I am a self-published author and an unbridled enthusiast, moonlighting as a middle manager. I started this blog with one purpose – to finish a novel. The good news is, that after almost three years of constant writing, editing, and more editing, I have published not one, but two comedy novels. I hope you have as much fun reading them as I did writing.
I am now writing the third installment in Isa Maxwell Escapades, blogging about the marketing game, and trying to figure out how to escape from the corporate grind to pursue my passion full-time. I would love for you to leave a comment or contact me directly on:
Email: ana.spoke( at )yahoo.com
Whoever you are, thank you for reading!
By Ana Spoke
Ana Spoke, author 
Thanks for finding and following my blog, Ana. I look forward to reading your posts. Good luck with the writing – just keep going and you will get there!
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One chapter at a time is a novel idea. Keep it up and btw, I agree- I like your mockup better than what the designer came up with.
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Thank you Dana! Just realised that my bio is old – I have not only finished the novel, it’s about to be on Kindle (early August). I will still publish a few chapters, but now I’m glad I didn’t post raw material, the novel has come a long way since then.
Thank you for your support in terms of the design, too. I have since let the designer go, which was a hard decision. I’m going to attempt a design myself, will be posting a few more ideas, would love your input.
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http://www.edwardpinhey.com will take you to see some our designs.
If you need any help, I am free.
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Thank you for the offer Peggy 🙂 I think I’m gonna finish this one myself, it’s a huge learning curve, but that’s just how I like it…
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Thanks for stopping by my blog, Ana. Best wishes with your writing.
All the best,
Nick Fox
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Awesome! Good luck with your book.
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Thx Ana for following Leila and Sali – it’s a crazy ride this writing eh. Love your blog and the hints/advice – your August debut is so close. Go well.
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The best of luck with your writing. I also have a full time job which pays the bills. My writing is mainly confined to weekends and evenings. Kevin
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Thank you Kevin 🙂 its not so bad, to write in spare time – not so much pressure, and the regular work gives me a structure. If I ever become a full-time writer, I will really struggle with getting up in the morning 🙂
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I agree with you about regular work providing a structure. I also find that working brings one into contact with the real world which helps to feed one’s writing. Living wholly in the mind with no stimulation from the outside world can be somewhat sterile in terms of writing. Best. Kevin
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That’s right, all my comedy comes from the office 🙂 thanks again.
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Wish you all luck for your novel
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Congrats on finishing your novel! I am in awe of you (and a teensy bit envious)! Also, thanks for liking my post about Mangled Menus, etc. Good luck to you!
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Thank you! I would compare it to throwing a shovel of dirt onto a pile every day, then waking up one day to find that you’ve built a mountain. I’ve done a post on “spreadsheets are the writer’s best friends”. Honestly, a spreadsheet kept me in check every day to get the first draft done in 3 months.
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A… *spreadsheet*? Er… Can u be a bit more specific?
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Hi Ellie, hope this link works: https://anaspoke.com/2015/01/22/spreadsheets-are-the-writers-best-friends/
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Wow, thanks Ana!! I will go over this tomorrow when I’m more awake. Really nice of u!!
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Thanks for stopping by my blog on my first post. All the best with the writing. I’ve spent two years translating a book and still not done (day-job…)
Cheers!
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So excited that your publishing is almost complete! I’m also publishing in early August on Amazon. The stars have aligned! Maybe we can trade books and review each other’s on Amazon? I have an EPUB or MOBI file to share if you’re interested. No pressure.
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Congratulations, I know what an uphill battle it is…would be very happy to exchange books, and can offer to host your blog tour, if you’d like 🙂
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Congratulations! I will definitely check it out. 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by my blog Ana! I completed my first novel a couple of years ago and published it on Amazon. It actually went onto the Best Sellers list a couple of times! For fun I then did three children’s books and published those on Amazon. I am now busy with my second novel and am hoping to have it published by the end of the year. I look forward to reading your novel when it comes out!
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Thank you for stopping by, Jackie. Great to hear that you’ve been successful in self publishing. Best of luck with finishing the second!
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Thank you for following and reading my blog Ana! It means a lot to me.
BTW- love your website! I’m looking forward to reading your posts! 🙂
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Thanks for visiting my blog. Will be sure to check out your novel. Love comedy!
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Is there any way that I can contact you such as through email?
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Hi, I’ve sent an email to your yahoo account, please check – it may have gone to spam.
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Thanks for the visit and follow! I’m a fan of comedy. 🙂
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Thank you for visiting WriteontheBeach blog and for the follow. You’re right when you say there’s a steep learning curve to the whole process, writing, editing, publishing etc. I think I must have done 10 uploads to createspace to get it right. Anyway, I wish you all the best with your book and, as the advice goes, keep on trucking with the next one.
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Thanks for the follow. I appreciate your views on copy-editors, especially since that is what I do. anneli-purchase.com
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You’re one of my new best friends 🙂 Thank you.
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Thank you. That’s great to hear.
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Thank you for following my Blog. I am new at this so it is great to see an author at the other end of the (long) tunnel of publishing…
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I think we are all new to this 🙂
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Thanks for following my blog, Ana, which brought me here to yours. I’m looking forward to reading more of your work.
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I just spent so much time reading your blog- in a good way! You are funny and honest, and I truly enjoyed the read.
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Wow, thank you so much, Indira! That’s all I ever wanted – for someone to read what I wrote and have a laugh 🙂
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As someone hip-deep in my first draft, I am glad to have found your blog. It gives me hope that I can make it to the end of this journey. Keep writing and inspiring all of us, your readers.
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Thank you so much, your comment made my day 🙂 yes, you can and all it takes is a plan and effort. We live in amazing times of freely available info and self publishing pathways. I used an excel spreadsheet to keep me on track and finished the first draft in3 months. It’s all possible 🙂
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Hi Ana. Thanks for following my blog earlier this week – I hope you’ll enjoy what you read there. Based on what I’ve seen of your site so far and the opening line of your about page (a writer masquerading as a middle manager resonates with me!) I think I’m going to find plenty of inspiration and fun here. Cheers, Nik
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Very cool, Miss Ana !!! I to am going to write a book, will help me to work through all of life’s distractions.. Inspiring ❤
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Thank you Ms Scarlett! What’s it about?
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Thanks for following my blog Ana and good luck with your book, hopefully one day you will move from the moonlight of middle management, to the limelight of being a successful author.
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Haha, thank you Allan! I don’t think I’d ever quit my “waitressing job”. Where would I get all my comedy material?
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Congrat’s! Hope it goes over well!
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Thank you Christine, fingers crossed!
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Hi Ana,
Congratulations on writing and publishing a book! That’s so exciting.
Thank you for visiting Mocha Muse and for following. I appreciate it.
Meanwhile, I’ll browse around your site!
~ jayni
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Thank you Jayni! Not quite published yet…but almost there 🙂
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Hopping over to thank you for reading my story. 😉 Going to peruse your blog! Congrats on publishing your first book. I have a kindle so will have to check it out.
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That would be awesome, thank you 🙂 Hope to have an announcement in a couple of weeks, just exhausted from the effort lately…
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Hi! Thanks for following me! I would love to review for you, if you’d like me to. My turnaround time is usually pretty quick on novels that the author requests that I review. I’ve found your posts really interesting, as I would like to write a novel, as well. Good luck when your book goes live!
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Hi Novel Girl! Thank you, that would be awesome 🙂 I’m hoping it will happen in just a couple more weeks, the last few tasks are like losing the last 5 pounds…urrggh!
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Haha! I understand. Just let me know, and I’ll definitely review it for you. I’m Tiffany, by the way. I just don’t put my name on my blog, well, just in case.
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Thank you Tiffany! Nice to sort of meet you 🙂
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Nice to meet you, as well! Good luck on the final stages of your release!
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Dang! I never realized how popular you are! Kudos to you for being an awesome writer. I hope to become one sometime in the near or distant future. I have nominated you for the Blogger Recognization Award 🙂
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Wow! Thank you! I’m just starting, so thank you for the encouragement, it’s been two years of hard work…
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Your welcome 🙂 2 years is quite a long time! I’ve been blogging for close to 2 months.
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Thanks for the follow. I too thought I was done with my books but after looking them over, I’m doing some revisions and I’m further delayed. There’s always more to polish. Shine on!
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Thank you! I think polishing is well worth it, better than a half-baked effort…
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Thanks for following ZimmerBitch and introducing me to your blog. Good luck with your novel. It sounds like you’re on the final stretch now 🙂
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Thank you Su 🙂 Yes, just about to crawl over the finish line…
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Awesome! I look forward to reading it!
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Thank you so much!
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Everyone loves a good laugh and I wish you success with your comedy book 🙂
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Thank you so much 🙂
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My pleasure 🙂
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Hello! I have nominated you for the Liebster Award. You wildly exceed the 200 or less followers limit but most of my followers do as well which is why I nominated you. You can choose to participate or not. Whatever you decide, I respect your decision 100% 🙂
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Thank you very much 🙂 I’ve looked it up and the “official rules” are quite firm on the number of followers, which I think is fair, since it’s designed to promote the fresh new start-ups. Thank you very much for your nomination, I will pass in favour of someone with fewer followers.
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Thank you for letting me know 🙂
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I will look forward to a comedy. What is the title? ccr therogerspost.com
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Great 🙂 It’s Shizzle, Inc – have you seen my cover designs for it?
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Thanks for the follow Ana. You seem to have a treasure trove of articles for self publishing. Thanks for this and keep in touch 🙂
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Thank you so much for the kind words, I’m very happy to help!
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Hi Ana! Thanks for following my writing blog. Glad to read that you stuck it out and finished your book. It’s a great feeling, isn’t it? Now, of course, you’ll need to write a second one.
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Thank you Michele! I’ve got to hit “publish” soon, can’t seem to progress with the second one while this unfinished business weighs me down (or absorbs all of my free time and energy).
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Thank you for following my blog! I hope that you are feeling better as it has been a few days from your last post. I also read the preceding post about your predicaments with the editor and hope that you’ve been able to resolve things at this point. It was interesting for me to read that especially as I’m working on putting out to the world my editing services, your post was a lesson for me. Anyway, looking forward to reading more of your blog. 🙂
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Thank you Jodie! Yes, feeling better and have settled it with the editor – she was willing to work with me, so it’s a happy ending 🙂 Good luck on your new business!
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:)))
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Pingback: One Lovely Blog Award! | enthrallingdimple
Thank you, Lovely Dimple 🙂
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Nice short ‘About’ page 😉 Thanks for your follow, Ana, & I’ll be checking out your book & site – congratulations on all your hard work!
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Is your novel available yet? Is love comedies!
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Thank you Ben 🙂 Not yet, but it will be by the end of the weekend – I will announce it on the blog as soon as I can!
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Will it be available to people in the US? On Amazon?
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Hi, Ben! Yes!! This is the most exciting bit of this brave new Kindle world – the book was written for the American audience, and yet I’m able to publish it from Australia. I’ve lived in the US for 14 years and I guess I’m still nostalgic, cause it just came out this way.
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But I don’t have a Kindle. Is it available in paperback?
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Hi, Ben! That’s my next project – hope it will be available in paperback in a month or two, via Amazon. You can also download a free Kindle app on your phone (I may post about it too). Thank you so much for your interest!
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Oh my gosh, why didn’t I think about Kindle on my phone, doing it right now!
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It’s a long and winding road isn’t it. And it seems in the end we each have to find our own way. Congratulations on your achievement.
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Thank you so much, Roger! Yes, long indeed, but so worth it 🙂
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Thank you for the follow! Your adventures in book covers was very cool to read through WOW so many varieties leading up to your final cover. Super cool and congratulations!
-The JO in JoMarkCreative =]
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Thank you Jo! It was one hell of a process, but I’m quite happy with the result 🙂
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Good for you. I admit I forgot comedy could be written in novel form, I’m so used to mainly action/adventure with a little comedy sprinkled in. I’m always wowed by people who are good at comedy because my dad and I aren’t haha. Oh to stand in awe of the gifted.
-JO
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Thank you Jo 🙂 mine is the other way around – comedy with a bit of action (a car chase and fighting) sprinkled in. Time will tell if people actually think it’s funny 🙂
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Whoa cool, well here’s to your success and the movie deal!
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Thanks for the follow! It means the world to me! Look forward to checking out your writing Exciting to be writing your second novel! I will be putting together my work into book format soon. Not sure how the process will play out yet, but looking forward to it nonetheless. Feel free to give any advice from your experience. 🙂
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You’re welcome, Suzanne, and best of luck! I’ve written blogs as I go, hope they’re helpful. My biggest advice would be to make a daily/weekly plan and stick to it.
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Ana…….I can tell, just by reading your blog, you have an amazing talent as a writer! You have a way with words, reliving your life adventures, that grabs the reader and pulls him in! I’m so excited to read Shizzle, Inc. on my kindle, I’m putting down my morning coffee to open Amazon and to get started! Are you a trained writer from your college days, or does your skill come naturally? I’d love to meet you sometime just to “hear” your stories and your thoughts! Congratulations on your achievement!
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Oh. My. God. Really? Thank you so much, Donald! I’m a happy-sobbing mess here. Couldn’t sleep, too much excitement, but I’m glad I’ve decided to do one more check 🙂
I’m a Russian immigrant who now lives in Australia, and although I’ve had a decade in college, it was all in science and design. I’ve always been a clown, though 🙂
Thank you so much, your comment made my day. Night, actually – there’s no way I’ll be able to get to sleep now 🙂
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Hello Ana! I have nominated you for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers award! 🙂
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Thank you, Kayla 🙂
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Pingback: Monday Madness # 4 |
Thank you so much for sharing! Very happy to help – just wait, CreateSpace is next 🙂
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I popped over form the class of writing 101 to say: Hello from Ireland 🙂 Can I ask you about the link to your novel.. ? Cheers
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Thank you for promting me, Swav – I’ve now added a direct link to the website. Here it is for you, specially, and thank you for your interest!http://www.amazon.com/Shizzle-Inc-Maxwell-escapades-Book-ebook/dp/B014XFQPZ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441679160&sr=8-1&keywords=shizzle%2C+inc
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