a query, if you’re querying agents and editors. So how do you do it right? You need to tease the potential reader with cool stuff about your book but include NO spoilers. […]
Three tips for making a viral book trailer by author Jennifer Slattery
Your novel’s in print, so now you need a book trailer, right? Only you really don’t have the money to hire someone to make one for you. Besides, do book trailers work? It’s hard enough to get people to come to your blog. Why would they click through a link to watch an advertisement? For […]
Announcing: the winners!
At the Realm Makers conference in St. Louis this weekend, Castle Gate Press gave away four critiques: two ten-page, two three-page. We’re pleased to announce the winners. Ten-page: C. Morris and E. Wallace Three-page: C. Eaton and C. Smith Woo hoo! We’ll be in touch today with the winners about how to submit. And for […]
Should you enter a writing contest? Advice from Jennifer Slattery
With every writing contest comes a slew of questions: Should I enter? Does X contest really help a writer get published? How credible are contest scores? For some, contests have opened the doors they believe they wouldn’t have seen opened otherwise. For others, contests have only led to frustrating and conflicting scores and feedback. Which […]
Author Happiness
What does “happiness” mean for you as an author? Getting an agent? Finding a publisher? Or do you prefer to shoot for the moon and won’t be happy until you reach the best-seller list? Take a few minutes to think about it? What would it truly take to satisfy you as an author? Now that […]
Five ways to compel the reader into your book
Writers, let’s say you’ve got a great plot, characters that learn and change, and so much more. But the book isn’t attracting fans. What could be wrong? Perhaps you need to take a good look at the bonding moment between reader and main character in the first few paragraphs of your book. Is there something […]
Biblical Advice for How to Accept a Critique
King David gives some excellent advice in the following verse about accepting constructive criticism: Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it. Ps. 141:5a (NLT) If you’ve ever learned from a tough critique, the advice in this verse probably sounds familiar. […]