L.S. O'Dea's Blog, page 7
August 27, 2016
Posts From Old Website – June 2015
My old website was a Weebly site and as of today there is no way to import my old blog posts from Weebly to Word Press. So, I’m going to post them here.
The dates will be off, but the content will be the same.
HARSH HONESTY
06/30/2015
I have the “gift” (I use that term very loosely) of being able to see the lies that people tell themselves, the little flaws and foibles that everyone keeps hidden. I don’t think that it’s healthy and at least for my family, I point these things out. Now, I never do it to be mean (although it certainly has caused some of them to not speak to me for a little while). Instead, I do it because I believe that it is freeing to look at yourself honestly and accept yourself for who you are flaws and all.
I’m not above improving yourself. If you see something in yourself that you don’t like (and if you are being honest you should find something) then change. It won’t be easy and it won’t be fast, but you can do it and you should. You should also find some other flaws that don’t bother you, and those you should accept.
For example: I know that I have this tendency to be brutally honest with people, but I kind of like that about myself even if others don’t. I can control it. I mean, please, I am not brutally honest at work. I’d be unemployed if I were. I am also quite a bit overweight. I’m not happy about that, but I no longer get upset if someone mentions it (not that people do on a regular basis, most people are more polite than that). But the truth is if you are fat it is not a secret. Everyone knows. so why get upset about it.
Post From Old Website – March 2015
My old website was a Weebly site and as of today there is no way to import my old blog posts from Weebly to Word Press. So, I’m going to post them here.
The dates will be off, but the content will be the same.
I DON’T GET PEOPLE
03/29/2015
I’m running an ad campaign on BookDaily, so I’ve been spending a bit more time there than usual. Since, with the ad, I am now and “emerging author”, I was taking a look at some of the other books in all the genres. I saw one that interested me so I clicked on it to read more about it.
The description was short, but still, I thought it might be something that I’d like to read, so I clicked on the button for the Kindle edition. The Amazon web page launched and the price for the Kindle edition is $6.99. What is this author thinking? Does he/she not want to sell many books? I wouldn’t pay $6.99 for a Kindle version of a book by George R. R. Martin or J. K. Rowlings let alone some unknown author.
You could say that maybe this author just wants the book out there, but then why is he/she advertising it on BookDaily? The advertising there is not cheap.
When I first launched my book, I was coaxed into the $2.99 price so that I could earn 70% of the profits instead of 30% (my books are in the KDP program), but I realized that I wasn’t selling anything. Sure, a few friends forked over the three bucks but that was it. So, I’ve lowered the price to 99 cents and have been selling a few.
Now, it is not my business what others price their book(s) but I have to wonder how they think they are going to sell any at the higher prices. The book may be wonderful but who’s going to give it a chance for seven dollars?
I am going to contact BookDaily and suggest that they show the price on the mouse-over because I wouldn’t even go to the website to read the excerpt for a book priced that high. Now, I know that will make BookDaily’s stats look worse (CTR), however, as a reader, I am not going to use BookDaily too often if I take the time to read the excerpt (sample chapter) and then when I go to Amazon the book is priced too high (for me). This could be why BookDaily is not one of the top promoters at least according to us authors. Browse any of the author forums and you’ll see that 99% of the comments state that BookDaily does not deliver in sales. This could be why. As a reader, I don’t want to become interested in a book just to not buy it because it is priced way too high.
I’d love to hear what anyone else thinks on the matter.
July 15, 2016
Review of Lake Of Sins: Escape
Take a look and check out some of the other books on his blog.
https://davidsbookblurg.wordpress.com/…/lake-of-sins-escap…/
July 2, 2016
Mirra
Here is the drawing of Mirra.This is not the Mirra in my mind but I had a hard time describing the character to the artist. So, after many revisions I decided to skip the Mirra of my mind and just go for a drawing that looked cool.
Let me know what you think.
June 16, 2016
Megacon 2016 - update
Sorry this is a bit late. I've been busy working on book three in the Lake of Sins series.
Anyway, Megacon 2016 was fun. My niece was kind enough to fly down from Indiana and help me with the event. Thank you Alicia.
We met some great people and saw some fabulous costumes. Sales weren't great but I learned some things and will take that knowledge to my next convention.
I did have some wonderful customers. One girl and her boyfriend (they happened to win the $25 gift card) bought Lake of Sins: Escape and came back on Sunday and bought Lake of Sins: Secrets in Blood. She said that she'd started Escape and really liked it.
Another customer, a young man, bought Conguise Chronicles: Rise of the River Man on Friday. On Sunday he made a beeline to my table. He said he loved the book. He'd started reading it the night before and hadn't been able to put it down. He bought my other two books and left my table talking to his friends about my story, my world. Quite frankly, I wanted to cry because I was so happy.
Being a writer is a lonely job and even though my ratings and reviews are good, I'm never sure just how good the books are. These two customers gave me the boost that I needed and I thank them both for taking the time to tell me what they thoughts of my stories.
Here are some pictures from the event.
May 19, 2016
MegaCon - enter to win prizes 5/26 - 5/29
Here's the link http://megaconvention.com/
There are a lot of great guests this year.
I'll be raffling off some great prizes. Entry for the raffle is FREE
Every hour I'll raffle off a Lake of Sins cup filled with toys and candy.
Then on Sunday, I'll draw for the winners of the following prizes:
1. One autographed copy of Lake of Sins: Escape
2. One autographed copy of Conguise Chronicles: Rise of the River Man.
3. One T-shirt
4. One $25 Visa Gift Card
You have to be present to win the Lake of Sins cup but I'll mail the other prizes.
Stop by and enter. See below for sample images of the prizes (except the Visa gift card - everyone knows what that looks like :))
April 28, 2016
Amazon Giveaway - 20 Copies of Lake Of Sins: Escape
I'm giving away 20 kindle copies of Lake Of Sins: Escape. To enter click the button and follow me on Amazon's Author Central page.
The giveaway runs through May 14th.
Good Luck.
Amazon Giveaway
April 27, 2016
Book Review -- Lake Of Sins: Escape
Take a look at the blog and let the blogger know that you're also fans of my series.
thanks
http://theodysseyonline.com/purdue-calumet/lake-of-sins-escape/440614
April 20, 2016
Look Who's Reading Lake of Sins
If you have any of my books, I'd love to see photos of you or your pets reading my books.
Email me the photo and I'll post it on my blog (lsodea7@gmail.com)
This photo is of my dog Jack. Lord only knows what kind of doggie he is (except a pain in the butt -- I know that). I got him from the pound about seven years ago or so.
He is a very timely dog. He wants me to go to bed at the normal time (even on weekends) and he wants me to get up at the regular time. Like I said, he's a bit of a pain (but I love him).
I named my character Jackson after Jack. They are both very loyal and good friends. Jack is always looking out for his friend Sassy (you'll see her photo later) and the rest of the pack. If I forget one of them outside, he's right there to remind me. If one of them is being punished, he likes to annoy met until they get out of trouble. He's a good friend.
April 15, 2016
Editing -- Argh!!!
Oh well, it's not easy going from this:
to this:
