We were lucky to catch up with Diana Kathryn Penn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Diana Kathryn, appreciate you joining us today. Innovation comes in all shapes, sizes and across all industries, so we’d love to hear about something you’ve done that you feel was particularly innovative.

Innovation, as you state, is often perceived as magical, rather than practical and helpful. What Pages Promotions strives to do is lead others in the publishing industry toward greater connection through unusual creative collaborations. One such opportunity is our Annual Interactive Virtual Book Festival Pages Promotions which we host each February.

We invite Indie Authors from around the world to join in an improvisational murder mystery game, in the tradition of “Clue”. Eight authors are selected to act as “cast members”, and are given a skeleton plot, and basic character maps. Over the course of the entire month, meeting via Zoom each night for an hour, we come together to first share the work we’ve written through author readings, and then play at an “interrogation session” to seek out clues to discover “who-done-it”. Cast members are encouraged to add to the story sketches they’re given to shift blame away from their character and add details that might be red herrings. Visitors and spectators to the event are also invited and encouraged to ask questions of the cast, and get in on the fun. One aspect that makes this game so entertaining is that none of the cast knows who the culprit is… not even the culprit themselves.

Through this event, we have a tremendous amount of fun while networking with others in our industry, and connecting with readers, perhaps even cultivating new fans. While playing together each night, we also demonstrate that there is nothing “magical” about the creative process, it’s work. Still, that work is also terrific fun… and, we prove it’s more fun than anyone might imagine, even as we’re making it up as we go along.

We’ve discovered that this event fosters creativity and awareness while lending confidence to timid creative souls in a warm and accepting environment, while also giving permission for the more adventurous of the group to take risks in creative collaboration. The purpose of the event is to have fun… while also reminding authors that they are colleagues and collaborators more than they are competitors. Together, we build a wonderful community combating imposter syndrome one snarky creative moment at a time.

Diana Kathryn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My goal is to support and uplift Indie Authors through coaching, editorial, and promotional services. Being an author is a calling that is often wrought with the frustration of blank pages and harsh criticism. We are sometimes challenged to the point of giving up when faced with a page of words that won’t behave. It’s hard work, and it’s a vulnerable act. I see it as my privilege to serve and support those who choose this wacky way of life, and remind them that their creative spirit is valuable.

Sometimes we all need an advocate to remind us of the sacredness of what we do, and to help fine-tune the music in our heads. I am drawn to the printed page, and to the act of supporting other writers who feel as compelled as I do to share a bit of their souls through the mystique of the written word.

I work with my clients at a pace that is most comfortable for them, allowing them to discover their own creative tempo, suggesting changes that I feel will enhance their storytelling to make it stronger and more accessible to readers.

I love shining a spotlight on Indie Authors who share their work on a public stage. I encourage them to take creative risks, fall in love with their muse, and continue to feel brave as they release their work into the wild world. I do this not only through teaching solid skills of craft, but also by inviting them to play with our writing community as they discover new perspectives of creation and build a circle of support to benefit themselves, and other authors who love the creative life with the same enthusiasm.

My greatest reward is watching an author hold their story in their hands for the first time, realizing a dream fulfilled. The second greatest reward is witnessing how the authors I’ve coached become successful and build a confidence that gives them permission to empty their brains and fill their bookshelves with stories… loving the process more every day.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

One of the biggest struggles I’ve seen plague the publishing industry is what I call the “Field of Dreams Fantasy”. You may be familiar with the film, starring Kevin Costner. It’s incredibly entertaining, and has a strong message of believing in yourself and your dreams. However, sometimes people new to the creative life make the assumption that belief is all you need to make “it” happen. While it’s true, creatives need a great deal of self-confidence to become successful in the publishing industry, it also takes a great deal of work.

I believe everyone has a story inside them that can be shared with the world. Whether it’s a skill to teach, a legacy to leave for a future generation, or simply entertainment… everyone has the capacity to write it down and share it… and I believe they should do exactly that. Write the story. Share the story.

But there is also tremendous work involved with making your story as good as it can be, and in marketing that work to become successful. Just because you write it, doesn’t necessarily mean people will find it, buy it, read it, and recommend it. Writers need to create a great story, make sure it’s the best it can be technically and creatively… and then they need to do the work to tell people about it. Marketing a book is far more difficult than writing it.

The best advice I have for a new author is: Just because you wrote a book, that doesn’t necessarily mean people will find it and buy it. You need to tell them about it, and help them find it, and ask them to recommend it to their friends (if they enjoyed the read). It doesn’t happen magically. There are no “overnight successes”. Cultivating a career as an author takes a lot of time, and more money than any of us care to admit.

So know that going in. Just because you’ve written it, doesn’t mean people will read it and make you famous. You have to continue to put in the work even after you’ve written “The End.”

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for discovering and working with new clients is to always be willing to help and make suggestions toward the success of others. Truly, I do this work for just two reasons:

First, I love reading stories. It really is that simple. I love editing an author’s work because I get a first-look at a story no one else has ever imagined before. That’s exciting!

Second, I love helping other authors strengthen their craft and grow to love what they do more each day that they do it.

It really is that simple. The love of the written word. the love of story, that’s why I do what I do, and sharing my genuine enthusiasm for this work in an authentic way with those I meet is how I continue to discover new clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.PagesPromotions.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianakathrynpenn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/indiereads
• Linkedin: none
• Twitter: none
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoZ0lgMR0NL0y1D3yDNDLpg
• Yelp: none
• Soundcloud: None
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wQh283HTcDxN5xnO8StQw

  Author Website: www.DKPWRiter.com