Resources

This page is a hub of resources for authors. From local bookstores to podcasts to recommended designers, editors, and more, the Northeast Georgia Literary Society (NGLS) is here to support local authors with a variety of resources available.

Author Support Resources

The following are names of digital marketing, editing, marketing, development, illustrators, cover designers, and publishing experts who have been recommended by our NGLS authors.

Click on each category for contact information and with NGLS notes about each person.

  • Melissa Fisher
    Location: Texas
    Phone: 979-201-6224
    Website: www.CountOnMeBusinessSolutions.com
    Pricing: check website
    Referred by: Jameson Gregg

  • Gina Dyer
    Location: Local
    Phone: 404-519-7215
    Email: valleylily50@yahoo.com
    Pricing: email
    Referred by: Georgiana Fields

    Kristine Ramsey
    Location: Local
    Email: kristine.ramsey21@yahoo.com
    Pricing: email
    Referred by: Teryl Worster

    Aleaca
    Location: Belgrade, Serbia
    Website: www.99designs.com
    Pricing: website
    Referred by: Kim Megahee
    NGLS Notes: Book covers; other design work - she is pricey, but very good. Extremely easy to work with. Because she is in Serbia, she is about 8-9 hours ahead of us in EDT, so take that into account when you are communication with her.

    Dylan Stevens
    Email: dylanstevensphotos@gmail.com
    Phone: 727-418-2348
    Pricing: email or phone
    Referred by: Eileen O’Hara
    NGLS Notes: book cover design, photography, photoshop; instagram: @itsdylanstevens

    Steve Young
    Location: Local
    Email: design@accurateprinters.com
    Website: www.accurateprinters.com
    Pricing: email
    Referred by: Kim Megahee
    NGLS Notes: Posters of book covers, stationery, logo design, business cards, other business services; Steve has a good network of designers and other expertise related to printing

  • Mary Ellen Prater
    Area of Expertise: editor, copy
    Location: Local
    Email: mejprater@bellsouth.net
    Website: www.CountOnMeBusinessSolutions.com
    Pricing: email
    Referred by: Renee Propes

    Evelyn Asher
    Area of Expertise: development editing
    Location: Local
    Email: evelynasher4@icloud.com
    Website: www.evelynasher.com
    Pricing: email
    Referred by: self

    Traci Lawson
    Area of Expertise: editor, proofreader
    Location: Local
    Email: traci7lawson@outlook.com
    Phone: 770-530-3658
    Pricing: email
    Referred by: self

    Katerina Katsarka Whitley
    Area of Expertise: editor
    Location: Boone, NC
    Email: katsarkakk@gmail.com 
    Phone: 828-832-6123
    Website: www.katerinawhitley.net
    Pricing: email or phone
    Referred by: Mary Demmler
    NGLS Notes: receives files in Word to edit and make comments.

  • Jason Fowler
    Location: Clarkesville, GA
    Phone: 404-519-7215
    Website: www.JasonFowlerArt.com
    Pricing: website
    Referred by: Patricia Bonaparte

    Gina Dyer
    Location: Local
    Phone: 404-519-7215
    Email: valleylily50@yahoo.com
    Pricing: email
    Referred by: Georgiana Fields

    Kristine Ramsey
    Location: Local
    Email: kristine.ramsey21@yahoo.com
    Pricing: email
    Referred by: Teryl Worster

    Aleaca
    Location: Belgrade, Serbia
    Website: www.99designs.com
    Pricing: website
    Referred by: Kim Megahee
    NGLS Notes: Book covers; other design work - she is pricey, but very good. Extremely easy to work with. Because she is in Serbia, she is about 8-9 hours ahead of us in EDT, so take that into account when you are communication with her.

    Dylan Stevens
    Email: dylanstevensphotos@gmail.com
    Phone: 727-418-2348
    Pricing: email or phone
    Referred by: Eileen O’Hara
    NGLS Notes: book cover design, photography, photoshop; instagram: @itsdylanstevens

  • Steve Young
    Location: Local
    Email: design@accurateprinters.com
    Website: www.accurateprinters.com
    Pricing: email
    Referred by: Kim Megahee
    NGLS Notes: Posters of book covers, stationery, logo design, business cards, other business services; Steve has a good network of designers and other expertise related to printing

  • Kim Megahee
    Location: Local
    Email: info@thekimmergroup.com
    Website: www.thekimmergroup.com
    Pricing: email
    Referred by: self
    NGLS Notes: Offers publishing assistance, but the author retains all control

Author Tools

Here are recommended writing software resources to use organized by functionality.

  • Calibre
    Platform: Runs on Windows and MacOS
    Vendor: Kovid Goyal
    Website: www.calibre-ebook.com
    NGLS Expert: Kim Megahee
    NGLS Notes: “This tool is great for creating a repository for your "best" copy or the production version of your doc or epub file. I use it also to create an epub book from my doc book.”

  • Grammarly
    Platform: Web App
    Vendor: Grammarly
    Website: www.grammarly.com/plans
    NGLS Notes: Similar in Function to ProWritingAid. Recommend you subscribe to Premium Level ($12/mo) for it to be useful enough for a pro-writer.

    ProWriting Aid
    Platform: Runs on MacOS and Web App
    Vendor: ProWriting Aid
    Website: www.prowritingaid.com
    NGLS Expert: Kim Megahee
    NGLS Notes: “There are several ways to use the tool, including a free version. My advice is, if you use MacOS, to use the first level (cheapest) subscription.”

  • Atticus
    Platform: Web App
    Vendor: Atticus.io
    Website: www.atticus.io
    NGLS Expert: Kirk Jockell and Mike Freeman
    NGLS Notes: Note that the web address ends in "(dot)io", not in "(dot)com".

    Living Writer
    Platform: Web App
    Vendor: Living Writer
    Website: www.livingwriter.com
    NGLS Expert: Kim Megahee
    NGLS Notes: “Under further construction (adding new features all the time), but highly functional and useful in it's present state. I have a copy and have been experimenting with it.”

    Scrivener
    Platform: Windows and MacOS
    Vendor: Literature and Latte
    Website: www.literatureandlatte.com/store
    NGLS Expert: Kim Megahee
    NGLS Notes: “Scrivener is fairly complex, because it's very powerful. I suspect I'm only using about half of the features it has.”

    Storyist
    Platform: Web App
    Vendor: Storyist
    Website: www.storyist.com
    NGLS Notes: No one within the NGLS has currently used this platform. However, research of this platform indicates that it's a competitor of Living Writer and Atticus.

Novel Marketing Podcast

  • Thomas Umstatd, Jr

  • www.authormedia.com/subscribe

  • At the time of this writing, this is ranked the #2 best author marketing podcast. All kinds of tips and advice for marketing books. He has a master level Book Launch course and several books that you can buy.

Podcast Resources

The Creative Penn Podcast

  • Joanna Penn

  • www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/

  • Well-respected in the industrial, Joanna also has several books on the business and marketing of novels.

Book Marketing Tips & Author Success

  • Penny Sansevieri and Amy Cornell

  • www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

  • At the time of this writing, this is ranked the #1 best author marketing podcast. All kinds of tips and advice for marketing books. Penny and her team offer many services. I have personally worked with Penny and Amy, and I can't say enough good things about them.

Author-Friendly Bookstores

The following bookstores have been reported as friendly to local authors and may be willing to accept local author books for sale. If you contact any of them, please send us a note about your experience with them. If you know of any other bookstores that should be on this list, please let us know. 

Below are the names of bookstores. Click on each store listing for location and contact information.

  • 35 Blue Ridge St.
    Blairsville, GA

    Phone: 706-897-4198

    Contact Name: Sharon

  • 2105 LaVista Rd
    Atlanta, GA

    Phone: 404-636-2498

    Contact Name: Rebecca

  • 11 Freedom Parkway
    Hoschton, GA

    Phone: 706-684-3796

    Contact Name: Brittany

  • 1890 Heritage Walk
    Milton, GA

    Phone: 770-797-5566

    Contact Name: Kate

  • 4105 Avalon Blvd
    Alpharetta, GA

    Phone: 470-509-5727

    Contact Name: Yem

  • 176 W. Crogan St.
    Lawrenceville, GA

    Phone: 770-945-9288

    Contact Name: Linda