S.R. Johannes's Blog
May 19, 2012
May is a banner month for new releases from the Indelibles!
Summer is just around the corner. Are you ready for pool side READING?
How about a new Kindle or a Nook??
That's right, in celebration of our new releases, the Indelibles are giving away the winner's choice of KINDLE or NOOK along with SIXTEEN (16) new releases that includes my new novelette releasing today, SUFFOCATE!
How to Enter
1. Visit the Indelibles Website between May 21st-May25th
2. Follow the chain of links to each of the blogs on the hop,
3. Collect the SECRET WORD from each blog (psst-mine is in purple and all caps)
4. Submit the secret sentence for your chance to win.
If you're clicking through as part of the Beach Bash, my secret word is "NOOK" and the final stop on the hop is on The Indelibles page.
Since today is my new release of SUFFOCATE, for anyone who comments below, you will be entered into a drawing for free ebook (5 available).
Suffocate is the first novelette in THE BREATHLESS series. It is a 15,000 word young adult thriller that combines the dystopic and science fiction genres.
For centuries, the world outside the Biome has been unlivable. Today, marks the first time anyone will attempt to leave the suffocating ecosphere. Eria is not worried because her scientist father has successfully tested the new Bio-Suit many times. It's a celebratory day until something goes horribly wrong. In the midst of tragedy, Eria uncovers a deep conspiracy that affects the very air she breathes.
If those responsible find out what she knows, they won't stop hunting her until she takes her last breath.
The 2nd novelette in the series, CHOKE, is scheduled for Fall 2012. The 3rd, EXHALE, is scheduled for Winter 2013
You can purchase SUFFOCATE on ebook only starting today.
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Other ereader formats available soon.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...
May 18, 2012
In breaking news, Market My Words (my blog) was a Finalist/Honorary Mention in the Goodreads Independent Blogger Awards in the Publishing category 1 of approx. 1000 blogs entered).Woot Woot!
Thanks to everyone who voted.
Heres some great articles I came across recently:
Indie
When and why does an author decide to turn (great article but I'm biased b/c I was mentioned :)
Can you self pub and still get an agent? (yes you can but it's tricky)
Self Pubbing as a Marketing Tool? (Trust me, there are easier ways to market than doing a whole book)
Why some Indie authors are successful and some are not (interesting take.)
Ebook Pricing - what to charge? (the age old question)
Marketing
Promotional Burnout by LM preston (we all get it!)
Seth Godin on Marketing (Radio)
5 ways to market indie books on a budget (good tips)
Product Placement in Books - Hard sellers (interesting. Hey MoonPies - call me!)
Rethinking the Book Tour (aw but we all want one, don't we :)
Titles are key (yes and covers!)
25 things that make you look dumb on Twitter (call me dumb, ha!)
Happy Reading! :)
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...
May 17, 2012
Pinterest
is the latest social networking site that allows you to pin and post pictures of anything you want. The site's popularity has exploded in recent months, making it one of the fastest-growing websites in history. Even faster than Facebook or Twitter.
It is a virtual bulletin board that you can use to find ways to redecorate your house, plan a wedding, post inspiration for books, tag meaningful quotes, keep recipes, flag books, or just keep track of random stuff that catches your eye. Kinda like a scrapbook for the Internet so you can sort through the chaos of Internet-age information overload.
It is so fun! And yes, just like Twitter, it can be a major time sucker. But did I mention fun . I love finding people because you can learn so much about them and their writing by seeing there pins.
It can make you crazy because you could honestly pin all day long. I love everything it seems.Come join me if you are on there - it is hard to find people.
Things to know About Pinterest
You have to request an invite
You need to watch out for copyright issues
Make sure you link to a web sources for pictures - could be harming artists
You will have to sign in with Twitter or FB
Watch out for the time sucking factor
Don't just promote your book- make it a 2 way dialogue
Most users are women between 25 and 44. So not a huge teen market.
People can repin pictures on Pinterest or pin from various sites.
Ways Authors Can Use Pinterest
Get connected - another way to build a platform and meet cool people you might not normally meet. There are over
Launch daily pinning themes around your books or writing
Run pinning contests using photos or covers
Find book inspirations
Promote your blog by linking images back to blog posts
Promote your friend's books
Create Boards for your books to give inside scoop on characters or setting
Here are a few articles on more ways to use Pinterest:
21 unexpected ways to use Pinterest
13 Things writers should know about Pinterest
10 Pinterest tips for Authors
Happy pinning!
What do you think? What else can you use Pinterest for? If you are on Pinterest, add your id to the comments. If you are not, go here to request an invite.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...
May 16, 2012
Upon
the release of my third book, Driven, I want to talk about the stigma of
self-publishing, but first I need to tell you a little about my publishing
journey. Like Shelli, I pursued the traditional route for years. I studied
hard, worked my butt off, and did everything “by the book.” I sought feedback
and revised. I queried time and again, never letting the rejections stop
me—never giving up. After five years, I finally found an agent. But she couldn’t
sell my book.
In
many ways, I don’t regret the arduous process I went through because it helped
me develop the skills I need to publish my own books. By the time they get to
my editors, they’re already in great shape. My copy editors tend to comment that
I didn’t leave them anything to correct, or that if they were charging by the
error, they’d only make a few bucks. But what I do resent is how the
traditional publishing community led me to believe it was a lack of skill and
talent that kept me from being published (mostly by saying nothing at all),
when in fact it was about marketing. It’s only through my experience witnessing
what gets accepted and what gets rejected—and my effort to market my own
books—that I’ve become enlightened. An author can have a perfectly crafted
manuscript, and if it’s not marketable in New York’s eyes, you’re not going to
get a book deal. Many writers out there would be doing themselves a favor to
recognize that and stop beating themselves up. The traditional publishing model
is a business. Businesses survive by making money. It’s a simple, brutal fact
that often has nothing to do with the human element.
So
after all those years, I came to the decision to publish my books on my own. I
won’t bore you with the details, but I will say it was a lot like losing your
religion. At first you’re sure you’re going straight to hell. But that feeling
goes away, and the sense of empowerment gets stronger until you wonder why you
were ever afraid to begin with. At first I worried I was making the wrong
choice. Fifteen months later, I can say I haven’t regretted it for a second.
It’s been a total rush.
Which
brings me back to stigma. This is something indies encounter a lot, and some of
them get angry or depressed or let themselves get bogged down in it. I don’t
have time for that nonsense. If someone disses me, I just don’t associate with
them. I’m living my dream and running a business. Why would I care what
ignorant people think?
But
I do find it amusing. Case in point—I got a gig teaching a self-publishing
class at the Oregon SCBWI Spring Conference. As an indie author, I’m not
allowed to sell my books at the event. I’m not PAL, after all. Since I’m
self-published, my books are bound to be crap, right? Forget the fact that
excerpts of them have won awards. The irony is, before I decided to go indie, I
was part of the team that founded Puddletown Publishing Group. My first book, Running
Wide Open, was scheduled to be one of Puddletown’s first releases. I parted
ways with the publisher and they went on to become PAL certified. Had I stayed
with Puddletown, I’d be Published and Listed now. And my book would be of
lesser quality for it. Why? Because I wanted it to go through one more round of
editing, so I paid a professional New York editor to read my manuscript. Then I
got another copy edit. And yes, these editors caught several things that would
have otherwise wound up in the book. When you look at the irony of this, the
sheer whimsy of the way the PAL rules work (simply because they have a blanket
approach, rather than being decided on a case-by-case basis), you realize it’s
ridiculous to take offense. This is not about skill. It’s about an organization
having a simplistic system that’s easy to implement.
Though
some indies have a problem with traditional publishing, I don’t. An
individual’s publishing journey is a personal thing, and it’s up to them to
make a choice based on their strengths and desires. Each of us has to do what
brings us the most satisfaction. But I would like to leave all writers with
this one bit of advice: don’t beat yourself up over whether or not you get an
agent or sell a book. Don’t get down on yourself because of arbitrary rules set
to make things cut and dried for an organization. Businesses and organizations
have a purpose, and it’s not to feed your ego or let you down easy. Keep that
in mind, and the whole publication process will be a lot less stressful.
About the book:
The last thing on 16-year-old Jess DeLand’s wish list is a
boyfriend. She’d have to be crazy to think any guy would look twice at her.
Besides, there are more important things to hope for, like a job working on
cars and an end to her mom’s drinking. Foster care is a constant threat, and
Jess is willing to sacrifice anything to stay out of the system. When luck
hands her the chance to work on a race car, she finds herself rushing full
throttle into a world of opportunities—including a boy who doesn’t mind the
grease under her fingernails. The question is, can a girl who keeps herself
locked up tighter than Richard Petty’s racing secrets open up enough to risk
friendship and her first romance?
“The first romance is captured beautifully—just the right
combination of natural and awkward, of eager and scared.”
~ Bob Martin, writing professor, Pacific Northwest
College of Art
Buy it on Amazon
Buy it on Barnes and
Noble
Buy it on Smashwords
About the author
In addition to being a YA author, Lisa Nowak is a retired
amateur stock car racer, an accomplished cat whisperer, and a professional
smartass. Though offered two deals by a small presses in 2011,
she turned them down to go indie. She writes coming-of-age books about
kids in hard luck situations who learn to appreciate their own value after
finding mentors who love them for who they are. She enjoys dark chocolate and
stout beer and constantly works toward employing wei wu wei in her life, all the while realizing that the
struggle itself is an oxymoron.
Lisa has no spare time, but if she did she’d use it to tend
to her expansive perennial garden, watch medical dramas, take long walks after
dark, and teach her cats to play poker. For those of you who might be
wondering, she is not, and has never been, a diaper-wearing astronaut. She
lives in Milwaukie, Oregon, with her husband, four feline companions, and two
giant sequoias.
Lisa's blog
Follow Lisa on Twitter
Like Lisa's Facebook page
Subscribe to Lisa's newsletter
for upcoming releases
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May 14, 2012
I have a new novelette series starting next Monday 5/21.
It will be available on ebook only for 99 cents.
Suffocate is the first novelette in THE BREATHLESS series. It is a 15,000 word young adult thriller that combines the dystopic and science fiction genres.
For centuries, the world outside the Biome has been unlivable. Today, marks the first time anyone will attempt to leave the suffocating ecosphere. Eria is not worried because her scientist father has successfully tested the new Bio-Suit many times. It's a celebratory day until something goes horribly wrong. In the midst of tragedy, Eria uncovers a deep conspiracy that affects the very air she breathes.
If those responsible find out what she knows, they won't stop hunting her until she takes her last breath.
The 2nd novella in the series, CHOKE, is scheduled for Fall 2012. The 3rd, EXHALE, is scheduled for Winter 2013.
===========
This cover is a good example of a great cover that costs less than $300. One that is not from an original photo shoot and uses a few different stock photos. You can get affordable professional covers if you use the right person and know what to look for.
You can use stock. But it has to be the right stock. The right resolution.
One major key to a good cover is in the photo shopping skills. If you are doing your own covers and you do not know photoshop, you are missing an opportunity to blend the layers and colors more effectively so the covers don't appear home-made.
Vania is great at doing photoshopping as well live the photo shoots so if you are in the market for a cover...trust me - she is worth every penny and she is very affordable. She has such an amazing eye. It's sic. But you don't have to spend 500 - 1,000 if you don't have it.
I asked Vania to give us a few tips when making a cover. She said...
1. Pick images that are clear to your story or theme and that will be interesting to look at.
2. When photoshopping keep it simple and clean. No rough edges or busy compositions.
3. Blend, blend, blend. Don't stick images on top of each other like paper cut outs.
4. FONT! Typography is just as important for you cover as the image itself. Pick something that fits in theme but that will also be easy to read when in small thumbnail. Nothing too thin.
5. Ask for advice. Ask you fellow writers on what they think about your cover. Many times they can help you improve it, even if slightly. Don't be scared! They do it with love!
Now for the cover!
What do you think? What is one of your favorite covers? Favorite indie cover? What do you look for in a cover?
Comment for a free copy. http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...
It will be available on ebook only for 99 cents.
Suffocate is the first novelette in THE BREATHLESS series. It is a 15,000 word young adult thriller that combines the dystopic and science fiction genres.
For centuries, the world outside the Biome has been unlivable. Today, marks the first time anyone will attempt to leave the suffocating ecosphere. Eria is not worried because her scientist father has successfully tested the new Bio-Suit many times. It's a celebratory day until something goes horribly wrong. In the midst of tragedy, Eria uncovers a deep conspiracy that affects the very air she breathes.
If those responsible find out what she knows, they won't stop hunting her until she takes her last breath.
The 2nd novella in the series, CHOKE, is scheduled for Fall 2012. The 3rd, EXHALE, is scheduled for Winter 2013.
===========
This cover is a good example of a great cover that costs less than $300. One that is not from an original photo shoot and uses a few different stock photos. You can get affordable professional covers if you use the right person and know what to look for.
You can use stock. But it has to be the right stock. The right resolution.
One major key to a good cover is in the photo shopping skills. If you are doing your own covers and you do not know photoshop, you are missing an opportunity to blend the layers and colors more effectively so the covers don't appear home-made.
Vania is great at doing photoshopping as well live the photo shoots so if you are in the market for a cover...trust me - she is worth every penny and she is very affordable. She has such an amazing eye. It's sic. But you don't have to spend 500 - 1,000 if you don't have it.
I asked Vania to give us a few tips when making a cover. She said...
1. Pick images that are clear to your story or theme and that will be interesting to look at.
2. When photoshopping keep it simple and clean. No rough edges or busy compositions.
3. Blend, blend, blend. Don't stick images on top of each other like paper cut outs.
4. FONT! Typography is just as important for you cover as the image itself. Pick something that fits in theme but that will also be easy to read when in small thumbnail. Nothing too thin.
5. Ask for advice. Ask you fellow writers on what they think about your cover. Many times they can help you improve it, even if slightly. Don't be scared! They do it with love!
Now for the cover!
What do you think? What is one of your favorite covers? Favorite indie cover? What do you look for in a cover?
Comment for a free copy. http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...
May 7, 2012
In celebration of the official release of
A
Spy Like Me , Laura Pauling is hosting a three-week blog series: A
Spies, Murder and Mystery Marathon. Woot! Woot!
Authors galore, guest posts and book giveaways
almost every day!
Gemma Halliday, Cindy M. Hogan, Elizabeth Spann
Craig, Nova Ren Suma, Elisa Ludwig, and Anne R. Allen....Just
to name a few!
And here's why she's celebrating!
Stripping your date down to his underwear has
never been so dangerous.
After dodging bullets on a first date, Savvy must
sneak, deceive and spy to save her family and friends and figure out if Malcolm
is one of the bad guys before she completely falls for him.
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Smashwords
Head on over to Laura’s blog
for the start of the Spies, Murder and Mystery Marathon. You won’t
want to miss this sizzling series as we head into summer. Stock up on some
great thrilling reads! If you dare…
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...
Spy Like Me , Laura Pauling is hosting a three-week blog series: A
Spies, Murder and Mystery Marathon. Woot! Woot!
Authors galore, guest posts and book giveaways
almost every day!
Gemma Halliday, Cindy M. Hogan, Elizabeth Spann
Craig, Nova Ren Suma, Elisa Ludwig, and Anne R. Allen....Just
to name a few!
And here's why she's celebrating!
Stripping your date down to his underwear has
never been so dangerous.
After dodging bullets on a first date, Savvy must
sneak, deceive and spy to save her family and friends and figure out if Malcolm
is one of the bad guys before she completely falls for him.
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Smashwords
Head on over to Laura’s blog
for the start of the Spies, Murder and Mystery Marathon. You won’t
want to miss this sizzling series as we head into summer. Stock up on some
great thrilling reads! If you dare…
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...
May 3, 2012
Last year, Elle Strauss stopped by to talk about Clockwise and It's a Little Haywire.
Today, we get a peek into Book 2, Clockwiser .
The last year has been smooth sailing for Casey Donovan. She and her boyfriend Nate are doing better than ever, and things at home are good, too. Everything’s been so calm, she hasn’t “tripped” back to the nineteenth century in ages.
Then the unthinkable happens and she accidentally takes her rebellious brother Tim back in time. It’s 1862 with the Civil War brewing, and for Tim this spells adventure and excitement. Finding himself stuck in the past, he enlists in the Union army, but it doesn’t take long before he discovers real life war is no fun and games.
Casey and Nate race against the clock to find Tim, but the strain wears on their relationship. It doesn’t help that the intriguing new boy next door has his sights on Casey, and isn’t shy to let her know it.
Can Nate and Casey find Tim in time to save him? And is it too late to save their love?
Here is the first chapter:
CASEY
Beginning of Summer Holidays
Sometimes I wished I were an only child. But then I’d be walking or taking transit instead of getting a lift from my brother Tim in his Cavalier beater. He didn’t have air conditioning either, and the wind blowing in from our open windows was hot and moist. The humidity made me feel like I was wearing a warm, wet washcloth for a shirt.
“Can’t you drop me off first?” I said, fanning myself with my hand. I was meeting my best friend Lucinda at the mall, and she only had a thirty minute break from her job at Forever21. Plus, the mall was air conditioned. Bonus.
“I gotta get some cash first. Besides, I’m not your personal taxi service, Casey.” Tim snarled, turning the volume up on his stereo. The bass beat was so loud it rattled the trunk. “Get off your lazy butt and get your license already.”
I gave him a dirty look and reached over to turn the music down. I had a very good reason for not getting my license, but I could never tell Tim or any member of my family what it was. There were only three people currently living who knew the reason. One of them was my boyfriend Nate Mackenzie.
My heart still fluttered a bit when I thought of him in those terms. My boyfriend. Not just some out-of-reach guy I crushed hard on my whole sophomore year, but my boyfriend.
We’d already been an official couple for an entire year, totally blowing all the doomsday predictions that we’d never make it. No one thought a college boy would stick it out with a junior in high school--especially Nate’s evil former girlfriend!
But he did, and we were still going strong. I’d be starting my senior year in a few weeks and then I’d join him at Boston University, too.
“If you dropped me off first, you wouldn’t have to deal with me,” I tried to reason.
“If I didn’t shuttle you around at all I wouldn’t have to deal with you.”
The only reason he did was because my parents were putting the screws in. Tim’s bad attitude, questionable choice of friends and poor grades put him in their bad books. Driving me around was penance.
He pulled into the parking lot of the bank and hopped out, leaving the car running. I reached over and turned it off. Idling the car was bad for the environment for one, and a waste of Tim’s hard-earned minimum-wage job gas money for another. You’d think he’d know better.
I checked the time on my phone and grew anxious as Lucinda’s break time grew nearer. Tim had his back to me as he stood in line at the ATM window. I looked at my reflection in the visor mirror. Since I’d grown out of my skinny awkwardness last year (and snagged a hot boyfriend), I was more mindful of my looks. Instead of trying to hide behind a bush of dark, curly hair, I used better hair products and found a great stylist, and I liked the way my curls framed my face now. I took a tube of lip gloss out of my purse and rolled it onto my lips.
I tugged on my shorts and rubbed my bare legs. They were so long, my knees almost touched the glove compartment. Height had its advantages, but getting comfortable in a small car wasn’t one of them.
I turned the radio on and hummed along. I daydreamed about me and Nate and how we could relax for the rest of the summer, hopefully stretching the lazy days out as long as possible.
I checked the time on my phone again and immediately started stressing about being late to meet Lucinda. C’mon, Tim! He was second in line now. I texted Lucinda to let her know I might be a little late.
I heard sirens and I perked up. This wasn’t the best neighborhood. The bank wasn’t huge, just tucked into a strip mall along with a nail place, a dollar store, and a thrift shop. Litter overflowed from the bin and a good amount had been blown up against the cement foundation.
I checked on Tim. He’d finally made it to the front, the last one in line. If I’d known it was going to take him this long, I would’ve run into the dollar store and picked up cheap nail polish.
The siren noise grew increasingly louder and suddenly three cop cars pulled into the parking lot beside me. My heart jumped, and I thought fleetingly that maybe Tim was in trouble with the law again. Only, he was getting money out of the ATM, not robbing the bank.
But someone was.
Everything happened so fast.
A guy with a ski mask pushed past Tim as he ran out the bank doors. A cop shouted, “Stop or I’ll shoot,” and another masked man followed. Guns went off. Tim stood there, stunned and frozen.
I heard myself shout, “Tim!” He was right in the middle of the cross-fire!
A police officer ran to him, pushing him to the ground just as the second armed man shot in their direction. The officer fell to the ground, taking the bullet instead of Tim.
The robbers ran around the corner and out of sight, chased by police officers on foot and a cruiser down the back ally.
I sprinted to Tim where he was on the ground by the fallen cop.
“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice tight.
His face was white, and he motioned to the woman beside him. “Yeah, but I don’t think she is.”
The officer moaned, holding her hand on her chest.
“Oh, ma’am, are you okay?” I searched for blood but couldn’t see any.
“I will be,” she said gasping for breath. “I have a vest on.”
Another officer kneeled beside her. “Ambulance is on its way.”
The woman had dark hair pulled back in a low bun. Her eyes stayed pinched together and her pale face glistened with sweat. The impact of the bullet was enough to do some damage. I picked up her police hat that had fallen off her head and handed it to her.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Just doing my duty.”
The ambulance arrived. The paramedics pushed us aside and lifted the woman onto a gurney. The cop who’d checked her pulse stepped forward from his open door cruiser. Radio dispatch noises leaked out.
I watched the ambulance pull away, siren blasting, and realized I didn’t know her name. I asked the officer standing beside me.
“That’s Officer Clarice Porter,” he said. “Now, would you two mind coming with me to the station to file a report?”
We agreed, and I took my first ride in a police car. It was Tim’s second, but his first was not for noble reasons. He still claimed it was his friend Alex, and not him, who’d stolen the cigarettes from the convenience store.
A thought like a loud banner ran through my mind as the doors of the police cruiser slammed shut and we drove away.
Clarice Porter saved my brother’s life.
============================
If you want to hook up with Elle, you can follow her blog
Amazon
Smashwords
============================
Check out other Bookanista posts:
Christine Fonseca revels in TO RIDE A PUCA
Stasia Ward Kehoe gushes over GILT
Katy Upperman adores UNDER THE NEVER SKY
Tracy Banghart delights in THE DISENCHANTMENTS
Gennifer Albin celebrates SHADOW AND BONE
Jessica Love is wowed by YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I WANT
Shelli Johannes-Wells is crazy for CLOCKWISER
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...
Today, we get a peek into Book 2, Clockwiser .
The last year has been smooth sailing for Casey Donovan. She and her boyfriend Nate are doing better than ever, and things at home are good, too. Everything’s been so calm, she hasn’t “tripped” back to the nineteenth century in ages.
Then the unthinkable happens and she accidentally takes her rebellious brother Tim back in time. It’s 1862 with the Civil War brewing, and for Tim this spells adventure and excitement. Finding himself stuck in the past, he enlists in the Union army, but it doesn’t take long before he discovers real life war is no fun and games.
Casey and Nate race against the clock to find Tim, but the strain wears on their relationship. It doesn’t help that the intriguing new boy next door has his sights on Casey, and isn’t shy to let her know it.
Can Nate and Casey find Tim in time to save him? And is it too late to save their love?
Here is the first chapter:
CASEY
Beginning of Summer Holidays
Sometimes I wished I were an only child. But then I’d be walking or taking transit instead of getting a lift from my brother Tim in his Cavalier beater. He didn’t have air conditioning either, and the wind blowing in from our open windows was hot and moist. The humidity made me feel like I was wearing a warm, wet washcloth for a shirt.
“Can’t you drop me off first?” I said, fanning myself with my hand. I was meeting my best friend Lucinda at the mall, and she only had a thirty minute break from her job at Forever21. Plus, the mall was air conditioned. Bonus.
“I gotta get some cash first. Besides, I’m not your personal taxi service, Casey.” Tim snarled, turning the volume up on his stereo. The bass beat was so loud it rattled the trunk. “Get off your lazy butt and get your license already.”
I gave him a dirty look and reached over to turn the music down. I had a very good reason for not getting my license, but I could never tell Tim or any member of my family what it was. There were only three people currently living who knew the reason. One of them was my boyfriend Nate Mackenzie.
My heart still fluttered a bit when I thought of him in those terms. My boyfriend. Not just some out-of-reach guy I crushed hard on my whole sophomore year, but my boyfriend.
We’d already been an official couple for an entire year, totally blowing all the doomsday predictions that we’d never make it. No one thought a college boy would stick it out with a junior in high school--especially Nate’s evil former girlfriend!
But he did, and we were still going strong. I’d be starting my senior year in a few weeks and then I’d join him at Boston University, too.
“If you dropped me off first, you wouldn’t have to deal with me,” I tried to reason.
“If I didn’t shuttle you around at all I wouldn’t have to deal with you.”
The only reason he did was because my parents were putting the screws in. Tim’s bad attitude, questionable choice of friends and poor grades put him in their bad books. Driving me around was penance.
He pulled into the parking lot of the bank and hopped out, leaving the car running. I reached over and turned it off. Idling the car was bad for the environment for one, and a waste of Tim’s hard-earned minimum-wage job gas money for another. You’d think he’d know better.
I checked the time on my phone and grew anxious as Lucinda’s break time grew nearer. Tim had his back to me as he stood in line at the ATM window. I looked at my reflection in the visor mirror. Since I’d grown out of my skinny awkwardness last year (and snagged a hot boyfriend), I was more mindful of my looks. Instead of trying to hide behind a bush of dark, curly hair, I used better hair products and found a great stylist, and I liked the way my curls framed my face now. I took a tube of lip gloss out of my purse and rolled it onto my lips.
I tugged on my shorts and rubbed my bare legs. They were so long, my knees almost touched the glove compartment. Height had its advantages, but getting comfortable in a small car wasn’t one of them.
I turned the radio on and hummed along. I daydreamed about me and Nate and how we could relax for the rest of the summer, hopefully stretching the lazy days out as long as possible.
I checked the time on my phone again and immediately started stressing about being late to meet Lucinda. C’mon, Tim! He was second in line now. I texted Lucinda to let her know I might be a little late.
I heard sirens and I perked up. This wasn’t the best neighborhood. The bank wasn’t huge, just tucked into a strip mall along with a nail place, a dollar store, and a thrift shop. Litter overflowed from the bin and a good amount had been blown up against the cement foundation.
I checked on Tim. He’d finally made it to the front, the last one in line. If I’d known it was going to take him this long, I would’ve run into the dollar store and picked up cheap nail polish.
The siren noise grew increasingly louder and suddenly three cop cars pulled into the parking lot beside me. My heart jumped, and I thought fleetingly that maybe Tim was in trouble with the law again. Only, he was getting money out of the ATM, not robbing the bank.
But someone was.
Everything happened so fast.
A guy with a ski mask pushed past Tim as he ran out the bank doors. A cop shouted, “Stop or I’ll shoot,” and another masked man followed. Guns went off. Tim stood there, stunned and frozen.
I heard myself shout, “Tim!” He was right in the middle of the cross-fire!
A police officer ran to him, pushing him to the ground just as the second armed man shot in their direction. The officer fell to the ground, taking the bullet instead of Tim.
The robbers ran around the corner and out of sight, chased by police officers on foot and a cruiser down the back ally.
I sprinted to Tim where he was on the ground by the fallen cop.
“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice tight.
His face was white, and he motioned to the woman beside him. “Yeah, but I don’t think she is.”
The officer moaned, holding her hand on her chest.
“Oh, ma’am, are you okay?” I searched for blood but couldn’t see any.
“I will be,” she said gasping for breath. “I have a vest on.”
Another officer kneeled beside her. “Ambulance is on its way.”
The woman had dark hair pulled back in a low bun. Her eyes stayed pinched together and her pale face glistened with sweat. The impact of the bullet was enough to do some damage. I picked up her police hat that had fallen off her head and handed it to her.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Just doing my duty.”
The ambulance arrived. The paramedics pushed us aside and lifted the woman onto a gurney. The cop who’d checked her pulse stepped forward from his open door cruiser. Radio dispatch noises leaked out.
I watched the ambulance pull away, siren blasting, and realized I didn’t know her name. I asked the officer standing beside me.
“That’s Officer Clarice Porter,” he said. “Now, would you two mind coming with me to the station to file a report?”
We agreed, and I took my first ride in a police car. It was Tim’s second, but his first was not for noble reasons. He still claimed it was his friend Alex, and not him, who’d stolen the cigarettes from the convenience store.
A thought like a loud banner ran through my mind as the doors of the police cruiser slammed shut and we drove away.
Clarice Porter saved my brother’s life.
============================
If you want to hook up with Elle, you can follow her blog
Amazon
Smashwords
============================
Check out other Bookanista posts:
Christine Fonseca revels in TO RIDE A PUCA
Stasia Ward Kehoe gushes over GILT
Katy Upperman adores UNDER THE NEVER SKY
Tracy Banghart delights in THE DISENCHANTMENTS
Gennifer Albin celebrates SHADOW AND BONE
Jessica Love is wowed by YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I WANT
Shelli Johannes-Wells is crazy for CLOCKWISER
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May 1, 2012
My Indie Sales Update
I've gotten a few emails asking about my book progress. How it is doing? If I can share stats.
Sorry I haven't been connecting as much. With spring break and Rt convention (which was amaz-balls) and a tummy virus in my family - a good month has gone by.
I realize I haven't done one in a while and anything I have accomplished, I owe to you. It's always a bit awkward posting numbers because you don't want people to judge you for being arrogant or for having sucky numbers. So it takes a while for me to build up my nerve. The traditional side doesn't talk number as freely as the indie side so it's just awkward. :)
So here goes:
Sales to date
Untraceable almost 6,200 copies in 6 months. I would say 85% are ebook sales and 15% are paperback. 65% have been sold on Amazon, 30% on B&N, and 5% other
On the Bright Side - 500 copies in 3 months. (80% amazon, 20% B&N. 90% ebooks, 10% paperbacks)
The Indelibles Anthology - about 15,000 downloads.
I have broken even so I have more than earned out in my mind. :)
Not too shabby for an experiment but it's been a tough and hard road for many reasons.
As expected On the Bright Side (being MG) is not selling as well as I'd hoped. I knew it was ahead of indie pubbing curve and most self pubbed books tend to reach a different audience (more ebooks) than traditionally published books. I'm hoping MG will get bigger in ebooks in the future.
What's Next?
Unspeakable - a Grace eshort releasing outside of Anthology in May
New Sci Fi eShort called "Suffocate" releases in June.
Uncontrollable, Book 2, releases in aug/sept (I am taking requests for blog tour and review copies now. Sign up here.
Unstoppable (Book 3) is scheduled for Dec 2012 just in time for xmas :)
Lessons Learned Along the Way
Thought I would break down some lessons learned along the way over the last 6 months.
First, let me say that everyone has a different strategy so it doesn't mean it will work for me. But I will share with you everything I have done so it can maybe help you to - some will help
Things that did not do as well as I planned:
I paid 199$ to drop a press release - waste-o-money. I was not happy and was surprised at lack of results. I've done press releases for clients in the past with great results.
Paperback. I love the paperback but it has not been a huge seller. 90% of my sales are ebooks. But I love having it. As soon as I get my distribution set up - maybe I will focus on that.
Giveaways are nice but they don't necessarily drive up sales. But they do drive up word of mouth.
The stigma is real and gets me every time. I have had some wins but also some hard rejection. It's part of the road. I'm less sensitive to it now b/c I feel I am proving myself but it was hard in the beginning.
Things that worked well:
I priced my book lower to capture impulse buys. I must say - I hate it when my book is priced at 99 cents - b/c I think my book is worth more. But being a new author it got me noticed.
I have totally done grass roots effort - bloggers. I LOVE them and they have been very supportive. I bet you I have contacted about 500 bloggers and have been featured in some way on 1/2 of those.
I have not scrimped with my free ebook copies to bloggers or giveaways - I'm hoping for word of mouth
My focus was not money. My focus was/is rankings and buzz to get noticed.
My ad and cover investments have helped. Especially my cover - it was worth every penny and more.
Starting The Indelibles - it has been a huge support system when things get tough and the stigma kicks in. It has also been a great cross promotional group.
The Indelibles Anthology - it definitely got me sales and teased people on my book. IT was a great marketing tool.
Various advertisements:
The Kirkus review was very good for me. Not necessarily in sales but opened doors by adding credibility. Maybe it just gave mt the confidence to know I was good enough. It was what kicked me off on the right foot in my mind.
Blurbs from traditional authors helped to open doors as well. I think Kimberly Derting's blurb opened up many - especially with bloggers who normally didn't review indie books.
Kind Nation sponsorship was a great return and I probably broke even on the ad vs copies sold. But it got my rankings up. (made money back). I think when you do ads, it helps to mark your book on sale to grab some people who might not normally pick up your book.
POI - Love Pixel. They are the best yet! (made money back plus some). It pushed me over the top and got me noticed in rankings and kickstarted big sales for me.
efrugal reader - I saw no difference :(
Kindle Fire Department - definitely saw an uptick in sales and ranking but I dont think I made my money back.
Channels that are best:
BLOGGERS! They are #1 in my eyes. Invaluable and I <3 them.
Email ads seems to be the best - whenever I do an ad that includes an email distribution to subscribers, I see an uptick. More so than if it is just Facebook or twitter.
Twitter ads are great for click throughs and in building awareness about my book but it does not translate to direct sales.
Facebook - I have not used this yet. But I hear it can be effective. It can just get costly.
Goodreads giveaways - I can't measure it in sales but the giveaways definitely get my book added to shelves which to me is awareness. Since it takes 7 times for someone to see something before they buy it - this helped.
Conferences/conventions - These don't seem to pay off in sales vs cost. (Though I did sell tons of copies at RT. But the networking and building awareness is invaluable. Plus the more you speak, the better you are. In addition, I have gotten asked to 2 additional places because they heard my talk was good. So never underestimate word of mouth. I also use these reference when approaching larger ones about speaking. It gives credibility that you can do it.
Social Networking - I will say I think my platform helped. I started building relationships three years ago and I had so must support from everyone. Just know if you start building your platform, you may not see immediate returns or a sales impact. But the support and friendships have been priceless.
Contests - I have entered contests and gotten nominations which has been great for PR and media interest.
What I would do differently:
Send out review copies much sooner. At least 3 months in advance.
Submit to places like Kirkus, PW, ALA much earlier. They require a huge advance time in doing reviews.
Would not play with price so much. Be more strategic about when book is on sale vs when it is not.
Roll out paperback and ebook in separate releases. It's hard to do it all at once.
Spend more time up front creating detailed plan and making sure all channels of distribution were ready to go.
Spend more time targeting some micro markets that my book would be of interest too. I have focused on larger markets and have probably missed opportunity.
Gotten an intern sooner. I have an intern helping me with stuff now and I already adore her.
Any Questions or suggestions? Maybe things that you heard work well? I'm all ears :)http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...
I've gotten a few emails asking about my book progress. How it is doing? If I can share stats.
Sorry I haven't been connecting as much. With spring break and Rt convention (which was amaz-balls) and a tummy virus in my family - a good month has gone by.
I realize I haven't done one in a while and anything I have accomplished, I owe to you. It's always a bit awkward posting numbers because you don't want people to judge you for being arrogant or for having sucky numbers. So it takes a while for me to build up my nerve. The traditional side doesn't talk number as freely as the indie side so it's just awkward. :)
So here goes:
Sales to date
Untraceable almost 6,200 copies in 6 months. I would say 85% are ebook sales and 15% are paperback. 65% have been sold on Amazon, 30% on B&N, and 5% other
On the Bright Side - 500 copies in 3 months. (80% amazon, 20% B&N. 90% ebooks, 10% paperbacks)
The Indelibles Anthology - about 15,000 downloads.
I have broken even so I have more than earned out in my mind. :)
Not too shabby for an experiment but it's been a tough and hard road for many reasons.
As expected On the Bright Side (being MG) is not selling as well as I'd hoped. I knew it was ahead of indie pubbing curve and most self pubbed books tend to reach a different audience (more ebooks) than traditionally published books. I'm hoping MG will get bigger in ebooks in the future.
What's Next?
Unspeakable - a Grace eshort releasing outside of Anthology in May
New Sci Fi eShort called "Suffocate" releases in June.
Uncontrollable, Book 2, releases in aug/sept (I am taking requests for blog tour and review copies now. Sign up here.
Unstoppable (Book 3) is scheduled for Dec 2012 just in time for xmas :)
Lessons Learned Along the Way
Thought I would break down some lessons learned along the way over the last 6 months.
First, let me say that everyone has a different strategy so it doesn't mean it will work for me. But I will share with you everything I have done so it can maybe help you to - some will help
Things that did not do as well as I planned:
I paid 199$ to drop a press release - waste-o-money. I was not happy and was surprised at lack of results. I've done press releases for clients in the past with great results.
Paperback. I love the paperback but it has not been a huge seller. 90% of my sales are ebooks. But I love having it. As soon as I get my distribution set up - maybe I will focus on that.
Giveaways are nice but they don't necessarily drive up sales. But they do drive up word of mouth.
The stigma is real and gets me every time. I have had some wins but also some hard rejection. It's part of the road. I'm less sensitive to it now b/c I feel I am proving myself but it was hard in the beginning.
Things that worked well:
I priced my book lower to capture impulse buys. I must say - I hate it when my book is priced at 99 cents - b/c I think my book is worth more. But being a new author it got me noticed.
I have totally done grass roots effort - bloggers. I LOVE them and they have been very supportive. I bet you I have contacted about 500 bloggers and have been featured in some way on 1/2 of those.
I have not scrimped with my free ebook copies to bloggers or giveaways - I'm hoping for word of mouth
My focus was not money. My focus was/is rankings and buzz to get noticed.
My ad and cover investments have helped. Especially my cover - it was worth every penny and more.
Starting The Indelibles - it has been a huge support system when things get tough and the stigma kicks in. It has also been a great cross promotional group.
The Indelibles Anthology - it definitely got me sales and teased people on my book. IT was a great marketing tool.
Various advertisements:
The Kirkus review was very good for me. Not necessarily in sales but opened doors by adding credibility. Maybe it just gave mt the confidence to know I was good enough. It was what kicked me off on the right foot in my mind.
Blurbs from traditional authors helped to open doors as well. I think Kimberly Derting's blurb opened up many - especially with bloggers who normally didn't review indie books.
Kind Nation sponsorship was a great return and I probably broke even on the ad vs copies sold. But it got my rankings up. (made money back). I think when you do ads, it helps to mark your book on sale to grab some people who might not normally pick up your book.
POI - Love Pixel. They are the best yet! (made money back plus some). It pushed me over the top and got me noticed in rankings and kickstarted big sales for me.
efrugal reader - I saw no difference :(
Kindle Fire Department - definitely saw an uptick in sales and ranking but I dont think I made my money back.
Channels that are best:
BLOGGERS! They are #1 in my eyes. Invaluable and I <3 them.
Email ads seems to be the best - whenever I do an ad that includes an email distribution to subscribers, I see an uptick. More so than if it is just Facebook or twitter.
Twitter ads are great for click throughs and in building awareness about my book but it does not translate to direct sales.
Facebook - I have not used this yet. But I hear it can be effective. It can just get costly.
Goodreads giveaways - I can't measure it in sales but the giveaways definitely get my book added to shelves which to me is awareness. Since it takes 7 times for someone to see something before they buy it - this helped.
Conferences/conventions - These don't seem to pay off in sales vs cost. (Though I did sell tons of copies at RT. But the networking and building awareness is invaluable. Plus the more you speak, the better you are. In addition, I have gotten asked to 2 additional places because they heard my talk was good. So never underestimate word of mouth. I also use these reference when approaching larger ones about speaking. It gives credibility that you can do it.
Social Networking - I will say I think my platform helped. I started building relationships three years ago and I had so must support from everyone. Just know if you start building your platform, you may not see immediate returns or a sales impact. But the support and friendships have been priceless.
Contests - I have entered contests and gotten nominations which has been great for PR and media interest.
What I would do differently:
Send out review copies much sooner. At least 3 months in advance.
Submit to places like Kirkus, PW, ALA much earlier. They require a huge advance time in doing reviews.
Would not play with price so much. Be more strategic about when book is on sale vs when it is not.
Roll out paperback and ebook in separate releases. It's hard to do it all at once.
Spend more time up front creating detailed plan and making sure all channels of distribution were ready to go.
Spend more time targeting some micro markets that my book would be of interest too. I have focused on larger markets and have probably missed opportunity.
Gotten an intern sooner. I have an intern helping me with stuff now and I already adore her.
Any Questions or suggestions? Maybe things that you heard work well? I'm all ears :)http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...
April 30, 2012
Eek!! Look at Susan Quinn's cover for Closed Hearts (Book Two of the Mindjack Trilogy) - coming May 23rd.
Isn't it Gorge!
When you control minds, only your heart can be used against you.
Eight months ago, Kira Moore revealed to the mindreading world that mindjackers like herself were hidden in their midst. Now she wonders if telling the truth was the right choice after all. As wild rumors spread, a powerful anti-jacker politician capitalizes on mindreaders’ fears and strips jackers of their rights. While some jackers flee to Jackertown—a slum rife with jackworkers who trade mind control favors for cash—Kira and her family hide from the readers who fear her and jackers who hate her. But when a jacker Clan member makes Kira’s boyfriend Raf collapse in her arms, Kira is forced to save the people she loves by facing the thing she fears most: FBI agent Kestrel and his experimental torture chamber for jackers.
Click
Here to sign up for the Virtual Launch
Party on May 23rd! There will be prizes, reviews, and bonus content!
PRAISE FOR OpenMinds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy)
“Susan
plunges readers into a compelling and frightening world where nearly everyone
can read minds when they come of age. The very idea makes me shudder. This is
easily one of the best books I've read not only this year, but in recent
years.”
— Heather McCorkle, author of The
Secret of Spruce Knoll
"Susan Kaye Quinn's Open
Minds is an edge-of-the-seat YA sci-fi, where 16 year-old Kira dodges
psychological bullets from all sides." — Catherine Stine, author of Fireseed
One
You can get caught up by purchasing Open Minds for $2.99 on Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes&Noble, and iTunes
Susan Kaye
Quinn, Author
Susan
Kaye Quinn grew up in California, where she wrote snippets of stories and
passed them to her friends during class. She pursued a bunch of engineering
degrees and worked a lot of geeky jobs, including turns at GE Aircraft Engines,
NASA, and NCAR. Now that she writes novels, her business card says "Author
and Rocket Scientist" and she doesn't have to sneak her notes anymore. All that engineering comes in handy
when dreaming up paranormal powers in future worlds or mixing science with
fantasy to conjure slightly plausible inventions. Susan writes from the Chicago suburbs
with her three boys, two cats, and one husband. Which, it turns out, is exactly
as much as she can handle.
Way too often, you can find Susan on her blog, facebook, and twitter.
You can also read a prequel to Open Minds in the In His Eyes Anthology - all short stories from a hot boy's perspective. Currently free!
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April 27, 2012
Today Shannon Duffy has stopped by to talk about her new book, SPECTRAL.
Convinced she’s a part of the witness protection program, sixteen-year-old Jewel Rose is shuffled around the globe with her family like a pack of traveling gypsies. After arriving at lucky home twenty-seven, she stumbles upon a mysterious boy with magical powers claiming to be her guardian . . . and warning of imminent danger. Despite the obvious sparks between them, Jewel discovers a relationship is forbidden, and the more she learns about dark, brooding Roman, she begins to question who she can even believe — the family who raised her, or the supposed sworn protector who claims they’ve been lying to her all along.
As she struggles to uncover who her family has really been running from, she is forced to hide her birthmark that reveals who she is. With new realities surfacing, unexplained powers appearing, and two tempting boys vying for her heart, Jewel battles to learn who she can trust in an ever growing sea of lies, hoping she’ll make it through her seventeenth birthday alive.
============
Thanks for inviting me to spend a little
time on your blog, Shelli. You’ve asked about my journey to publication for my
new YA Paranormal Romance, SPECTRAL, so here it is:
On a dark and stormy night… okay, no
really, Spectral all came about with an idea for the book over Christmas of
2010. I couldn’t sleep one night, which is a great time to come up with story
ideas—at least for me—and an idea came to me for Jewel’s story. It was the
basics of the storyline, but one that got me pumped up. The next day I spilled
my story idea to my husband and visiting family members, tumbling over my words
at rapid speed and excitement.
I started writing Spectral in January 2011.
Two of my amazing critique partners, Rachel Harris and Trisha Wolfe both
critiqued chapter by chapter being the rock stars they are. When I got their
notes back, I’d incorporate any changes that made sense—which they usually
did—because as mentioned, they are truly rock star writers. It took me about
seven months to write Spectral…I know I won’t get any speed awards for that. Some
authors can cough out books every couple months—I’m just not one of them.
Once I finally typed the proverbial THE END,
I sent it off to a great freelance editor (Enter Georgia McBride), for
edits/critique. And then, I revised some more. After that, I sent Spectral to my
fantabulous agent, Lauren Hammond. I was relieved when she loved it, and after
a few more edits from her, ta da! It was time to send it out on submissions to
publishers. Eeks! I was excited and nervous all wrapped up into one. Sending my
story out into the world for the first time to be judged was surreal. I prayed
someone would love it enough to want to publish it, and not hate it so much
that they’d laugh. J
I was very lucky with Spectral as it wasn’t
out on submission too long when I got an offer for publication from the amazing
Tribute Books! (Insert happy dance here) It was one of those…Where were you when moments. I happened
to be in San Francisco on the way home from a writer’s retreat in Big Sur,
California. Lauren called me with the fab news in my hotel room and after a
moment, of OMG and seriously? ...I began calling everyone close to me while
pacing my room and panting the good news into the phone. I can’t tell you how
good it felt to tell my loved ones, and in particular, my parents, who believed
in me from day one. *Sigh.*
After “meeting” Nicole at Tribute, I was
even happier that I’d have someone sweet and down to earth to work with. Then
the fun began with the cover design, book trailer, and finding out the release
date. All moments of excitement and worry, hoping those things would turn out
just right.
Then finally, after a few more
edit/revisions (Yup, they keep on coming), my little story was ready to meet
the world. (Insert moment of panic.) I can only hope people will enjoy the
story…and maybe even fall in love with my characters along the way.
Special thanks to everyone who shared in my
journey to publication, and thank you, Shelli for having me here today.
==============
Shannon Duffy's Bio
Shannon Duffy writes young adult and middle grade fiction. She grew up on the beautiful east coast of Canada and now lives in Ontario, Canada. She is the mom of one boy, Gabriel, her angel. She loves writing, reading, working out, soccer, and the sport of champions-shopping. She is the author of the young adult paranormal romance, SPECTRAL. Her upcoming middle grade fantasy novel, GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA is scheduled for a January 2013 release.
Find Shannon online
Spectral web site
Spectral Twitter hashtag: #Spectral
Spectral GoodReads page
Shannon Duffy's Facebook
Shannon Duffy's Twitter
Shannon Duffy's Website
Shannon Duffy's Blog
Shannon Duffy's GoodReads
Tribute Books
Tribute Books website
Tribute Books Facebook
Tribute Books Twitter
Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook
Purchase Links
Kindle buy link - $2.99
Nook buy link - $4.95
iBookstore buy link - $4.99
Google buy link - $3.79
Smashwords buy link - $4.99
PDF buy link - $4.95
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