Who is he Really? 

This is Jett and he was born on a Facebook Page.  He's a football star from a dusty town in Southern Colorado.  He is also living a secret life as a teenage assassin.

But who is he really?  What's his motivation?  How and why did he become an assassin?  I mean, it's not like joining the debate team.  One simply does not show up and become an assassin.    


During the past few weeks, Jett has worn a couple of costumes including a genetically modified soldier and the son of a retired mafia don.  Nothing seemed to work.

Trinidad, Colorado

Finally it hit me.   

Jett is an assassin because he fit a certain psychological profile, but he does not enjoy the work.  He does it because it he has to.

Jett lives in an economically depressed down.  His father cannot find a job.  It's up to Jett to care for his family.  If Jett does not work as an assassin, his family will become homeless and they will starve.

Jett's Bio

Name: Jett Kroese
Age: 17
Birthplace: Trinidad, Colorado
Siblings: A brother, age 5 and a sister age 9
General Appearance: shaggy black hair that hangs at chin length.  Slate grey/blue eyes.  Fair complexion.  Muscular build.  Taller than most, 6'2. 
Occupation: High School Student.  Football Player.  Assassin
Degree of Skill at Occupation(s): Jett is a natural leader.  He finds himself in control of whatever situation he lands in.  As an assassin, he travels with two other boys: Jonathan and Justin and is considered the default mission leader.
Feelings about his occupation: Jett is constantly amazed and sometimes perplexed by the special treatment he receives as a star football player in the small town.  He performs his duties as an assassin with little emotion and clinical precision.  He does, however, enjoy the lighthearted camaraderie and the adrenaline rush that envelope each mission.
Family Background:  Jett's father is a dreamer who is known for taking risks.  Unfortunately, that also means that he's constantly out of work.  Jett is no stranger to hunger, homelessness, and instability.  He is well compensated for his work as an assassin and uses it to clothe his siblings, feed his family, and pay the rent.  Jett's little brother has leukemia and Jett's mother is constantly acting as his nurse.  His sister is easily lost in the shuffle and Jett worries constantly about the neglect.  He tries to make up for it by giving her special little treats and spending extra time with her.      

Now all I have to do is figure out his emotional arc....

Pinning with your iPhone, iTouch, or Android Device

First: a definition....

Board (noun) A board is a set of pins. A board can be created on any topic, such as Cool Posters, Future Outfits, or a Wishlist. You can add as many pins to a board as you want.

Step 1: Create the Pinterest Board

Step 2: Name the Board

Tap the Title, Description, and Category options to add information about your board.  When you're happy with what you have, tap the red Create button. 

Step 3: Now that you have a Pinterest Board, you're going to need some pins.  

Pin (noun): an image added to Pinterest. A pin can be added from a website using the Pin It button, or you can upload images from your computer, phone, or iTouch.

To add a pin using your iPhone, Android device, or iTouch, tap the Explore button located at the bottom of your screen. 

Step 4: In the Search Box, type the name of: whatever it is you'd like to pin. 

Step 5: When you find a picture you like, tap the Repin button. 

Step 6: Choose the Board that you'd like to add the picture to. 

Step 7: Tap the Repin button once again. 

Step 8: Success!  You will now see your latest pin on your board.  

Using Pinterest to Make Your Author Bio Pop! 

Pinterest can be a fun way to spice up an otherwise dry author bio.  The key to doing this successfully is to WRITE the bio first and then find the pins.  For those of you who haven't a clue as to what a pin is, start with the Pinterest FAQ.  If you do not have a Pinterest account, it's easy to create one, especially if you have a Facebook or Twitter account.

So back to the Author Bio.  The general rule of thumb is that it should be short, sweet, and relevant to your writing career.  With the Pinterest board, you can actually get away with more because you're creating a visual tapestry of who you are.

Since my books have a strong sense of place based on where I grew up and where I live now, a lot of my pins will reflect that.  Also, Pinterest does NOT have an organize function.  So when you're pinning your author bio, make sure to go in reverse chronological order.

Pinning your Bio  

Step 1: Are you a member of any writing-related organizations?  If so, pin them!

Note that I'm using a computer for this demonstration.  You can also do this via the Pinterest app using your iPod or iPhone or any Android device. 

You can do a Google image search to find a good logo. 

 
 Using the Pinterest bookmark, you can add the image to your site.

 

Step 2: What experiences and hobbies map over to your work?

I am a wanna be surfer.  Linden Greco, the protagonist in my debut novel, Wipeout, is an accomplished surfer.  Therefore, some of my pins include the ocean.

In Kyra and Jett's story, the setting is heavily influenced by my childhood in Southern Colorado.  Some of my pins definitely have that flavor.  
 



Step 3: Have fun with it!

You can continue to pin items that communicate your uniqueness as a writer. Just don't forget to pin in reverse chronological order.  If you make a mistake, you can easily remove a pin.

Here's a link to my Author Bio Board.  I really had fun making it.  

Let's Get Social!

LET'S GET SOCIAL!

How people consume content has changed drastically in the past few years. In other entertainment mediums, individuals are cutting cords with traditional providers and signing up for on-demand services. It’s only a matter of time before that trend trickles down to the publishing industry.

It's not enough to write a compelling story, find an agent, and get the manuscript published.  Readers want more.  The need to connect to the characters.  They want to have a say in what happens to the protagonists and their sidekicks.  There's a reason why fan fiction is so popular.

My mission is to share everything I know about social technology.  From creating character profiles with Pinterest to figuring out how to use Tumblr effectively, we're going to cover it all.