Those who choose to play the numbers game and write for content sites that pay based on page views, ad impressions or ad share knows how important it is for the content we write to get indexed in search engines in a high enough slot on the search results that it’s likely internet users will find our articles and view them. If no one ever clicks on them to view them, we wouldn’t get paid.

While we can spend a lot of time to promote out content and build up back links and such, the best way to make money as a content writer for these pay by view websites is to write organic and naturally viral, evergreen content that people will click on to read when they find it. To do that, they must find it. Search engines and search directories are the most common way an internet surfer finds our content.

How Internet Search Works for Pay Per View Content

Usually, the internet surfer will search for something online in an internet search engine or internet search directory, and the engine or directory will return results for their search query that are supposed to match the information they are seeking–i.e.: our content should essentially be the answer to or information about the topic for which the person is searching.

The #1 source of our traffic and therefore our income when we write for pay by view content sites is from search engines, and so we all know how very important it is that the search engines do something called ‘indexing’ our content. They scan it with robots and spiders (internet speak for programs that go out on the web and look for content), and then they use the text area of the content to determine, semantically and contextually, what our content is most likely about. Then, based on algorithms that are a mathematician’s wet dream (just ask my Ryan), the search engines determine what is likely closest to the searcher’s query and what is most relevant.

How Are Internet Searches Returned for Pay Per View Content?

These things are determined by keywords in the content, keyword phrases in the content, and other related contextual clues in the content and on the website itself (latent semantic indexing and such), but it’s also determined in part by how popular the content is, how many click throughs it gets, how many bounces the content gets when people do click through, and many other things. In fact, the formula for figuring how things get indexed is so complicated that no one really knows for sure how it works, but rather just have a vague understanding of how best to work with it.

Which Search Engines Matter of Pay Per View Content Indexing?

Google is the giant search engine, and for most people, they can bet at a minimum of 75% of their traffic is probably going to come from an organic search on Google. For some, that % might be as much as 90-95% of all traffic. Yahoo!, MSN – Live, and AOL all have some market share worth mentioning, and some of the smaller and newer search directories and search engines are picking up in numbers.

For now, Google is the one to hit for content writers who want payoff from pay by view content websites, sites like Associated Content.

Google and Associated Content’s Pay Per View Content Model

But recently, Associated Content has been having trouble with it’s lovingly called ‘Google Juice’. We don’t know why. We don’t believe AC even knows why. In fact, AC is very hesitant to even indicate it is true, stating that our content is just as discoverable as it has ever been. We know this is not true, but it’s also not false, entirely. Eventually, all our content does get indexed, and eventually, it will build up some money and page views, but that’s not our point.

We are losing money on the front-end and the back-end side of things when Google either doesn’t index us quickly or indexes us and then UNindexes our content. This is what is happening on AC, making breaking news almost impossible to get traffic to without major marketing and promotion work (and often spamming techniques get used to do this – bad, bad promoters!)

My Google Indexing Journey for Pay Per View Content

I decided to follow two of my most recent articles through the system on Google and Associated Content to show what is currently happening. Here is what I learned:

Article #1872611, In-Depth Series on Internet Panhandling: The Beccah Beushausen Sick Child Scam

And

Article #1853305, In-Depth Series on Internet Panhandling: Crime or Nuisance?

6/23 – both articles were published and both were indexed within two hours of publication on Google. One indexed on page one of Google. The other indexed on page three in Google. Both for the phrase ‘internet panhandling’, not in quotes.

6/28 — within minutes of each other, both articles dropped off Google completely – no indexing by link or keywords, at all.

6/29 — article #1872611 re-indexed, dropping from sixth place on page one in a Google search to being in fifth place on page three for the exact same keyword phrase. Article #1853305 remained unindexed.

6/30 –article #1853305 re-indexed on Google by link, but is nowhere to be found on a keyword search for ‘internet panhandling’ (I only went back 15 pages), even though it was on page three for the same search on 6/23. Article #1872611 moved from fifth place on page three to seventh place on page one of a Google search (which is good news–means they can receover some ranking).

It should be noted I did nothing to promote these links except to post them via autopost on Twitter when they first published and on Facebook when they first published. I also posted the links to both in my forum. Both articles made the most commented list, and for a short time, both were on the list at the same time. While I’m certain traffic to the articles has little to do with the indexing issues, I thought I’d mention these things.

Lastly, article #1872611 Currently has 432 page views and articles #1853305 currently has 1004 page views as of 6/30. That means I have currently earned a whopping $3.00, give or take, for these two articles in the past week.

I have no way of proving how much different the page views would have been had the articles been posted and indexed in Google the entire time, but I can show on past articles of this nature that I easily was able to earn 1,000-4,000 page views in a relatively short period of time, with litlte promotion. I do feel this has lowered my page views at this point, and that cuts into my bottom line.

However, I can’t complain too much. Some pay per view content sites don’t get articles indexed in Google or other major search engines at all, or if they do, the writer has to do the work of getting them indexed. On those sites, also, the pay per view content site usually only uses ‘unique visits’ from ‘qualified sources’. AC at least gives page view per page views,
a
s long as it’s from a qualified source, so if you can bring traffic back to your content again and again, you can earn from it in a truly unlimited fashion.

I wouldn’t mind so much having to do work to get my content indexed with AC, but the problem is two-fold here. 1) AC doesn’t tell the writers for their pay per content view website model that it’s our responsibility to drive traffic and post links to get indexed. Yes, we have a responsibility to promote our content and constantly improve our library, but nowhere does it say we have to handle the indexing. 2) Even if we do the right things to get indexed, such as proper promoting (not spamming) and link backs and driving traffic, there is still the problem of it UNindexing adn returning to Google ‘penalized’ in some way.

I would much prefer to start with a blank slate where it was my job to get it indexed instead of working at an already existing deficit.

So that’s the deal with Associated Content and indexing at this point, and that’s a layman’s explanation of why this is important for all people who write for Associated Content (and other pay per view income paying model content sites).

If you truly want to make some real money writing for the internet that is based on page views and revenue, check out Suite101 in addition to your other sites. They are a bit more prestigious and they require a bit firmer regulation to writing but you’ll learn a lot and the potential for good money with Suite is there. I haven’t written for them in nearly two years now, and yet my 11 articles from back then still earn me 10 bucks per month, every single month without fail–or more! At 50 articles, you get a raise, and it snowballs.

If I had the time, I’d totally be writing for them again and I do look forward to getting back in touch with their staff member who was on maternity leave to complete the Suite101 challenge.

As the print world changes and the economy continues to be unstable, it is the people who got in on the ground floor of these content sites and have built up their passive, residual income who are staying strong and steady. Self employment is where it’s at right now, and with the internet, passive income can be a God-send to those who are struggling to keep jobs! Start writing some content that will continue to pay you, day in and day out, without having to do anything else. It might not seem like much, but a dollar per day is 30 bucks per month, and 5 bucks per day is $150 per month, for doing nothing more than you already did – and you might get some upfront money from it too! 10 websites all making you about 150 per month will get you $1500 cool bucks in residual income–passive income! It’s worth it!

Keep writing!

Love and stuff,
Michy
=================================================================

For the Record: I don’t really believe in writer’s block. I think there are times when writing isn’t easy or when ideas aren’t flowing, but I don’t think a writer is every truly blocked. We can always write – about something, anything – maybe not what we want to write about, but we can always write.

That said, when asked how to overcome writer’s block, this is what I share:

Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block:

Are you a writer? Maybe you’re not a writer, but part of your job requires you to write… something, anything, web copy, correspondence, emails, newsletters. Maybe you are not a writer but use article writing as a marketing and promotional tool. Any way it goes, if you write anything as part of your job, the time may come when you find yourself sitting in front of the computer screen, hands poised over the keys, the thoughts all in your mind, but the words just won’t flow from your brain through your fingers to actually come out the other side of the screen.

Now what?

I am a writer. I’m also an editor. For me, it’s a bit easier, because I do both for a living, and unless I’m up against a writing deadline, I can simply put the writing aside and move over to an editing project and take my mind off of the writing. Truth is, writer’s block isn’t much of an issue for me anymore. If the idea is in my head, I can usually write about it, but even I have my moments when the idea just won’t flow.

Since I administer a writer’s forum on the internet, I have had the chance to talk to many writers and have discovered that writer’s block is often the single most irritating problem among writers of any caliber. So I decided to do some research and put together this list for people who write.

Ten effective ways to combat or cure writer’s block:

1. Walk away from the keyboard.

I know you may think that this is counter productive, but it can often work wonders. You see, the brain never stops processing information. Even when you are not actively thinking about something, your brain continues to work on the problem. Walk away from the keyboard and take a short break, grab yourself a cup of coffee or a soda, take a bathroom break, or do some other activity that doesn’t require you to think about your writing for several minutes. Often, you’ll find that when you come back and sit down to write again, your brain has solved your writer’s block on its own.

2. When taking a break doesn’t work, put the writing aside and work on something else you need to finish that is not writing related.

This works about the same as the suggestion above, but takes it a bit further by actually redirecting your thoughts to another activity. Later, you can come back to your writing and see if the thoughts flow a bit better.

3. Read something.

If you need to write about something in particular, read something that pertains to what you want to write about. Reading what others have said might inspire some spark in you and get the creative juices flowing again.

4. Write something.

Okay, so you’re asking, “I have writer’s block and you’re telling to write something?” Sure. I mean, you don’t have to write the piece that you are stuck, but write something. Jot down some personal notes, write anything that comes to mind. If you do poetry, write a poem. If you blog, go write in your blog. If you subscribe to newsgroups, go post something. Answer some emails you’ve been putting off. What may be getting you stuck isn’t the writing itself, but perhaps you are stuck on that one piece. If you can get yourself into the writing mode by writing something else, anything else, you might find that the writing will flow again when you go back to the piece on which you were stuck.

5. Make an outline.

I’m not big on outlining stories or articles, myself, but sometimes when I get stuck and don’t know where to go or how to start, making a brief outline of what I want to say, and then moving things on the outline around into some sort of order can help the writing flow by giving it a direction.

6. Write when you are well rested!

Now, number 6 and number 7 are going to seem to contradict each other, but if you read them, you’ll see why I have included them both. Get a good night’s sleep, wake up refreshed, and come to the writing again rested and prepared to write. Sometimes, we can be so tired, or have so many things going through our minds that writing is the last thing we want to do. Now, this doesn’t work for everyone, especially people who get stuck inside their heads, so if this doesn’t work for you, try number 7.

7. Write when you are tired.

Write at the end of the day, when you are so exhausted that your mind isn’t interfering with the flow. Don’t worry about what you have written, or if there are typos or editing errors. You can come back and fix the errors later, when you are more refreshed. The point of breaking writer’s block isn’t to get you to write perfectly – it’s to get you to write at all! Let it just flow from you naturally, and then come back in the morning or the next day when you are rested and then you can make it perfect.

8. Talk to someone about your writing.

Call a friend or family member, chat with someone from one of your writer’s groups. Tell them you are writing something but have become stuck and you need some inspiration, and then, let them inspire you!

9. Do some research.

This falls into the same line as reading about your topic, but takes it a step further. Call some friends, ask them questions about your topic. Post some questions in your blog, get some feedback. When you are confident you know a lot about your topic, writing becomes so much easier. Fill your mind with so much information about your selected topic that you are just bursting from too much information and you just HAVE to write about it.

10. Lastly, write about having writer’s block.

Seriously! Write about why you feel stuck. What is it that seems to be keeping you from writing? Free associate and write about it. When you get down to the reasons why you have writer’s block, you can address them and correct them.

Writing is like any other hobby or profession. You may love your job, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have mornings you wake up and say, “Ugh, I don’t want to go to work today!” There will be days, no matter how much you love to write, that you just don’t feel like writing.

That’s okay, write anyway!

Good luck, and keep writing!

More resources:

Michelle L Devon is a writer and a freelance editor, providing contracted services through her company, Accentuate Services. For more information, you can visit her website at www.AccentuateServices.com or visit the Accentuate Writers Forum and network with other writers. Her Freelancing & Fiction blog is a must-read for new freelancers too!

Mini-Bio for Kathy-Diane Leveille:

Kathy-Diane Leveille is a former broadcast journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation who discovered the only thing more thrilling than reading a wonderful story is harnessing the power of the imagination to write one. Her short story collection Roads Unravelling was published to critical acclaim after a selection from its pages Learning to Spin was adapted to radio drama for CBC’s Summer Drama Festival. The tale Showdown at the Four Corner’s Corral was revised for the stage and performed by New City Theater in Saint John.

Kathy-Diane’s prose has been published in a number of literary journals including Grain, Room of One’s Own, The Oklahoma Review, Pottersfield Portfolio, The Cormorant; as well as various anthologies such as Water Studies: New Voices in Maritime Fiction (Pottersfield Press) and New Brunswick Short Stories (Neptune).

Kathy-Diane is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Kiss of Death RWA and Crimewriters of Canada.

~~~~
I have loved books forever. My best friends are books. When I was growing up, a Saturday wasn’t complete without a trip on the bus to the local library. I would sit in the back of the bus on the way home, where there was lots of room to spread my booty, and savour the potential humming between the covers. Having my debut novel Let the Shadows Fall Behind You published is a dream come true. I live on the east coast with my husband and two sons next to a lovely garden. I love bird watching, hiking and motorcycle riding. I’m so pleased to be a guest today.

It’s rare today to find an author who does nothing but write for a living. Do you have a ‘real’ job other than writing, and if so, what is it? What are some other jobs you’ve had in your life?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I’m a former broadcast journalist with CBC radio. Seventeen years ago, when I was home on maternity leave with my youngest son, I dug out an old file of story ideas and started scribbling. By the time the date arrived when I was supposed to return to work, I had already decided that I didn’t want to keep putting my dream of writing fiction on the back burner. Since then I’ve done different jobs, including being a janitor and typing medical transcription, to give me the time and energy to pursue my passion. My first book Roads Unravelling, a collection of short stories set on the Kennebecasis River where I live, was published a few years ago. Let the Shadows Fall Behind You released this spring is my first novel.

What compelled you to write your first novel?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: Let the Shadows Fall Behind You (Kunati Books) was inspired by my fascination with disappearances. An estimated 10 million people go missing each year in the U.S. alone, but no one’s ever documented how many of these incidents defy explanation. Take the mystifying case documented by psychic, Sylvia Browne, of the man who stepped out his front door and vanished in broad daylight. His family could hear him calling, but no one could see him anywhere. Let the Shadows Fall Behind You features Brannagh Maloney whose boyfriend, Nikki, disappears into thin air while conducting a bird count up north. Brannagh reluctantly returns home for a reunion of the childhood club Tuatha-de-Dananns. She hides out at her Grandmother’s cottage near the woods where her mother was murdered fifteen years ago. As Brannagh tries to solve the mystery behind Nikki’s vanishing, she is haunted by the secrets hiding the most startling disappearance of all.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I don’t remember making any formal decision. I have just always had a need to put pen to page. I wrote my first poem when I was in Grade 1:

Oh Father Dear, I’m glad you’re here
So we can celebrate this day, with a Doran’s beer.

Of course I didn’t understand why my teacher’s eyes rounded with horror when she read it. That was my first lesson in discovering that not everyone will welcome the truth in what you write! I wrote radio dramas in Grade 6 and the school Christmas play; lots of poetry and short stories in high school. I started trying to write a novel in my early twenties while I worked night shift as a technician at CBC. I still have the notes!

Tell us a little bit about your book/s.

Kathy-Diane Leveille: Let the Shadows Fall Behind You is Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood meets Harlan Coben. I loved writing it because I was able to combine the ingredients I crave in fiction: a dark hero, a broken and brave heroine, loyal sidekicks; and the shifting, persistent threat of evil that must be conquered. It’s a multi-layered plot, sharpened by elements of romance, suspense, poetry and comedy. I love anything Irish and grew extremely fond of these women–Brannagh, Annie, Tish and Diane— and was sad to write the last page. I especially relate to Brannagh, the protagonist. She is determined to leave dark secrets in her past behind, but the disappearance of Nikki leads her straight back home. So often in life, that is exactly what happens. The very thing we don’t want to deal with keeps knocking at our door until we face it head on. Brannagh learns that nothing can change the past, but the power of friendship can transform the future.

How did you feel the day you held the copy of your first book in your hands?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: There is no feeling like it. Picture the arrival of Christmas morning, the thrill of hearing a newborn baby’s cry and the rush of your first kiss all rolled into one. My husband and I went out for dinner. He’s my number one cheerleader and gets more excited than I do! The first time I did a reading in a library was probably one of the most thrilling moments in my life. I felt as if everything had come full circle.

What inspires you and motivates you to write the very most?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I love riding in the car or on a train and gazing out the window. There’s always something in the landscape to twig my imagination. Once it was a chair in the middle of a field. I started wondering who put it there and why. The short story The Chair in my first book Roads Unravelling was born. I usually begin by simultaneously visualizing a situation that causes an upheaval in life, and hearing a character’s voice emote their reaction to it. It’s a very strange process and definitely has my husband worried some days; especially when he dusts the books on my research shelf: Handbook of Poisons and Crime Scene Investigation.

The main characters of your stories – do you find that you put a little of yourself into each of them or do you create them to be completely different from you?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: Creating characters during the inspiration stage isn’t a conscious decision. I really can’t explain how it happens. But during the perspiration stage, when I shape my initial idea into a story using the tools of the craft, I usually try to refine the character into the kind I relate to and love when I read fiction: Human and flawed, but capable of heroism nonetheless.

Is there an established writer you admire and emulate in your own writing? Do you have a writing mentor?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: There are tons of writers I admire, and many who have been extremely generous on my road to publication. In fact, I have chats with them every Thursday on my blog http://lettheshadowsfallbehindyou.blogspot.com which is lots of fun. It’s nice to know you aren’t alone. Everyone had to start somewhere.

When growing up, did you have a favorite author, book series, or book?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I enjoyed Joy Fielding, the Bronte sisters, Nancy Drew and C. S. Lewis.

What about now: who is your favorite author and what is your favorite genre to read?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I love reading psychological suspense, and am currently on a kick reading Nicci French, a British husband and wife team.

Bring us into your home and set the scene for us when you are writing. What does it look like?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I have a large chair that could fit 3 people in its lap. It allows me to keep lots of books, pads of paper and pens by my side. Directly across from the chair is a large picture window three-quarters sky and one-quarter river that is constantly shifting in light and color. My writing basket which holds pens, pencils, highlighters, note pads, books on the craft and novels by authors I’m studying. I usually start with a pen and pad for the inspiration stage, then move to the computer for the perspiration stage. When I get to a place where I’m uncertain as to how to proceed, I always go back to pen and paper. I think there’s some mechanism in that tactile exercise that frees the right brain to soar.

Do you watch television? If so, what are your favorite shows? Does television influence of inspire your writing?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I’m addicted to Kitchen Nightmares with Chef Gordon Ramsey. This may sound like a strange choice, but I always relate to the entrepreneurs who start out with a romantic notion of owning a restaurant. Sooner or later, they’re hit with the hard cold facts of running a business. There’s always a point in the show where they have to admit they need help, surrender their ego, and really hunker down and do whatever the experts tell them to do for the business to survive. It’s exactly like novel writing in my opinion. Luckily, I’ve had lots of generous experts along the way who have been willing to lend a hand and teach me. Of course, being human, there are times I secretly mourn the fact that I’m not a genius and can’t whip up instant perfection; but, the truth is, it’s the friendships I’ve made on the journey to publication that make my life so rich.

Focusing on your most recent (or first) book, tell our readers what genre your book is and what popular author you think your writing style in this book is most like.

Kathy-Diane Leveille: Let the Shadows Fall Behind You is a suspense novel that, in the end, extols the power of female friendship; it’s Sue Monk Kidd meets Harlan Coben.

How long did it take you to write your most recent (or first) book? When you started writing, did you think it would take that long (or short)?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: It took about five years to write Let the Shadows Fall Behind You from the initial idea stage to publication. I had so much to learn about novel writing with each draft: plot, characterization, theme, setting. I loved the larger canvas of a novel compared to a short story, but, at the same time, I had to juggle a lot more balls in the air. It was thrilling when they finally stopped dropping! I used Writer’s Digest On-Line Market to send out queries. I was thrilled to choose Kunati Books. They’re an award-winning publisher, not afraid of taking risks. My relationship with them has been supportive and energizing.

Is there anyone you’d like to specifically acknowledge who has inspired, motivated, encouraged or supported your writing?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: My husband is my #1 cheerleader. He’s always been the first to remind me how important it is to pursue one’s passion REGARDLESS of the outcome. The thrill remains is in the journey, not necessarily the destination. I find with writing there never really is a point of ‘having arrived.’ Every time I conquer a challenge, there’s a new one on the horizon. That’s why I love it.

Thinking about your writing career, is there anything you’d go back and do differently now that you have been published?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I think if I had had access to seasoned professionals in the industry sooner, I might have learned a lot faster about what it takes to survive and thrive in today’s publishing world. Living on the Canadian east coast, it’s pretty isolated from the hub of the industry. You absolutely have to know the business, how it works and its current needs to give yourself a leg up. I think I was too naïve in believing that all I needed to do was write well and the work would find a home on its own. In some instances this can happen, but the greater reality is that selling books is a business, and one that is constantly changing. I romanticized the industry when I needed to view myself as a business woman.

How has having a book published changed your life?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: It’s definitely given my writing life a jolt of adrenalin. The learning curve has risen tremendously, and I’m busier than ever trying to balance it all. But it’s one heck of a ride. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Is there any lesson or moral you hope your story might reveal to those who read it?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: Ultimately, Let the Shadows Fall Behind You is a story about coming to terms with the past and letting it go.

Do you have any book signings, tours or special events planned to promote your book that readers might be interested in attending? If so, when and where?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: Do I? You betcha. It’s all listed here:

http://kathydiane.wordpress.com You’ll find a running list on the EVENTS page, but I also post interviews, reviews, signings, contests as they occur on the main page. I’m really excited about attending the Canadian Crimewriters Bloody Words Conference in June with host, Louise Penny; and The International Thrill Writers ThrillerFest with Sandra Brown and David Morrell in New York in July.

If you’re interested in Shadows Fall N Friends, my interviews with authors I’ve met on the road to publication check here every Thursday: http://lettheshadowsfallbehindyou.blogspot.com

I send out an E-muse letter every month with a schedule of which authors I’m interviewing when, along with updates and announcement of the winner of the monthly draw for a 50.00 gift certificate from Amazon. To subscribe just drop me an e-mail at shadowsfall@kathy-dianeleveille.com

Please leave a comment if you drop bys. I’d love to hear from you!

Anything you want your readers to know?

Thank you so much for inviting me to be your guest and meeting all your readers. Please let me know what you think of Let the Shadows Fall Behind You at shadowsfall@kathy-dianeleveille.com. I’d love to hear from you.

Happy Reading!
Kathy-Diane

Book: Let the Shadows Fall Behind You

Synopsis of Let the Shadows Fall Behind You:

On a grey morning in Northern Ontario in 1978, when the first fat snowflakes drifted down erasing all the familiar landmarks, Nikolai Mirsky headed out the door of the haunted cabin he shared with his lover, Brannagh Maloney. And disappeared…

Brannagh, a Natural Science Illustrator, struggled to collate the data from their bird count through the long winter. By the time the icicles began to melt, she was filled with a growing dread that the infamous wilderness preservationist wasn’t returning.

When Brannagh left New Brunswick, ten years ago, she swore it was for good. But now her best friend, Annie, won’t stop worrying about her, and won’t stop hounding her to come back for a reunion of their childhood all-girls club The Tuatha-de-Dannans. Brannagh finally relents, but she refuses to go to her childhood home and face her irascible Grandfather. Instead, she hides out at her Grandmother’s summer cottage, even though it is far too close to the woods where her mother was murdered. As Brannagh struggles to put to rest the questions surrounding Nikki’s disappearance, she finds it impossible to ignore the family secrets circling the most tragic disappearance of all. Brannagh learns that nothing magical will ever change her past, but the fierce love of friends holds the power to transform the future.

Mini-Bio for Kathy-Diane Leveille:

Kathy-Diane Leveille is a former broadcast journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation who discovered the only thing more thrilling than reading a wonderful story is harnessing the power of the imagination to write one. Her short story collection Roads Unravelling was published to critical acclaim after a selection from its pages Learning to Spin was adapted to radio drama for CBC’s Summer Drama Festival. The tale Showdown at the Four Corner’s Corral was revised for the stage and performed by New City Theater in Saint John.

Kathy-Diane’s prose has been published in a number of literary journals including Grain, Room of One’s Own, The Oklahoma Review, Pottersfield Portfolio, The Cormorant; as well as various anthologies such as Water Studies: New Voices in Maritime Fiction (Pottersfield Press) and New Brunswick Short Stories (Neptune).

Kathy-Diane is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Kiss of Death RWA and Crimewriters of Canada.

~~~~
I have loved books forever. My best friends are books. When I was growing up, a Saturday wasn’t complete without a trip on the bus to the local library. I would sit in the back of the bus on the way home, where there was lots of room to spread my booty, and savour the potential humming between the covers. Having my debut novel Let the Shadows Fall Behind You published is a dream come true. I live on the east coast with my husband and two sons next to a lovely garden. I love bird watching, hiking and motorcycle riding. I’m so pleased to be a guest today.

It’s rare today to find an author who does nothing but write for a living. Do you have a ‘real’ job other than writing, and if so, what is it? What are some other jobs you’ve had in your life?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I’m a former broadcast journalist with CBC radio. Seventeen years ago, when I was home on maternity leave with my youngest son, I dug out an old file of story ideas and started scribbling. By the time the date arrived when I was supposed to return to work, I had already decided that I didn’t want to keep putting my dream of writing fiction on the back burner. Since then I’ve done different jobs, including being a janitor and typing medical transcription, to give me the time and energy to pursue my passion. My first book Roads Unravelling, a collection of short stories set on the Kennebecasis River where I live, was published a few years ago. Let the Shadows Fall Behind You released this spring is my first novel.

What compelled you to write your first novel?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: Let the Shadows Fall Behind You (Kunati Books) was inspired by my fascination with disappearances. An estimated 10 million people go missing each year in the U.S. alone, but no one’s ever documented how many of these incidents defy explanation. Take the mystifying case documented by psychic, Sylvia Browne, of the man who stepped out his front door and vanished in broad daylight. His family could hear him calling, but no one could see him anywhere. Let the Shadows Fall Behind You features Brannagh Maloney whose boyfriend, Nikki, disappears into thin air while conducting a bird count up north. Brannagh reluctantly returns home for a reunion of the childhood club Tuatha-de-Dananns. She hides out at her Grandmother’s cottage near the woods where her mother was murdered fifteen years ago. As Brannagh tries to solve the mystery behind Nikki’s vanishing, she is haunted by the secrets hiding the most startling disappearance of all.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I don’t remember making any formal decision. I have just always had a need to put pen to page. I wrote my first poem when I was in Grade 1:

Oh Father Dear, I’m glad you’re here
So we can celebrate this day, with a Doran’s beer.

Of course I didn’t understand why my teacher’s eyes rounded with horror when she read it. That was my first lesson in discovering that not everyone will welcome the truth in what you write! I wrote radio dramas in Grade 6 and the school Christmas play; lots of poetry and short stories in high school. I started trying to write a novel in my early twenties while I worked night shift as a technician at CBC. I still have the notes!

Tell us a little bit about your book/s.

Kathy-Diane Leveille: Let the Shadows Fall Behind You is Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood meets Harlan Coben. I loved writing it because I was able to combine the ingredients I crave in fiction: a dark hero, a broken and brave heroine, loyal sidekicks; and the shifting, persistent threat of evil that must be conquered. It’s a multi-layered plot, sharpened by elements of romance, suspense, poetry and comedy. I love anything Irish and grew extremely fond of these women–Brannagh, Annie, Tish and Diane— and was sad to write the last page. I especially relate to Brannagh, the protagonist. She is determined to leave dark secrets in her past behind, but the disappearance of Nikki leads her straight back home. So often in life, that is exactly what happens. The very thing we don’t want to deal with keeps knocking at our door until we face it head on. Brannagh learns that nothing can change the past, but the power of friendship can transform the future.

How did you feel the day you held the copy of your first book in your hands?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: There is no feeling like it. Picture the arrival of Christmas morning, the thrill of hearing a newborn baby’s cry and the rush of your first kiss all rolled into one. My husband and I went out for dinner. He’s my number one cheerleader and gets more excited than I do! The first time I did a reading in a library was probably one of the most thrilling moments in my life. I felt as if everything had come full circle.

What inspires you and motivates you to write the very most?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I love riding in the car or on a train and gazing out the window. There’s always something in the landscape to twig my imagination. Once it was a chair in the middle of a field. I started wondering who put it there and why. The short story The Chair in my first book Roads Unravelling was born. I usually begin by simultaneously visualizing a situation that causes an upheaval in life, and hearing a character’s voice emote their reaction to it. It’s a very strange process and definitely has my husband worried some days; especially when he dusts the books on my research shelf: Handbook of Poisons and Crime Scene Investigation.

The main characters of your stories – do you find that you put a little of yourself into each of them or do you create them to be completely different from you?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: Creating characters during the inspiration stage isn’t a conscious decision. I really can’t explain how it happens. But during the perspiration stage, when I shape my initial idea into a story using the tools of the craft, I usually try to refine the character into the kind I relate to and love when I read fiction: Human and flawed, but capable of heroism nonetheless.

Is there an established writer you admire and emulate in your own writing? Do you have a writing mentor?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: There are tons of writers I admire, and many who have been extremely generous on my road to publication. In fact, I have chats with them every Thursday on my blog http://lettheshadowsfallbehindyou.blogspot.com which is lots of fun. It’s nice to know you aren’t alone. Everyone had to start somewhere.

When growing up, did you have a favorite author, book series, or book?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I enjoyed Joy Fielding, the Bronte sisters, Nancy Drew and C. S. Lewis.

What about now: who is your favorite author and what is your favorite genre to read?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I love reading psychological suspense, and am currently on a kick reading Nicci French, a British husband and wife team.

Bring us into your home and set the scene for us when you are writing. What does it look like?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I have a large chair that could fit 3 people in its lap. It allows me to keep lots of books, pads of paper and pens by my side. Directly across from the chair is a large picture window three-quarters sky and one-quarter river that is constantly shifting in light and color. My writing basket which holds pens, pencils, highlighters, note pads, books on the craft and novels by authors I’m studying. I usually start with a pen and pad for the inspiration stage, then move to the computer for the perspiration stage. When I get to a place where I’m uncertain as to how to proceed, I always go back to pen and paper. I think there’s some mechanism in that tactile exercise that frees the right brain to soar.

Do you watch television? If so, what are your favorite shows? Does television influence of inspire your writing?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I’m addicted to Kitchen Nightmares with Chef Gordon Ramsey. This may sound like a strange choice, but I always relate to the entrepreneurs who start out with a romantic notion of owning a restaurant. Sooner or later, they’re hit with the hard cold facts of running a business. There’s always a point in the show where they have to admit they need help, surrender their ego, and really hunker down and do whatever the experts tell them to do for the business to survive. It’s exactly like novel writing in my opinion. Luckily, I’ve had lots of generous experts along the way who have been willing to lend a hand and teach me. Of course, being human, there are times I secretly mourn the fact that I’m not a genius and can’t whip up instant perfection; but, the truth is, it’s the friendships I’ve made on the journey to publication that make my life so rich.

Focusing on your most recent (or first) book, tell our readers what genre your book is and what popular author you think your writing style in this book is most like.

Kathy-Diane Leveille: Let the Shadows Fall Behind You is a suspense novel that, in the end, extols the power of female friendship; it’s Sue Monk Kidd meets Harlan Coben.

How long did it take you to write your most recent (or first) book? When you started writing, did you think it would take that long (or short)?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: It took about five years to write Let the Shadows Fall Behind You from the initial idea stage to publication. I had so much to learn about novel writing with each draft: plot, characterization, theme, setting. I loved the larger canvas of a novel compared to a short story, but, at the same time, I had to juggle a lot more balls in the air. It was thrilling when they finally stopped dropping! I used Writer’s Digest On-Line Market to send out queries. I was thrilled to choose Kunati Books. They’re an award-winning publisher, not afraid of taking risks. My relationship with them has been supportive and energizing.

Is there anyone you’d like to specifically acknowledge who has inspired, motivated, encouraged or supported your writing?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: My husband is my #1 cheerleader. He’s always been the first to remind me how important it is to pursue one’s passion REGARDLESS of the outcome. The thrill remains is in the journey, not necessarily the destination. I find with writing there never really is a point of ‘having arrived.’ Every time I conquer a challenge, there’s a new one on the horizon. That’s why I love it.

Thinking about your writing career, is there anything you’d go back and do differently now that you have been published?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: I think if I had had access to seasoned professionals in the industry sooner, I might have learned a lot faster about what it takes to survive and thrive in today’s publishing world. Living on the Canadian east coast, it’s pretty isolated from the hub of the industry. You absolutely have to know the business, how it works and its current needs to give yourself a leg up. I think I was too naïve in believing that all I needed to do was write well and the work would find a home on its own. In some instances this can happen, but the greater reality is that selling books is a business, and one that is constantly changing. I romanticized the industry when I needed to view myself as a business woman.

How has having a book published changed your life?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: It’s definitely given my writing life a jolt of adrenalin. The learning curve has risen tremendously, and I’m busier than ever trying to balance it all. But it’s one heck of a ride. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Is there any lesson or moral you hope your story might reveal to those who read it?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: Ultimately, Let the Shadows Fall Behind You is a story about coming to terms with the past and letting it go.

Do you have any book signings, tours or special events planned to promote your book that readers might be interested in attending? If so, when and where?

Kathy-Diane Leveille: Do I? You betcha. It’s all listed here:

http://kathydiane.wordpress.com You’ll find a running list on the EVENTS page, but I also post interviews, reviews, signings, contests as they occur on the main page. I’m really excited about attending the Canadian Crimewriters Bloody Words Conference in June with host, Louise Penny; and The International Thrill Writers ThrillerFest with Sandra Brown and David Morrell in New York in July.

If you’re interested in Shadows Fall N Friends, my interviews with authors I’ve met on the road to publication check here every Thursday: http://lettheshadowsfallbehindyou.blogspot.com

I send out an E-muse letter every month with a schedule of which authors I’m interviewing when, along with updates and announcement of the winner of the monthly draw for a 50.00 gift certificate from Amazon. To subscribe just drop me an e-mail at shadowsfall@kathy-dianeleveille.com

Please leave a comment if you drop bys. I’d love to hear from you!

Anything you want your readers to know?

Thank you so much for inviting me to be your guest and meeting all your readers. Please let me know what you think of Let the Shadows Fall Behind You at shadowsfall@kathy-dianeleveille.com. I’d love to hear from you.

Happy Reading!
Kathy-Diane

Book: Let the Shadows Fall Behind You

Synopsis of Let the Shadows Fall Behind You:

On a grey morning in Northern Ontario in 1978, when the first fat snowflakes drifted down erasing all the familiar landmarks, Nikolai Mirsky headed out the door of the haunted cabin he shared with his lover, Brannagh Maloney. And disappeared…

Brannagh, a Natural Science Illustrator, struggled to collate the data from their bird count through the long winter. By the time the icicles began to melt, she was filled with a growing dread that the infamous wilderness preservationist wasn’t returning.

When Brannagh left New Brunswick, ten years ago, she swore it was for good. But now her best friend, Annie, won’t stop worrying about her, and won’t stop hounding her to come back for a reunion of their childhood all-girls club The Tuatha-de-Dannans. Brannagh finally relents, but she refuses to go to her childhood home and face her irascible Grandfather. Instead, she hides out at her Grandmother’s summer cottage, even though it is far too close to the woods where her mother was murdered. As Brannagh struggles to put to rest the questions surrounding Nikki’s disappearance, she finds it impossible to ignore the family secrets circling the most tragic disappearance of all. Brannagh learns that nothing magical will ever change her past, but the fierce love of friends holds the power to transform the future.

When Today.com started, I actually had high hopes for them. I thought they were doing things the right way, but I was hesitant, as I always am with a new site. I waited and watched while other writers took to blogging with them, and waited until someone else told me they were paid by them. Some of the very first bloggers with Today.com were actually doing quite well with them for awhile.

Then things changed…

Suddenly, Today.com changed the flat rate for a blog post and lowered it to $1.00 per post and only payable once per day. Then they even took that away from the bloggers, and only the very top performers were still allowed the pay per post, and everyone else would get paid per page impression.

Well, they came along later and took that away too, and said that they would still pay per impression, but only from approved sources – like DIGG traffic wouldn’t get paid. The problem is, they wouldn’t tell the writers/bloggers which sites would and would not pay for impressions, so bloggers are out there promoting like mad, not sure if they were even going to get paid for it or not.

Then they started closing accounts. Anyone who badmouthed the new policies in the forum or on other forums and/or blogs and got caught doing it got their account canceled. Did Today.com remove the blog posts though that the banned person had put up? Nope.

In fact, some people who were banned never did receive payment either, according to their reports on my forum and on their own blogs.

So we all figured Today.com was going down the drain… but now, they have sunk to new depths in my opinion. Today, I, a blogger whose account was canceled by Today.com for no activity, have started receiving SPAM affiliate mail from support@today.com.

Isn’t that nice of them?

Perhaps that’s how they are hoping to stay afloat and keep paying writers, by making money from affiliate links in emails they spam to people who neither requested to be on their email list nor have the ability to unsubscribe from it.

Just sharing my personal experience with Today.com for those who read and are curious about whether they should sign up with them or not. Your mileage may vary, but probably not by much.

Love and stuff,
Michy
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I still say that residual income, passive income as some call it, is the way to go today. It’s like investing money and making your money earn for you while you go off and do other things. For a writer, sites like Helium, Associated Content, Suite101, and more are all leading to the same thing – residual, passive income. Do a little work upfront and earn on the long tail. It might take a couple months or a year or more to earn the same amount you’d earn publishing it in a traditional publication (think magazine, etc), but it adds up, snowballs on itself, and in the end, you could very likely make MORE.

These content sites aren’t going to get you rich quick, but they can indeed give you a nice passive income for doing nothing more than you’ve already done.

There is one problem with these content sites, though, and it’s a big one.

You can’t put all your eggs into any one basket.

For example, right now, Associated Content, who used to be my best page view residual income earner, is having trouble with indexing on the largest search engine out there. Well, that means fewer page views, and fewer page views means less money. Less money cuts into my bottom line. I was making close to $200 per month in residuals until the indexing issue hit me directly, and now, I barely took home 120 bucks this last time. It’s supposed to INCREASE, not decrease, when you add more articles.

My advice here – diversify, diversify, diversify.

More advice? Save hard copies of EVERYTHING you do. Write your articles in Word or Word Pad or Notepad and save a copy of them on your hard drive. NEVER give a content site full copyright or license them for exclusive unless you have no choice (such as calls/assignments that require it).

If AC falls apart, you’ll have every article you ever wrote available to put up somewhere else.

Also, learn to rewrite your content. Rewriting content that is your own is not the same as spinning someone else’s content. Once you’ve done the research for writing an article, re-writing a similar article on the same information for another site would be super easy. Yes, it’ll say some of the same things, but it won’t be word for word. You can’t plagiarize yourself – so make the most of your research.

Now, as for Helium. A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post about Helium’s rating stars and how upset I was that my revenue from my writing was attached to how well other people did their rating job. Well, somewhere along the way, Helium got wind of the blog post and I was contacted by three people from Helium staff all assuring me they were aware of the issue and heard me loud and clear.

They did too. I am and was and continue to be impressed with Helium’s integrity, communication, and the growth of the site. It’s getting better and better. While I don’t quite consider them competitive for freelancers yet, they are getting there, and they are sill an awesome source of residual income for people with ‘spare’ articles or rewritten content.

To take that one step further, they changed the payment threshold for upfront payments – now, you don’t need rating stars to get upfront. Well… it’s a good move, and it will solve one of the problems some people have complained about – submitting tons of stuff only to find on the one day it counts, they don’t have any rating stars so they lose all their payments.

However, it doesn’t fix the problem I have with the flickering blinking stars that keep me from earning revenue share.

Still, it’s in Helium’s best interest with their current system to have to have some type of incentive/requirement to rate, and since the revenue share is so low and upfront payment exists, I guess the revenue share is the least of their worries – and this way, it encourages folks to write more, thus giving Helium more content, which is more money for them.

I don’t like it, personally. I still detest the rating and hate that my income is in part the responsibility of how well other people rate, BUT there is no one site that has everything I want, and this is a change that answers most of our issues.

In other words, I can live with it.

Still have to give Helium kudos for the communication. Their changes are still causing the site to grow. I’m not all that keen on the ‘badges’ limiting who can write for what, because I can write on topics quite well that I’m not going to ‘qualify’ for a badge on Helium to write about – such as the legal stuff. I don’t have a current paralegal certificate, but I used to. I even went to law school for two years before I came to my senses. I can write on legal issues better than most lawyers, BECAUSE I’m a writer too, but I won’t get a ‘legal badge’ because they are being elective.

Sucks.

What it means is, someone else will get my quality and expertise on those issues.

I know Helium thinks it’s meant to make the marketplace better to buyers… I don’t think it will though. I think they’ll discover some good writers will not qualify and they’ll have a hard time getting articles on locked titles that are good enough.

That’s just my opinion though.

I could be wrong. Wouldn’t be the first time.

Anyway, it’s late and I have some fiction writing to finish. Have a deadline on this novel I’m working on. I’m getting really excited about it!

Love and stuff,
Michy

PS: Keep writing!
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Okay, AC, I get that you are saying the indexing issue isn’t ‘real’ and that our content is as discoverable as ever.

It’s not, but whatever.

Today, I want to address just ONE issue you guys have said is a certain way and show you how that is not true. In particular, I want to address what AC_Darnell said when he said, “When you search for the URL in Google, the URL will ALWAYS show up in the description.”

This is not true.

I’m going to show you right here, right now that it is not true. Let’s see if putting it in public and addressing just one point at a time will make a difference. I tried putting it on your board, but you simply deleted it. So here I go again, banging my head against a wall.

Here’s the first link I’m going to show – this is an AC link of one of my articles:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1797484/how_to_teach_a_dog_to_swim.html

I went to www.Google.com and entered the entire URL into the search box and clicked the search button. The result is this:

When you search by the URL, AFTER the article has indexed, un-indexed, and then RE-indexed in Google, it will show up with what we’re calling the ‘ugly’ indexing. This is where it shows the code in the description setting. See inside the red circle? See the html code showing?

Now, let’s look at an article of mine on Bukisa.

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/101297_frizz-control-for-hair-without-cutting-hair

Now, going to Google and doing the same thing I did with AC here’s what Bukisa’s result looks like.

Now, do you see any code? Do you see the ‘URL’ show up in the search results? No, you don’t.

Now, let’s look at a Helium article of mine, doing the same thing.

http://www.helium.com/items/1411813-just-like-sugar-alternative-natural-sweetener

Now, do you see any code in the other two site’s descriptions? Do you see the URL showing up in the actual black part of the description? Nope. Why? Because they are doing the set up of their sites properly so the meta description (our abstract) is what shows, regardless of how you search for the content.

AC used to be this way. It’s not anymore.

It changed.

Something in the way AC did the new site design is what changed it.

It needs to be fixed.

This is just ONE of the issues with the indexing problems. But if I can prove, definitively, that AC and the AC ‘tech team’ is wrong about this one thing, can’t AC be willing to say that maybe, just maybe, we are right about the other stuff too?

I have three new articles that aren’t indexed right now.

I have one that was indexed and isn’t anymore, and most of them showing the ‘ugly’ indexing. Not all, but most.

Will AC respond?

Before I get my arse jumped, let me state that I’m doing this because I believe in two things here 1) that AC isn’t hopeless and I’m still trying to help before I jump ship and 2) that I’m trying to make a difference.

Where does it go from here?

Next, I have more information about the page coding and why this is happening, and information about when and how I discovered the indexing issues going on almost a year ago now…. but that’s for another time. Tackling one thing at a time.

Will AC respond?

Let’s see.

Love and stuff,
Michy

The recent ads on Associated Content are appalling. While AC touts itself as a PG-13, family-friendly site–to the point they have removed articles that were marginally not PG-13–they turn around and put up ads that show scantily clothed women, women topless, covering their breasts with nothing but their arms, and showing off bodies in underwear and skimpy swimsuits.

Now, I’m not a prude. Trust me, anyone who knows me knows I’m not a prude–but if I wanted to view scantily clothed women, I’d go to sites much better than Associated Content to do so, and on the internet, there are plenty of those types of sites.

While writing today, I was working on the AC site, and my son walked past me and says, “Mom!”

I looked around. “What?”

“Why are you on a porn site?”

“I’m not. I’m on AC!”

“But there’s naked women on the site!”

My son is 14… he’s been busted viewing porn on the internet before and we’ve broken him of it, but he apparently knows porn when he sees it.

These weight loss ‘before / after’ pictures of naked women, half-naked women, and women in their underwear are bordering on non-pg-13.

Additionally, considering it is BLATANTLY obvious that the ‘before’ picture is nowhere near the same person as the ‘after’ picture (sorry, but losing weight doesn’t INCREASE your bust size or remove freckles from your skin), I’d venture to guess these weight loss ads are false advertising.

Lastly, they are advertising products that are DANGEROUS to health and dangerous to self esteem and self image, of women in general, but also of male expectations.

These ads do damage – period.

I’d really like AC to look at these particular ads and consider removing them (you can block specific ads from showing if they are Google ads). If they aren’t Google ads, and AC is selling these ad impressions to these weight loss scammers, SHAME ON AC.

Here is an example of the one my son saw:

So okay, it’s not anything major, but it’s still cheesy.

My point here is, as the title suggests, doing the right thing isn’t always the easy thing. I know these ads probably pay well and money is important in business, but so is image. In fact, image is what brings in more money in the end.

One of the things I things I learned early on with my business was that image was everything. I built my business, my forum, and my brand (me) on integrity and honesty. I don’t always do things exactly the way the fold does, but my name means something. I’m not out for the ‘quick buck’, but the long haul.

In the end, lots of folks have tried what I’m doing, and lots of folks have failed. After 14 years, I’m still around and business is still growing. In fact, I wrote this article that talks about those very things through this ‘recession’.

Doing the right thing won’t turn you a quick buck on cheesy and dangerous ‘fad’ ads, but it will keep your image clean for continued profitability and it will let other, legitimate, quality and HIGH PAYING advertisers come to your site. Who do you prefer – weight loss pay per click fad dangerous diet ads – or P&G ads, and Sony ads?

In the end, if you use one, you likely won’t get the other.

Can the fad diet ads that are dangerous, quit trying to pander to the lowest common denominator and build the AC Brand on integrity and honesty (which means more than the ads, too).

So that’s my AC rant of the week – AC please consider blocking the cheesy, dangerous, false ads and stand behind the AC name with integrity.

Just my opinion.

Love and stuff,
Michy

—————–

UPDATE:

Received a response from AC_Darnell about the ad issue. His reply:

Hey Michy,

The ads you’re referring to are network ads (not specifically sold or selected by us).

We agree with your assessment of these particular diet ads — not AC friendly. We’re going to block them ASAP.

In the future, if you come across any ad that you find offensive, please send an email to community@associatedcontent.com with the following information:

-Link to a piece of content where you saw the ad
-Description of the content of the ad, including the product/brand if specified
-Screenshot of the ad, if possible

Whenever you do this, we’ll discuss the issue with our Ad Team, and consider blocking the ad from appearing on AC.

We want to create the best possible experience for you guys, and for our visitors. Thanks for bringing this one to our attention.

Best,

Darnell

Now, color me impressed!

Thank you to AC, Darnell and the AC ad team for taking our concerns seriously about the image of AC.

This is most definitely a step in the right direction!