Random Musings From the PA

Hey there everyone!

For the past few Thursdays, Magan and I have been posting links for new releases...Well, Thursday kind of crept up on us this week, so we didn't get any together. That means that you are stuck with this post of randomness from me!

Magan has been pretty busy this last week. Her littles started a new school, she not only finished the last book in The My Paper Heart series, but she also finished the last novella in The Only series. I can't wait for A Paper Trail and These Paper Walls to release! If you are a fan of Libby and Blaine's story, then you are all in for a treat with these two books, especially These Paper Walls. I absolutely LOVE Blaines book! Alright, enough about Magan already!

Since some of you may not know me, I will tell you a little about myself. I'm a stay at home mom of two girls, Madelynn - 14 and Malerie- 12. I have been married to my husband for almost 15 years and we live in the same small town we both (and Magan) grew up in. I'm a homebody and I love writing, reading, music, and baking. I joined the Indie community about three years ago when I decided I wanted to write a book. Life happened...a lot... and I have yet to finish even one of three stories I have started. It takes time and patience and I know I will publish evenutally.

I have to say, I am thankful for the learning experience that Magan has offered me. In the last three months I have learned a lot of things that will be helpful for me when I get to the point of publishing. I'm enjoying interacting with her fans, meeting new people, and learning the business end of the author world. Magan and I get along very well, which is helpful when we are working together in two different states. She gets my ever-present sarcasm and I don't get offended when she threatens to cut me.

So that's about all I can think of for now. Magan and I have been discussing blog topics, so be on the look out for more posts from us.

Thanks for taking the time to read this mess! If anyone has any questions for me or Magan, leave them in the comments!

Have a great Thursday!

Alissa

Why I hired a PA and how I found her

When people found out I had a personal assistant (whom I adored), I started getting questions about how I found her, and she started getting propositions from other authors who wanted her.

So, I thought I should explain a little bit more about our relationship and how after only two months, I know I've found the perfect PA.

Let me start out by saying I've been writing and publishing since 2011 and have had assistants and PR people before. All I have parted ways with.

They either weren't doing the job right, didn't have time for it, or I just plain couldn't afford them.

A lot of things also changed from 2011 to now.

I started doing my own formatting and uploading.
I had a second child.
I moved across the country TWICE.
I quit my full-time job.
Sales TANKED.

I would have loved to go back with a PR company but at close to $400 a month (and over), I couldn't afford it.

I've had previous PA's who I paid in books and swag and I asked for help with promotion. But then their lives got busy and I started wanting more and more that they couldn't handle.

So I was without a PA.

Then, in July, we moved across the country AGAIN.

I wanted to release two books in a series within a week of each other. I knew that I needed help.

So I started evaluating, what DO I need help with? What was taking me away from writing (the ultimate money maker)?

Formatting paperbacks - Yes, I do this myself and, yes, it can take me about two hours to do, even without fancy formatting.

Uploading books to all sites - Again, PITA

Keeping Street Team, Facebook groups, all active. - I can post once a day, but sometimes I needed to spend days away from social media when moving (or when the internet is effed up).

Organization - Just remembering that I have ads, takeovers, etc.

Finding new places to advertise that were free or cheap and submitting.

Finding new reviewers.

Once I looked at this, I also thought about what I wanted in a PA and who I trusted to do these things.

I met Alissa a year or two ago. We actually met in an online group and found out we were both from the same small town and her husband took me trick or treating with my cousin when I was younger (he dressed as a woman).

She had been interesting in writing and publishing but life got in the way (two active kids, writers block, etc).

I'd been using bloggers in the past, who do help, but the business side of things was something I had to teach them, something they weren't that interested in.

So, I approached Alissa to do this as an intern/assistant. She immediately jumped at the chance.

Now we're going on our two month anniversary.

My advice for finding your own PA.

Write down what YOU want a PA to do (specifically). Interview applicants. Ask other people what their PA's do. And the biggest one: PAY THEM. They work a lot harder for pay.

Now we have an NDA and contract in place so she has to stay with me for a certain amount of time, but she is free to use this knowledge if she eventually PA's for other people or publishes her own book. As far as pay goes, she makes 10 percent of what I make a month. The more she helps and I get books out, the more she makes. We have a cap at a certain amount, but otherwise that's what she gets. You don't have to shell out a ton of money, if a PA is willing to work for this, but just books and swag doesn't always cut it.

This process may not work for everyone, but this is what I did to find my assistant and I couldn't be happier.