Ruth Kaufman - Award-Winning Author and Romance Writer

Ruth Kaufman is the author of My Life as a Star, My Life as an Extra, My Once & Future Love, The Bride Tournament, Follow Your Heart, At His Command and other books.

What are you and your books worth?

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In addition to being an author and writer, I’m a voiceover and on-camera talent.

When I book acting jobs through a talent agent, rates for the shoot and usage (national TV, internet, internal only, etc.) are already set. If I think they’re too low, I decline the audition. For example: a radio commercial for a hospital in perpetuity (unlimited time period) for $500. That might seem like a lot to a beginner, but I could have conflicts trouble down the road when the next hospital doesn’t want to hire someone who already has hospital spots running.

If I book a gig myself, I set the rates with the client. When I self-publish, I set the prices for my print and e-books after taking prices I see for other books in my genres and Amazon’s suggestions into account.

Yet there’s often pressure to discount or lower rates or prices I set for acting work or books. Questions abound.

Acting: The client may have what I think is a very low budget or say they can find someone do to the project for less. Do I meet their rate to get the job, or wait until I find a client willing to pay the rates I’ve researched and think are fair for my skills, expertise and experience? If a client sends me a large quantity of work, do I offer a volume discount? Is there value in meeting/working with new clients at a lower rate, hoping for more projects in the future?

Books: There are dozens of discount/free book e-newsletters. To even get a spot in one, I have to pay and/or meet certain criteria. The cream of the crop, BookBub, cost $390 to advertise my first book for free in the US, UK, and Canada.

Will the ad earn out in terms of sales? Now that I have four novels available, do I make the first free to encourage readers to read it, and hope they’ll pay for the others? Do I stay in Kindle Unlimited, for which readers pay a monthly fee and I get paid when readers read my books…usually around .005 cents per page? Do I do more boxed sets, which often have 4 books for .99…but since all 4 authors share in the marketing and promotion I’ll probably sell more copies than I can on my own? How many giveaways do I do via blog hops, Facebook parties and online promotions?

At the moment, my first book, AT HIS COMMAND (a double Booksellers’ Best Award finalist in Best Historical and Best First Book) is on sale from $2.99 to .99. How much time and money do I spend to promote that?

Often, the only way to know is to try something and see if it works. If not, try something else.

Release Day! MY ONCE & FUTURE LOVE

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Today is release day for my fourth book, MY ONCE & FUTURE LOVE, Unsung Knights of the Round Table #1.

 In MO&FL, Annora of Amberton flees her castle to seek proof that she’s not a lunatic as her uncle declared when claiming wardship over her and her lands.  

Morgan ap Myrddin must rescue his father, Merlin, from imprisonment. But enemies have wounded him, draining his powers.
He stumbles upon her cottage and enlists her aid. As he helps her in return, undeniable desire and respect spark. But he won’t succumb to the lure of a mortal woman as his father did. She’s wary of caring for a man who refuses to discuss his past. When he finally tells her he’s a Knight of the Round Table, she fears he’s the lunatic as danger, secrets and destiny thwart the power of love.

 To celebrate, I’m having a virtual release party today from 4-7PM CDT, featuring amazing guest authors and giveaways. I hope you can stop by to chat with us.

RT Book Reviews says, “Kaufman is an excellent storyteller with an affinity for setting stories in the Middle Ages. My Once & Future Love is a fantastic blend of romance and Arthurian legend, and it paves the way for the start of the Unsung Knights of the Round Table series. The characters are intriguing and their insecurities and fears make them seem more real.”

Night Owl Reviews says, “The chemistry between Morgan and Annora sizzles with vibrant energy from every page right along with their strong, compelling personalities which makes it easy for readers to relate to the characters and to become ensnared in their relationship quandary, which has a maelstrom of emotions keeping suspense and anticipations high throughout the steady to fast paced plot full of intrigue, excitement and romance.”

I love the tales of King Arthur and his nights, and wondered, “What if there were knights we’d never heard of?

And here’s my first international interview!

Happy reading!


Hope you’ll visit these upcoming events on Facebook!

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I hope you’ll be able to stop by these amazing online events! Chat with authors and enter for a chance to win giveaways and prizes. 
May 23 – May 28
Introductions begin May 16!

 Romance Writers Gone Wild! A week-long romance reader’s paradise! Join over 100 romance writers for sneak peeks, excerpts and giveaways, with a specific day dedicated to your favorite romance genres, all without leaving the comfort of your home (or changing out of your bunny slippers). There’s something for every romance reader — contemporary to Scottish Highlands, romantic suspense to inspirational, paranormal to urban fantasy and everything in between. Prizes include Amazon gift cards and a Kindle Fire!

May 26, 4:00-7:00PM CDT

 An online release party for My Once & Future Love, Unsung Knights of the Round Table #1.

RT Book Reviews says, “Kaufman is an excellent storyteller with an affinity for setting stories in the Middle Ages. My Once & Future Love is a fantastic blend of romance and Arthurian legend, and it paves the way for the start of the Unsung Knights of the Round Table series. The characters are intriguing and their insecurities and fears make them seem more real.”

And Night Owl Reviews says, “The chemistry between Morgan and Annora sizzles with vibrant energy from every page right along with their strong, compelling personalities which makes it easy for readers to relate to the characters and to become ensnared in their relationship quandary, which has a maelstrom of emotions keeping suspense and anticipations high throughout the steady to fast paced plot full of intrigue, excitement and romance.”

 I’m thrilled to have a great lineup of guest authors: 
4:00 Anna Campbell Author Page
4:20 Cathy MacRae Author
4:40 Elizabeth Rose
5:00 Ruth Kaufman Author & Actress
5:20 Laurel O’Donnell
5:40 April Holthaus-Author
6:00 Ruth Kaufman Author & Actress
6:20 Barbara Devlin’s Nautionniers
6:40 Kathryn Le Veque, Author

 Anyone who leaves a comment will be entered for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Individual authors may offer giveaways. 

*Promotions held during the Romance Writers Gone Wild Event are in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. Contest and giveaway entrants are providing information to the authors participating in this Event and not to Facebook. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

The MO&FL release party is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

Dealing with Setbacks & Disappointment

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We all know that not everything can go our way, despite our best efforts. And that sometimes, despite putting many irons in the fire, none of the big ones get hot. We won’t get every job/gig/opportunity we apply/submit for, most authors will receive some unfavorable and/or inaccurate reviews, someone you want to date may not want to date you.

Rejection and disappointment are part of everyone’s life. As an actor, author, speaker/storyteller and single person, some months I can receive more than most. When they arrive within a short time and I don’t have good news to counteract them, I admit it’s hard to believe I’ve chosen the right career paths. Self-doubt creeps in. It can be hard to know what to work on next, whose advice to take, what to change.

Recent setbacks/disappointments include:
–An on-camera job I was on check avail for never materialized
–A live corporate job and a VO job I was on hold for were canceled
–Didn’t get a big VO job I was shortlisted for
–Learned that a role I’d done in a film was recast
–A dream agent who’d said she loved my voice rejected one of my books.

Being on hold/check avail, shortlisted and callbacks are great because they show your agent you can do that kind of job and the client was interested. But they don’t pay the bills. And the gig was so close, you could taste it.

Patience is not my strong suit, and waiting for good news isn’t the answer. The solution is to find the energy and motivation to move on. Control what you can, and do something that helps you move forward.

I revamped my ruthtalks.com website, including a new commercial demo. I’m working on a new narration demo, with new elearning and medical to come after that. I got headshots with a new look: straight hair. I’ve been working on promotion for my May 26 release, MY ONCE & FUTURE LOVE, and continue to audition and submit.

How do you deal with disappointment?

New Release! Medieval w/Magical Realism: My Once & Future Love

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 When did you first hear about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table? Probably when you were a child, because the tales have been passed down for centuries. There are hundreds of books and movies, including the upcoming Knights of the Round Table: King Arthur. 
My favorite Arthurian books include The Once and Future King by T.H. White. And my favorite movie is still Excalibur (who could forget the wedding scene?). I watched that dozens of times when it first came out on HBO. 
We’ve all heard of Sirs Lancelot and Galahad. Some know of Sirs Kay, Bedivere and others. But what if there were some we didn’t know about? I decided to tell their tales and journeys toward love in the Unsung Knights of the Round Table series.
Book #1 is MY ONCE & FUTURE LOVE, a medieval romance with magical realism. Morgan ap Myrddin must rescue his father from imprisonment. But enemies have wounded him, draining his powers.

Annora of Amberton flees her castle to seek proof that she’s not a lunatic as her uncle declared when claiming wardship over her and her lands.
He stumbles upon her cottage and enlists her aid. As he helps her in return, undeniable desire sparks. But he won’t succumb to the lure of a mortal woman as his father did. She’s wary of caring for a man who refuses to discuss his past. When he finally tells her he’s a Knight of the Round Table, she fears he’s the lunatic as danger, secrets and destiny thwart the power of love.

I’m working on book #2, featuring a main character in MY&FL. Stay tuned!


Authors in Bloom!

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Hello, and thank you for stopping by! I hope you’re enjoying the Authors in Bloom blog hop. 

 I’ve released three medievals in my Wars of the Roses Brides series. 

And my May release, MY ONCE & FUTURE LOVE, starts a new medieval Arthurian series: Unsung Knights of the Round Table. 

 When a lady on the run aids an immortal knight in peril, can love flourish?


As you can see, I take a lot of flower pictures…with my cell phone. My tip is to appreciate and share the results of your gardening efforts with pictures. Choose interesting angles and close-ups that accentuate details and will look great on social media. 

 Wide shots of gardens and flower beds usually don’t stand out as much as closeups, especially when viewed in small or thumbnail sizes. Also check the background to make sure it’s visually appealing and not distracting.

 Another idea is to create a calendar using your best shots, via a site such as Vistaprint (which often has discounts up to 50%) and give them as gifts. I’ve gotten many compliments from family, friends and clients (I’m also an on-camera and voiceover talent).

 My favorite flower is the peony, because I love how they look and smell. I need to take some peony pictures! What’s your favorite flower and why? 

 I’ll be giving away an ebook of AT HIS COMMAND to three people who comment below and leave their contact email so you can be reached if you win. 

 And anyone who signs up on my website for my occasional newsletter will receive another entry to win a copy of AT HIS COMMAND.


Other authors participating in the blog hop:

Anatomy of a Headshot & Curly vs. Straight

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Next time you watch TV or a movie, notice how many women have curly hair. Not that many. And what roles do they play? The quirky best friend or co-worker, the out there aunt or neighbor. Not a newscaster, executive or businessperson, spokesperson or business owner or doctor.

So with Chicago Justice coming to town and hoping to pursue more serious roles, I decided to get a headshot in a suit with straight hair. For me, that’s not an easy decision…because the process of blow drying, flat-ironing and de-frizzing takes well over an hour and many products.

First I had to choose a photographer. I went with someone I know who rents a studio in what she calls the South Loop (but I think is past that).  A half hour session is $100, and you do you own hair and makeup.

I’m a morning person, so getting up early to start transforming my hair wasn’t a problem. With my now-straight hair tucked beneath a silk scarf for de-frizzing, I was ready to apply light makeup. Wait. When did my eyebrows morph into an old man’s, with random hairs sticking out hither and yon?

I’m glad I brought two suits, because the navy one I really wanted to wear, with what I think is flattering, small peplum on a zippered jacket, looked too dark on camera. I ended up in a traditional pinstripe, with a bright deep blue tee underneath for a pop of color. Pearl instead of hoop earrings. Some with glasses, some full length. Some smiling, some not.

Keeping your chin down while tilting your head and smizing as Tyra instructs can be a challenge. How will they turn out? Will my agents like them? Will casting directors/producers/directors?

How will I know if I’ve been submitted with straight or curly hair, so I know which to have if called in for an audition? Looking like your headshot is essential. Stay tuned….

A current, curlier and slightly shorter hair headshot:

Pitching to agents & editors on Twitter

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Back in the day, if you wanted to learn about literary agents and book editors so you could submit your book for representation or publication, you had to go to a library or buy a book listing such information, without knowing if the information was still current.

Then, as now, you could also attend conferences to hear them speak and/or meet them in person for up to the minute info, but that can be expensive and time-consuming.

Then came the Internet, where agency websites that often list agent bios and interests. Publishers have sites, too, but information about individual editors can be hard to find. And sites might not be updated frequently…despite a fast-changing market. For example, I just checked a publisher at random whose site still has Fall 2015 editor interests. Sites like QueryTracker can be great for agent info, assuming the profiles are up to date. But the onus is on you to search, and the genres are often quite broad, such as romance.

Then came Twitter, where authors could follow and interact with agents and editors. (For some reason, in my experience, Facebook didn’t catch on for this purpose.) Even better, those industry professionals can let authors know exactly what they’re looking for in real time.

Popular hashtags are #MSWL, manuscript wishlist, where editors and agents post in detail the projects they’d love to see and #PitMad, where author Brenda Drake holds quarterly events during which authors tweet pitches by following her rules. If an industry professional likes the tweet, the author can submit (usually by following instructions on the agent’s site or given in a reply tweet).

There are other pitch parties, too. A recent event was #PitMatch, where Cupids matched tweets on #MSWL and #PitMad. I was fortunate that a dream agent favorited my tweet. I submitted 5 pages as her site instructed, and within a few days her assistant requested the first three chapters, then she herself requested the full. Fingers crossed!

I popped online to browse #MSWL, the other day, and came across an editor who wanted a romance set in Hell. Well, I just happen to have one. I replied to his tweet, he asked a follow up question…and requested.

Of course, as with any type of pitching, there’s no guarantee of representation/a sale, or even going further than the initial submission. But Twitter pitches are a great way to connect quickly with agents and/or editors.

This approach saves authors significant time. If someone is interested, you’ll know soon, maybe within minutes or hours. I’ve met many authors who are terrified to pitch in person, so Twitter bypasses that fear. Plus, your query/submission isn’t unsolicited as it would be if you just queried as their websites instruct. The agent/editor is already aware of your project and asked to see it.

Happy pitching!

Self-taping vs. in-person vs. Skype

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There’s a trend for actors to self-tape or self-submit auditions. This means that instead of auditioning in person where someone will read with you and someone else is responsible for recording/technical stuff, you need a good partner to read other characters’ lines, and record, edit and upload a quality video of your audition. 

On the one hand, I’m very grateful for recent opportunities to audition for a few high-profile out of town projects I might not have been considered for without self-taping. On the other hand, the pool of talent expands, so more actors may be submitted for each role.

More pros: You can do the scene as many times as you want (or your partner can stand). This eliminates the tendency some actors have to think they could’ve done better, or  fret, “If only I’d done THAT.” 
You don’t have to show up to an assigned audition appointment that may be inconvenient. 
You can record any time before the submission deadline. 
More cons: You’re responsible for producing a video with a non-distracting background that matches the sound, lighting and video quality of an actor who may go to a professional studio. You can do that, too, but the cost could be prohibitive.  
You don’t get any feedback from casting or production personnel. With indie features, short films and certain other projects, the director him/herself may be in the room and offer direction. Not only that, you get to meet some of the team and perhaps establish some rapport. 
You don’t know if your video is ever watched. At least when you’re in the room, someone sees the results of your preparation. 
Self-taping can take a long time, because of technical difficulties or mistakes. The last one I did took almost 4 hours because my extremely knowledgeable partner had trouble syncing sound and exporting the video.
In person, I’m often asked to do more than one take. I prefer the opportunity to make different choices. I don’t recall any self-tapings I’ve done that wanted more than one take.
I’d like to see more Skype auditions. I’ve only done one. Skpye allows actors to get some feedback, start building relationships, and make the process a bit more personal…without distance and equipment/video skills being issues. 

The power of FREE: At His Command on Amazon 3/1-5

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AT HIS COMMAND is free on Amazon March 1 to 5!

I’ve read many posts about making a book free for a brief time or permafree. While it’s hard to give away a product I spent countless hours producing, I’m hoping the benefits are worth it:

1) Readers may get to know an author and buy her other books. (Or will they wait to see if those are free, too?)

2) If the book is also in Kindle Unlimited, and subscribers read it, you get paid for those pages.

3) If you get enough downloads, the book climbs Amazon bestseller lists including Top Free Historical Romance, which leads to more visibility and perhaps more sales of other books.

4) You might get more reviews. The more reviews a book has on Amazon, the better the opportunities for Amazon promotion, such as “also bought” and “you might like.”

But making “going free” work can require a significant investment of:

1) Time: to scour promotion sites, choose some, and apply for a listing by filling out their forms. Posting on Facebook groups and other social media. Spent away from writing/getting your next book out or other work. Checking and compiling results.

2) Money: for said promotions. I got my first BookBub for 3/2, quite an achievement. (I was denied for two books when I had .99 cent countdown deals.) Though it costs hundreds of dollars, the high number of downloads and visibility are said to be amazing. I hope so!

It’s working! AHC is already #38 on Top Free Medievals.