Christine Amsden's Blog: Christine Amsden Author Blog, page 43

2012 Epic eBook Awards

EPIC's eBook Awards™, formerly known as EPPIE, began in 2000 to recognize excellence in ePublished works. The eBook Awards are open to all electronically published works: novels, graphic novels, short stories, non-fiction, and poetry.

And in the science fiction category, the the winner is…..

 

 

Here is the list of all the 2012 winners:

Anthology

Dame Topaz Treasures by Carrie S. Masek (sole author), Whiskey Creek Press

Childrens'

What Kind of Turtle Am I? by Donna M. Zappala, Dragonfly Publishing, Inc.

Mainstream

Love, Sam by Linda Rettstatt, Champagne Books

Action/Adventure

No One Lives Twice by Julie Moffett, Carina Press

Erotica

The First Real Thing by Cat Grant, Ellora's Cave Publishing

Fantasy

The Sevenfold Spell by Tia Nevitt, Carina Press

Historical

Tree Soldier by Janet Oakley, Createspace

Horror

Pillar's Fall by Ben Larken, LL-Publications

Mystery

The Dead Detective Agency by Peg Herring, LL-Publications

Paranormal

Healey's Cave by Aaron Paul Lazar, Twilight Times Books

Suspense/Thriller

Becoming NADIA by Cyrus Keith, Muse It Up Publishing

Science Fiction

The Immortality Virus by Christine Amsden, Twilight Times Books



Spiritual/Metaphysical

A Mother's Eyes by Karen S. Woods, Sleeping Beagle Books

Non-Fiction

The Indestructible Relationship by Kimberly Pryor, Self-published

Novella

Hearts in Darkness by Laura Kaye, The Wild Rose Press

Contemporary Romance

River Time by Rae Renzi, Carina Press

Fantasy Romance

Bound: A Faery Story by Sophie Oak, Siren Publishing, Inc.

Historical Romance

Passage to November by Phyllis DeMarco, The Wild Rose Press

Horror Romance

Endless Lust by Lexxie Couper, Ellora's Cave Publishing

Paranormal Romance

Blacque/Bleu by Belinda McBride, Loose Id, LLC

Romantic Suspense

Absolution by Kaylea Cross, The Wild Rose Press

Science Fiction Romance

Steam and Sorcery by Cindy Spencer Pape, Carina Press

Spiritual/Metaphysical Romance

Lingering Spirit by Marilyn Meredith, Oak Tree Press

Short Story

Chamber Music by Peter A. Balaskas, Uncial Press

Young Adult

Nightmare Interrupted by Linda Palmer, Sugar and Spice Press

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Book Review: Griffin’s Fire

I first met Griffin in Griffin Rising, the story of a young angel in training, fighting his way through very human issues and emotions. In that book, his character stole the show. I liked him a lot, and he continued to haunt me even after I stopped reading the book. Which was why I eagerly grabbed at the chance to read an early copy of Griffin’s Fire.

Griffin’s Fire is even better than Griffin Rising. The voice is stronger, the style more at ease, and the plot has thickened well. This is precisely how I like to see a series progress.

You just can’t help but feel for Griffin, who tries to hold his head up high despite life repeatedly kicking him around. One of the things I liked about him in this book, though, was his lack of perfection. He got angry. He hurt the people around him. He made mistakes. It all made him more genuine.

This series is not over, and I look forward to continuing Griffin’s adventure. My big hope, as the series continues, is that Griffin’s girlfriend, Katie, can step out from behind Griffin and become more herself. I’d like to know more about her, and judging from the uncertain nature of a romantic relationship between a short-lived human and a long-lived angel, she very much needs to find herself.

But mostly, I recommend this to mid-grade or young adult readers who like a strong central character that tears at your heart. Griffin surely will!

Rating: 4/5

Title: Griffin’s Fire

Author: Darby Karchut

ISBN: 1606192124

Publication Date: April 2012

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Book Review: Griffin's Fire

I first met Griffin in Griffin Rising, the story of a young angel in training, fighting his way through very human issues and emotions. In that book, his character stole the show. I liked him a lot, and he continued to haunt me even after I stopped reading the book. Which was why I eagerly grabbed at the chance to read an early copy of Griffin's Fire.

Griffin's Fire is even better than Griffin Rising. The voice is stronger, the style more at ease, and the plot has thickened well. This is precisely how I like to see a series progress.

You just can't help but feel for Griffin, who tries to hold his head up high despite life repeatedly kicking him around. One of the things I liked about him in this book, though, was his lack of perfection. He got angry. He hurt the people around him. He made mistakes. It all made him more genuine.

This series is not over, and I look forward to continuing Griffin's adventure. My big hope, as the series continues, is that Griffin's girlfriend, Katie, can step out from behind Griffin and become more herself. I'd like to know more about her, and judging from the uncertain nature of a romantic relationship between a short-lived human and a long-lived angel, she very much needs to find herself.

But mostly, I recommend this to mid-grade or young adult readers who like a strong central character that tears at your heart. Griffin surely will!

Rating: 4/5

Title: Griffin's Fire

Author: Darby Karchut

ISBN: 1606192124

Publication Date: April 2012

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Book Review: Canyons of Night

Get ready for it: This is book number 12 in the Arcane Society Series, number 3 in the Looking Glass Trilogy, and Harmony number 8. Got all that? Good, because judging from the way this book ended, I think it may also be the first book in another subseries.

This is Jayne Castle, aka Jayne Ann Krentz, aka Amanda Quick, probably aka something else among her friends. We're on Harmony, a future world initially accessed through a wormhole and then cut off from earth, leaving the natives to fend for themselves as they uncover the many varied secrets of the new planet.

In this book, another new secret: A strange area called the preserve, protected by a border few can even penetrate. There's something weird in there, and many who have gone looking for it never came out.

Fascinated? Okay, me too. Wish we'd gotten some answers is this book, but like I said, I'm thinking this is also the first book in a new series (duo, trio?) about this particular aspect of the planet. If it's not….ahem! (Jayne, you can consider that my official protest and call to arms. )

Actually, this was a good read, despite not learning the tantalizing secret. Charlotte and Slade were good characters, not as epic as some of her recent arcane couples (but in a good way). There was more romance than suspense/mystery in this one, a bit of a switch from recent trends, but not an unwelcome one.

This was a quick, cozy read. I recommend if you're into Jayne Castle (under whichever name).

Title: Canyons of Night

Author: Jayne Castle

ISBN: 0749956070

Published August 30, 2011

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The Crystal Ball: Interactive Stories?

Picture this: You're reading a story live on a blog, the character just having posted about her latest predicament, and you have the opportunity (through commenting) to suggest her next move. Maybe there are photographs to help you visualize a murder scene, and you can try to spot something out of place. Or maybe she's trying to decide who to trust, and you think you can offer advice.

What am I talking about? Because it doesn't sound like a book. It doesn't even sound like a story. And writing it is the author's job, right?

Of course it is, and ultimately, the author still would, but consider the world of blogging, in which real people put their stories out there all the time, and the internet responds.

But wait, there's more. What if more than one author got together, with more than one blog? Perhaps I write in the voice of a young woman just beginning to uncover the truth about her magical destiny, and someone else writes from the point of view of her would-be mentor, be he friend or foe?

Experimental writing styles aren't new, and most of them fall by the wayside, having failed, miserably. But with the advent of eBooks, we have the chance to really think outside the box and redefine the meaning of a story.

The interactive blog story is something I have considered doing. I have a feeling it would be a tough sell, requiring a strong character, strong plot, and a willing audience (both readers and participants). If it could work, it may have to be further in the future than my crystal ball can see, but what if?

And what else might the future hold, without the linear shackles of the ink and paper book?

Don't forget Touch of Fate is FREE until March 10, 2012!
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The New Scent of Books

For those of us in love with reading, we have long associated hours of pleasure with the smell of paper. Our sense of smell, being hugely involved in the creation of memories, will lull us into that sense of pleasure from the moment we pick up a paperback, before we've even read a word. In fact, one of the biggest problems the die-hard ink-and-paper set have with eBooks is that familiar smell.

But books are changing. EReaders mean you no longer have to curl up with a computer to read a digital book. You can now curl up in your favorite reading spot with a lightweight "book" that has serious advantages over the old paperbacks. No more fighting the binding to try to see those words in the middle, hiding in shadow. No more squinting at tiny print; you can set it to your own comfort level. No more toting a shelf full of books on vacation — your eReader can handle them all.

And yet, despite all those reasons and more, you miss the smell, don't you? I mean, eReaders don't smell like much of anything, do they?

Here's my suggestion: Force your brain to accept a new scent association when you read. It will take some time to build the connection, but you can customize it to your own unique preferences. I like to light scented candles. Maybe you could use an air freshener, or a mint, or some fresh flowers.

Or maybe, just maybe, someone could develop a perfume that smells like books. Then we could all dab it on the side of the eReader, and luxuriate in the familiar aroma of stories.

Don't forget Touch of Fate is FREE until March 10, 2012!
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Free Short Story: Signs

Before there was Touch of Fate…

….there was Signs, a short story which introduced Marianne and her daughter into my life.

I wrote Signs in 2003, then set it aside for almost a year. I remembered it when I took an on-line course on writing a mystery novel, at which point Touch of Fate was born.

Signs is a self-contained short story which takes place before the events in Touch of Fate. At one point, I considered turning it into a prologue for the novel, but dismissed the idea because I was going through an anti-prologue stage. (I'm over it now. ) There is therefore no reason you can't read this short story before you read Touch of Fate — it contains no spoilers. If you have read Touch of Fate, you may appreciate this glimpse into the back story described in the book.

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Here, in its original, unedited glory:

SIGNS

What would you do if you knew death was coming for you?

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Don't forget Touch of Fate is FREE until March 10, 2012!
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Interview With Publisher Lida Quillen of Twilight Times

Since next week is "Read an Ebook Week," I decided to sit down and talk to a woman who has been in the ebook publishing business from the start.

Ebook publication wasn't on my radar when I submitted Touch of Fate to Twilight Times in 2005. I wanted to see my book in print, and indeed, I did, but by the time The Immortality Virus came out in 2011, I sold more ebooks than print books. Times are definitely changing. These days, I would be nervous about going with a publisher without a strong eye towards ebook sales.

So, without further ado….here is Lida Quillen of Twilight Times Books

Thank you for taking the time to talk to me. In honor of "Read an eBook Week" my focus will be on electronic publishing, although I know you run a traditional press that sells both print books and eBooks.

First, could you tell me a little bit about yourself, especially why you decided to start your own publishing company?

When I first discovered the Internet in 1997, I was amazed at the number of highly talented and yet unpublished writers I kept meeting online. I could feel their anguish and frustration at not being able to break into print. I decided to do something about it and created Twilight Times ezine in July 1998 to showcase great writing and to give these writers an outlet.

I started listening to writers who could not get their novels published. In January 1999, I started Twilight Times Books to present the works of talented, but under-published novelists. I am committed to providing an outlet for brilliant authors with books that deserve to see print.

Why did you decide to publish in both print and electronic format?

I was perfectly happy as an epublisher. I was publishing well-written, interesting books in a variety of genres from talented authors. But I realized to maintain the quality of the submissions I wanted, I needed to offer print versions.

My ebook authors were clamoring to see their books in print.

When I researched going to print in 2002-2003, the most affordable short run printers were located in Australia and Canada It was cheaper to have an Australian company print and ship the books, than it was to do business here. It wasn't until 2004 that the per book cost from U.S. short run printers (digital printers) became affordable.

At this point, how many of your sales would you say come from eBooks vs print books?

From 2004 to 2010, about 70% of sales revenue was from print book sales. In 2011 about 55% of sales revenue was from print books and 45% from ebook sales..

Do you see a point in your future where you would go all electronic?

I started publishing our titles in ebook format first in order to garner review blurbs to use on the back of the trade paperback books and to add an extra edit prior to going to print. These days I am moving toward publishing ebook and print simultaneously since most of our titles have won awards. For some awards, publishing in ebook format first prevents the book from being eligible. But in answer to your question, no, I have no plans to go all electronic.

Due to the simplicity of publishing eBooks, many authors are going solo, rather than working with a publisher. What do you feel you have to offer these authors?

It is important to make certain the ebooks are available in popular formats and available for purchase via the major ebook distributors. At Twilight Times Books, we have ramped up promo opportunities via our ebook distributors such as Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble Digital, eReader.com, Fictionwise, Kobo Books, OmniLit, Sony eBookstore, etc.

Our titles are highly competitive with other trade publishers,large and small. By that I mean the quality of the writing in the books. We have always been highly selective as to what books we choose for publication since inception. Books by the major publishers may be on the shelves for a couple of months. Our titles will stay in print for decades. Of 21 titles published in trade paperback in 2004, 19 are still in print.

We provide new authors with practical promotion plans that include no-cost and low-cost promo ideas as well as a step-by-step marketing plan. The marketing plan outlines what the author needs to be doing several months prior to the release date, three months prior, one month prior, etc.

We provide literally dozens of tips, marketing advice and promo opportunities each month in email newsletters to all Twilight Times Books authors.

What do you look for when deciding whether or not to publish a particular book?

The book needs to be highly polished and ready for publication. If I have a choice between two submissions,one needs work and the author has no concept of book promotion, and the other is highly polished and the author seems to have a few feasible ideas regarding book promotion, which author do you think I will place under contract?

What are your most common reasons for rejecting a manuscript?

I can sometimes overlook the fact that an author completely ignores the submission guidelines. I will, however, reach for the rejection slip when a submission reads like a first or second draft.

I know you publish books in most genres, but is there any particular type of book you like more than the rest?

We have openings for three or four SF or fantasy novels each year. We also like to publish three or four mystery and/or suspense novels each year.

And finally, could you give us your vision of the future of publishing? Are there any changes coming, and if so, how soon?

A couple of industry professionals have a few interesting predictions.

"Ten Bold Predictions for Book Publishing in 2012″ by Jeremy

Greenfield

http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2011/ten-bold-predictions-for-book-publishing-in-2012/

"On the Future of Books: A Discussion with Seth Godin" by Leo

Babauta

http://zenhabits.net/seth/

In my opinion, the publishing arena is changing quickly so we do need to stay abreast of any and all innovative developments. Several of today's established small press publishing houses started as epublishers in 1998-2000. At that time we knew ebooks were the wave of the future. We had no idea it would require over ten years for ebooks to take off. In my opinion, the ebook revolution just took off within the last year.

In an interview in 2004, I said,

"…authors on the web are acquiring new skills. We are starting to think in terms of multi-media effects due to the influence of surfing experiences. The manner in which the words appear on the page (HTML coding), non-linear (embedded hot links), visual (graphics, borders, backgrounds), music (wav, mp3 files) and so on, have an almost subliminal effect. We spend hours in front of a computer screen, researching and interacting with literally hundreds of people worldwide on a daily basis. All these experiences cannot help but affect the way authors will write in the future.

I foresee there will be incredible advances in technology. In two or three years, you will never be lost because your cell phone will have a built-in GPS (global positioning system). You will be able to download info to your cell phone, PDA or other hand-held device from the Internet at DSL speeds. Continued advances in technology will open up the ebook market to millions of new readers. The publishers who are able to stay the course will reap the benefits."

At this point in time, I can say that book publishing will undergo major changes in the next few years, ebook sales will have phenomenal growth, the big NYC publishing houses will ultimately adapt and a number of self-publishing authors will achieve major success.

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me today!

Don't forget Touch of Fate is FREE until March 10, 2012!
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Follow Friday #86

Q: What book would you love to see made into a movie or television show and do you have actors/actresses in mind to play the main characters?

The books I'd like to get made into a TV show already got made into one…sort of. I actually go into The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher because of a very short SciFi series that just had so much….possibility. But the TV show wrote itself into the ground, while the novel series goes on — still full of action, lots of magical booms and bangs, and generally, the stuff good action packed TV is made of.

Then again, maybe my answer should tell me something, because whenever I think a book should be filmed, it never works out the way I'd like. I won't go with the cliche "the book is always better than the movie," because it's not exactly true. They're different mediums, with different strengths. Books can get you inside a character like no movie ever can, whereas movies can show you the action. I think this is why my favorite books usually need to remain books, and my favorite movies were written specifically for the screen.

Believe it or not, I wouldn't like to see my own debut novel get made into a movie. Maybe the second one….maybe. Then again, I could probably be bought.

If you're an ebook reader, you can download Touch of Fate for free today.

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Get Touch of Fate for Free

Read an Ebook Week is March 4th-11th!

 

As part of the celebration,
Twilight Times Books will be offering the ebook version of
Touch of Fate for FREE until March 10, 2012!
PDF ePub Kindle Mobi

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Marianne knows the future can't be changed, but sometimes even a lifetime of experience can't keep her from wanting to try. Sometimes, it's too personal. With the shadow of a killer looming over her, Marianne is running out of time to learn the truth — about herself, about her power, and about the murderer.

Eric Hoffer Award for Legacy Fiction 2011 (Honorable Mention)

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That's right — Touch of Fate is free in eBook formats until March 10. And when I mean free, I mean you don't have to do anything to get the book except download it. Reviewing it is optional (although always appreciated). Purchasing/reading my other novels is optional (although again, appreciated).

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A Little History

 

Twilight Times Books first published Touch of Fate as an eBook in 2006, then as a paperback in 2007 (sorry, printing costs being what they are, the paperback is not free). It was my debut novel, and I was thrilled that a reputable press was willing to give me a chance. Since then, they have published The Immortality Virus in 2011, and have accepted a series of urban fantasy novels for publication beginning in February 2013. (More details to come.)

 

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