Friday, March 26, 2010

Try your hand . . . Author Platforms

Have you heard of them?

When an author feels strongly about something they use either a message in thier books or thier status as an author to let the world know about thier passion.

For example Michele Ashman Bell has started the Butterfly Box Series. The first book focused heavily on modest dressing. I don't know whether the other books will focus on the same platform, but I was pleased with the book and "theme" of the book. Being the mom of a teenage daughter this issue of modesty is something we deal with everyday.

Tristi Pinkston's new series Secret Sisters has started a sock drive for the homeless because a character knits in the book. Annette Lyon and Julie Coulter Bellon both have platforms dealing with US soldiers stationed away from home.

That said: my question for you is, do you have a platform? Is there something you feel passionately about, something you would etiher write about or speak about even if your book is completely diferent? Have you ever even heard about a platform? Or thought about it?

I don't think there is anything in Emergence that is platform worthy. However, there are things I am passionate about. I am a breastfeeding mommy and tend to be natural in lots of ways. I have asthma so asthma research is something I am concerned about. I also support the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Humanitarian Relief work. Like I said before, modest dressing is also an issue I believe in strongly.

Who knows, I have thought about it but never long enouth to actually decide on or choose an actual platform. I hope by the time I have a contract in hand I have something in mind.

What is your platform or passion? I'd like to hear it.

4 comments:

Angie said...

I am a big champion of breastfeeding too, so good for you! I feel very strongly about addiction recovery, though I've never put it into my stories or my books. Maybe it just hits too close to home for now.

Mel Chesley said...

I don't know that it is really a platform. However, the more I think about it, maybe it is.

I am against guns. Never liked them, don't see the need for them and refuse to have them in my books. I thought about it once. Once.

If people are going to fight and go to war, hand to hand combat seems more honorable to me. I'm sure that sounds odd, but it is true. You face your enemy straight on and only the best survive. Guns cheat. Hide away in some little hole and have a huge advantage over the other. Cowardly.

So.. yeah. There it is.

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure if I have a "platform" that defined but I do believe in the freedom of choice, emphasis on the freedom part. I rejoice in having the option to live where I like, worship as I like, and raise my children the way I believe is best.

Pendragon Inman said...

LOL i can just see Emergence standing for Breast-Feeding rights! LOL hehehhehehehhehee "Gotta problem with the way I feed?" pulls out big gun. "Yah? Yah?!? Didn't think so."

nice