Today I'm sharing some tips and tricks I've learned while dictating my books! I'm still a beginner but wanted to share what program I use and what I've learned along the way so far. Otter Referral Link: https://otter.ai/referrals/FDSZW8XM Vocal Warm-Ups on Youtube (I appreciate my theatre years teaching me how important it is to warm-up even if you're not singing!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73mGajv-6pE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eDcHZZn7hU Tips: search 'vocal warm-ups for public speaking' on youtube and find a video you like! I know sometimes it feels weird doing this, but it really helps you in the long run! Remember hydration is key when speaking a lot so I'll just remind you to drink that water! Books I mentioned and have read about dictation: Fool Proof Dictation (this one has exercises!): https://amzn.to/3koG4FK The Productive Author's Guide to Dictation: https://amzn.to/2ZS1Fgp 5,000 Words Per Hour: https://amzn.to/3r0GZif Write Better, Faster: https://amzn.to/3pTSTcf Dictation: Dictate Your Writing: https://amzn.to/2ZV2PaW Snail Mail: Courtney Young | PO BOX 697 | Groves, TX 77619 Do you have a question about self-publishing? ASK ME ANYTHING FOR MY Q&A MONDAY SERIES: https://forms.gle/fVbKesmhhCcUDBeP7 The tea I was drinking was Oteas - Strawberry Cream that came in my February Sips by Tea Subscription Box. You can get $5 off using the code below if you'd like to sign up! https://www.sipsby.com/pages/referral?code=xpsthbdbb8tyqy2 //A B O U T M E// Pen names: Lyra Parish & Kennedy Fox (we're an author duo!) I've been in the indie scene since 2011. I published my first romance novel in 2014 (Weak for Him). Under Kennedy Fox, we've made USA Today 4 times since 2017. With Lyra Parish, I've made top 100 several times on Amazon. I unpublished my Lyra Parish backlist in 2020 with zero regrets. You can watch that video here: https://bit.ly/3k8P6pa Want to find our Kennedy Fox Books? Visit: http://www.kennedyfoxbooks.com ___ //Other News // I'm currently a co-host for the monthly youtube show Publishable (Self-publishing versus Traditional Publishing) You can watch our videos on this playlist: https://bit.ly/2ZvKNwq ___ //Searching for a Motivational Writing Group? // I have a writing group on Facebook where you can earn stickers each month if you write 10K in a day or 50K in a month. You can choose your own day. It's a supportive community that's also fun. If you're international, feel free to join! I've sent stickers to people all around the world since July 2019! www.facebook.com/groups/write10kinaday ___ //2021 R E L E A S E S C H E D U L E// Pushing You Away - February - RELEASED Holding You Close - March Bossing the Cowboy - May Kissing the Cowboy - June Winning the Cowboy - July Forcing You Away - September ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUVQ2vd_w1M

Thank you for watching this Cover Critique video for @Bethany Atazadeh 's book The Stolen Kingdom. This book is on all platforms—Apple, Barnes, Kobo, Google Play, and Amazon so we are taking a different approach with the book cover critique today. The goal is to determine if these covers are competitive on the wide platforms, and why they are or aren't. Big thank you to Bethany for allowing me to review her covers for all of you! You are amazing and I appreciate you trusting me with your book babies. Mwah! I really hoped you all learned something even though this video was long AF. Apologies about the featured film, but y'all know how I feel about splitting it in parts. It's easier to give it as it is. Disclaimers about Cover Critiques: These are my opinions and my opinions only. Following this advice cannot guarantee more sales. With that bing said, if you'd like to send me your cover to review, please email me at lyraparish(at)gmail.com and in the subject line please put COVER CRITIQUE. Please include your cover, genre, subgenres, along with any other information that may be helpful for me to understand where it should be placed. TBH: I have been sent a lot, which I appreciate greatly, and I will get to them as soon as I can. :) Why I chose to call the female cover a photo manipulation: It looks more realistic than hand drawn or cartoonish. It's not overly airbrushed. I do understand this cover has a filter over it to make it look more like a person illustration cover (I zoomed in and studied it in more detail and made an assessment based on the woman), but I'd still consider it a manipulation due to the realism. The other covers I considered manipulations for the comparison on Amazon had the same type of filters/magical backgrounds/fantasy vibes. I chose higher prices for her paperbacks than the previous YA book I reviewed because Bethany is on all platforms and the books are longer! The giveaway will be chosen and will close on June 7, 2022 (Three weeks from when this video is posted to give everyone plenty of time to enter!) . I will announce who won in a video on June 10th. You MUST be a subscriber to win. Another big thanks to Shannon Nemechek for collaborating and being so generous! You're the bomb and your generosity is really going to help someone in the community! Questions? POST THOSE BABIES DOWN BELOW! //A B O U T M E// Pen names: Lyra Parish & Kennedy Fox (we're an author duo!) I've been in the indie scene since 2011. I published my first romance novel in 2014 (Weak for Him). Under Kennedy Fox, we've made USA Today 5 times since 2017. As Lyra Parish, I had books ranking in the top 50 sold several times on Amazon. If you're looking for those books, you will not find them. I unpublished my Lyra Parish backlist in 2020 with zero regrets. You can watch that video here: https://bit.ly/3k8P6pa Want to check out Kennedy Fox's Books? Visit: http://www.kennedyfoxbooks.com ___ //Searching for a Motivational Writing Group?// I have a writing group on Facebook where you can earn stickers for writing 10K in a day or 50K in a month. You can choose your own day. It's a supportive community that's also fun. If you're international, feel free to join! I've sent stickers to people all around the world since July 2019! In 2021, those who write Half a Million or 1 Million words in a year, will be sent an enamel pin! www.facebook.com/groups/write10kinaday ___ //2022 R E L E A S E S C H E D U L E// The Heart of Us - February - Released Claiming the Cowboy - Released Tempting the Cowboy - June Seducing the Cowboy - August The Fall of Us - October The Joy of Us - November Plus...we're releasing 12 Italian books and some collections! ___ //S O C I A L M E D I A// → TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lyraparish https://www.tiktok.com/@kennedyfoxbooks → instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyraparish https://www.instagram.com/kennedyfoxduo →facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lyraparishauthor http://www.facebook.com/kennedyfoxbooks → twitter: https://www.twitter.com/lyraparish https://www.twitter.com/kennedyfoxbooks → my personal email: lyraparish@gmail.com DO NOT EMAIL KENNEDY FOX! //Affiliate Links // Dashing Divas - Nail polish stickers I LOVE because I suck at painting them! (Get $5 off!) https://bit.ly/3DBERUb Vellum - Best Book Formatting Program EVER! https://a.paddle.com/v2/click/49674/123957?link=1775 Scrivener - Application I use to write! https://a.paddle.com/v2/click/49535/123957?link=1570 Otter - Dictation app I use (get a month of pro-light for free) https://otter.ai/referrals/FDSZW8XM Streamyard - Best Live Streaming Software! (get $10 off!) https://streamyard.com?pal=5688077045465088 Flodesk - Newsletter Sender (get 50% off). It's easy to use + afforadable! https://flodesk.com/c/2HQR5F #writer #author #selfpublish #writingadvice #selfpublishing #writingtips #authortube ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPctnWJRrrQ