Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi everyone, my name is Tara Ross, and I have just published my first book on Kindle, “Daily Actions for Social Media Mastery: 75 Daily Challenges to Help you Expand your Reach, Build your Platform, and Establish your Online Authority.”
I am an educator who teaches about how to maximize your potential on social media, empower your goal setting, and develop strategies to achieve location independence. I write about traveling, social media, and location independence. I write at EdJourneys.com, and travel globally to demonstrate that location independence is not only viable but also necessary to your happiness.
I am also a college professor of Political Science and Education, and have taught in the online environment since 2000. I hold a PhD in Educational Leadership, and an MA in International Affairs. I enjoy traveling with my husband, Stan, bringing her laptop, and teaching while exploring.
Together with her husband, Stan, and her two sons, I own Ross and Sons Publishing, an independent book publishing company dedicated to working with authors to help them share their words with the world.
For more information about me, please join me over at http://edjourneys.com/
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Daily Actions for Social Media Mastery: 75 Daily Challenges to Help you Expand your Reach, Build your Platform, and Establish your Online Authority” was inspired by my role as the social media director for ExclusiveEDU, a private membership group of online professors seeking to expand their network for more jobs, connections, and opportunities. I write daily, actionable, social media challenges for this group, and I realized that my content would make a helpful book, so here we go!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nope, it’s more like I don’t have any one specific habit. I love to write; unlike many authors my challenge with publishing is not in the actual writing but in deciding about what to write and then the publishing/marketing aspect of it.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have trade books that have influenced me, and then there is my research in refugee education with many books that have inspired me. With regard to social media, probably Andrew Macarthy’s 500 Social Media Marketing Tips just because he is very creative with cross promoting content across social media, and working in ways to promote one social media channel with another.
What are you working on now?
For trade publication, I’m writing a book on social networking – creative ways to use social media groups and web broadcasts to develop connections with others for job opportunities, entrepreneurial endeavors, etc.
For my academic research, I’m contributing to a book for K-12 teachers on country profiles of where their refugee students have come from. Teachers benefit enormously when they understand something of the situation their students have come from. In turn, students benefit when they have empathetic teachers.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Jeff Goins gave an interview (actually 2) with Pat Flynn about how to promote a book, and he had a golden nugget in that interview: ask people to become book ambassadors. Reach out to your friends, your connections on social media, your connections on email, and your connections in real life and invite them to be ambassadors for promoting your book. Do a soft launch, let them know the date, and ask them to download, read, and give an honest review. Then, by the time you have your main launch, the book will have had some ranking in the Amazon system and hopefully many reviews.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Think of yourself as a writer. I don’t think there is anything more damaging than to think of yourself as “an aspiring author”. Claim it: you are a writer. So, fulfill that mission and start writing. I started on my blog, in the networking group, and in online magazine articles.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Inspiration exists but it must find your working.” Pablo Picasso
Why is that the best advice? Because I get my best ideas when I’m taking action toward my goals. Sitting around and reading about how to take action doesn’t do it, although it is an important part of the process. Actually taking action is so important because that is how we learn, that is how we are inspired, and that is how we know what to do better the next time.
What are you reading now?
“The $100 Startup” by Chris Guillebeau. Very motivating!
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m taking a Kindle bootcamp with Kristen Eckstein on January 2. I’m very excited about it, and yet nervous at the same time. I like action, though, and this seems right up my alley.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen – nothing…nothing compares to Jane when it comes to 18/19th century satire combined with period drama (and romance!).
“Century of the Wind: Memory of Fire” by Eduardo Galeano – absolutely stunning historical poetry. I don’t know what else to call it. I’m a Latin Americanist from my graduate training, and his book reduces the clutter of what happened in Latin America in the 20th century to beautiful and heartbreaking glimpses.
The Bible – not only a good piece of literature but many lessons about serving the least among us.
Author Websites and Profiles
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