Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 310

Interview with Shauna Granger

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? My most recent release is Air: Book Two in the Elemental Series, which is a Young Adult Urban Fantasy series set in Southern California. The series follows the lives of three teens, Shayna, Jodi and Steven, each of whom can control one of the four elements, Earth, Air and Fire respectively. In the first book, Earth, the trio battled a demon, summoned by a black magic user, but in this installment the three are trying to stop a psychotic Air Elemental from ruining the lives of a local family.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?I did try the traditional route to publishing. I tried for a couple of years, never really getting very far. Unfortunately it isn't always about how good or bad your writing is, but how saturated the market is; it doesn't matter that readers still want more paranormal books, agents and editors are getting a little tired of it and it is just that much harder to break into the market. I really, really wanted to be traditionally published but it just didn't work out. But I have been really pleased with going my own way; this year may prove to be the year I can pay all my bills with my royalties and that's a huge accomplishment.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?I don't have a critique group, but I do use beta readers and they have been invaluable. The problem with editing your own work is that you're just too close to it. Even if you get to the point where you can emotionally separate yourself from the work, sometimes you just can't see the forest for the trees. But people who have no idea what the story is about or haven't put months into the crafting of it, can see the issues and help you see it from a reader's viewpoint.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?All the success stories that came out in 2010 and 2011. I just couldn't believe how many people were able to start writing full time or had created a huge fan base without the help of a big publisher behind them. It was so encouraging I decided I had to try.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?Oh, yes. I was a writing tutor in college but I didn't think I would be doing myself any favors without professional help. I was very lucky to meet a girl through a friend who had a MBA in literature and when I approached her with the idea of proofreading my first book. I couldn't believe what an amazing job she did, now, thanks to her experience with me, she's a part time editor and proofreader for Red Adept Editing. So it worked out for both of us!

What have you learned during your self-publishing journey?Reach out to as many bloggers as you can to read and review your work and when you do, find out which ones offer blog tours and do them! Do them as much as you can without overloading people with promoting. I know I didn't do enough to promote the release of my first book because I was so new to all of this, but now I know better. I am releasing the third book in my series in June and have already finalized the cover so I'm doing a cover reveal tour next month and then I'll be doing a blog tour for the actual book.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?Yes, my books are available through Barnes and Noble, Itunes, Kobo, Smashwords and All Romance Ebooks.

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?I have a blog, shaunasspot.blogspot.com, I'm on twitter @dyingechoes, I have two Facebook Fan pages, an author page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shauna-Granger/268859386472141) and a page for my series (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Leila-Bryce-Sin/179754018804186) but I try very hard not to overwhelm my followers with promotion. I think it's important for fans to feel like they're getting to know me as a person and not just as a billboard for my books.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?No, I try to make sure I have designated times of the day for each. I write in the morning and try not to do anything until I've hit my word goal for the day. Then, if I'm working on a tour or something, I have the whole afternoon to do that. As for tweeting or face book posts, I try to do those naturally throughout the day. You just have to find your balance, but what is most important is your writing. First figure out when you write your best and schedule your day around that; nothing else matters if you have nothing else to put out.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?Join the Kindle Boards forum and read as many posts you can about people's experiences. I didn't know about the Kindle Boards until after I was published and I wish I had. There are so many successful indie authors on those boards who are very active and eager to help others, it is an invaluable tool.

What's next for you? I am working on the third and fourth books in my series, Water and Fire. Water is being released in June and I anticipate having Fire ready for release in December of this year. After I finish editing Fire I hope to start on a new project, an Adult Paranormal Romance to give myself a break from The Elemental Series before I write the fifth and final installment, Spirit.

FUNNIES: Maxine for President!

One of my favorite characters is Maxine. You gotta love her and her no-nonsense style. Here's some of her latest funnies:













And there's your chuckle for Wednesday! How about you? Whose your favorite cartoon character?

New #Romance Release: THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN by Sandra Edwards

Book Blurb:Camille Chandler is a tabloid journalist whose career is right on track--until her boss sees a curious ad in the L.A. Trades.



Wanted: Single actress for an extended gig abroad.



France's mega-rich playboy Julian de Laurent is up to something and Camille's boss expects her to find out what. Who knew the eccentric gazillionaire was looking to hire a temporary wife?



When Camille refuses to accept Julian's proposal--and secretly write a juicy tell-all about the de Laurent family--she's fired and left financially destitute, forcing her to entertain Julian's proposal for real.



But what'll happen at the end of the contract period, after Camille has spent six months as the wife of a man she learns is capable of stealing her heart? 

Buy link: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Marriage-Bargain-ebook/dp/B007JNWCRANook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/marriage-bargain-sandra-edwards/1100074859

Reviewer's Comments:"...a beautiful and sensually sweet story..." ~ Long and Short Reviews

"The Marriage Bargain is for anyone who loves a good love story. A real fairytale romance with totally engaging and likeable characters." Loves Romance

Author bio:  Sandra is an award-winning author of romance. She has eclectic tastes, penning tales in a variety of genres such as paranormal (mostly time travel and reincarnation), contemporary and suspense. She lives in the U.S. (west coast) with her husband, two kids, four dogs and one very temperamental feline. Sandra's books often push the envelope and step outside the boundaries of conventional romance. For more info on Sandra's books, visit her website at www.sandrawrites.com.

Interview with Jim Bruno

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?TRIBE is about how power, love, and fathers and daughters come into play in conflict-riven Afghanistan, and how the government gets it all wrong. What separates TRIBE from its competition is its authenticity - so authentic that the U.S. government censored it. I draw heavily from my service involving Afghanistan, including in the field. Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Tribe-ebook/dp/B005D3G1MU

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?Yes. I've had three good agents, the last one (still my agent) also representing Stieg Larsson. Each agent tried hard to land a traditional publishing deal, but, alas, no offers came in the shrinking traditional market. After my books took off and became Kindle paid bestsellers, I decided to abandon the traditional route. My agent handles movie and audio rights, etc.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?No. I tried one out early on and my experience was so negative, I quit, vowing never to go down that road again. I know all critique groups aren't alike, but I've always been bad in team dynamics. My books have all been Kindle bestsellers and they've gotten excellent reviews. I've landed a top agent. I've had national and international media exposure – all without the benefit of a critique group.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?I self-published to Barnes & Noble, Smashwords and others as well. But Amazon wins the authors' hearts and minds game hands down. They truly level the playing field to give unknowns a fair shot.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?Each of my agents took care of this aspect. I didn't have to pay a dime.

What have you learned during your self-publishing journey?First: That it takes a lot of time and hard work, but that, if you master the various processes, you, too, can achieve success as a published author. Second: Pursuing traditional publishing is a waste of time. Life is too short.

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?All the social media that everyone else uses. I question, however, just how effective these outlets are as marketing tools. My first two books reached bestsellerdom without any of these tools. I had to play catch-up with social media.



Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?Very much so. I spend a good 50 percent of my time on marketing and keeping on top of trends. My most productive writing time is beween 9:00pm and 3:00am.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?It's a steep and l-o-n-g learning curve.  Successful authors are those who never give up.  Improve your craft; learn the business side.  Again, I would skip the legacy route altogether and self-publish.

What's next for you?HAVANA QUEEN, an espionage thriller set in Cuba, where I've served, is due out in 2012 (after the Feds finish with their security review – a requirement for all of my writing).

New #Romance Release: LOVE BY MOONLIGHT by Debra Elizabeth

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Book blurb:

Caroline Fleming had a perfect life -- a loving husband, 2 great kids, a beautiful mansion to live in -- or so she thought. When her husband of 23 years announces he wants a divorce, Caroline's perfect world crumbles in an instant.


She retreats to the beach house to clear her head and heal her broken heart. She swears off men, that is, until she meets a sexy stranger running on the beach. Could this be her second chance at love?

Love by Moonlight is a novella of ~18,000 words (72 pages)

Buy for .99:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Love-Moonlight-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B007JWW8GQ

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-by-moonlight-debra-elizabeth/1109518044



Reviewer's comments:

"The author packed a lot of story into this novella, and she did it quite successfully. Wonderful characters and couple of twists and turns made it a great read. I'd definitely recommend it to all the romantics out there." WestcoastBookLover

Rebecca Writes About

WRITING'S ROCK & A HARD PLACEby Rebecca Forsterwww.rebeccaforster.com

Sometimes I find myself uninspired. Creatively shot. My mind becomes a veritable wasteland. Think dust blowing over a dry lake bed, a potholed lunar landscape, a book signing where no one shows up. The next turn of phrase, the analogy, adverb or adjective is on the tip of my tongue but that tongue is tied. The fuel pump's blocked, the door is closed.  I am, so to speak, between a creative rock and a hard place.  Giving up is out of the question, so I take a walk to jar my thoughts lose. My destination is the bustling village a mile down the hill from my house. If I head to the beach, I will walk on white sand that rings the sapphire blue ocean which fills a horseshoe of a bay. I can see Malibu across the water and dolphin in the curl of the waves as they frolic with the surfers. There are skaters, volleyball players, cyclists and a plethora of beautiful California bodies which I would probably appreciate more if I were younger (the bodies, not the view). As it is, all those beautiful people only serve to remind me that I'm not as young or as skinny as I once was.  If I go the other way, I walk on asphalt, past rows of well-kept, modestly-sized ranch style houses. This is the route I usually take; there is one house that never fails to pique my curiosity. Actually, it isn't the house but the rock that sits on the lawn in front of the house that I find so curious.  This rock is unimpressively grey, round on top and flat on the bottom. Rather than movIn October the rock is wrapped in orange paper, the stone in green and it is transformed into a pumpkin.Come December, the rock becomes a granite snowman with a red and green-stripped scarf wrapped around its nonexistent neck. Ah, spring! Rock as Easter Bunny…You get the idea.With a little help, the rock and stone become a herald of good cheer and harbinger of happy times to come. The rock speaks of faithfulness, passing each year with the owner of the house, marking time, submitting to the 'artists' vision. The rock, all dressed up, is funny and pleasing to the eye and unexpected. It is a public service and I, as a member of the public, never cease to be delighted by the ever morphing rock and his friend the stone. Here is a story told completely, without need of explanation or overt flourish.  I believe in getting lost in a narrative, in creating fantasy, in telling a good story.  I believe that around every corner is a mystery or mayhem or madness or magic if we just keep our eyes open. I believe that someday I will walk by the rock and it will lament that it is too hot to wear a scarf during the California Christmas season. When that happens, I'll pause and loosen the scarf. Maybe I'll rest on the lawn and we'll have a chat.   And when my mind is mired, when I feel that I am stone-deaf to inspiration and that my creativity is weighed down by real life, I won't despair. I know I will have to go no further to find either than to walk through a modest neighborhood where I will give a wink and nod to a rock, and a stone.

Interview with George L Potter

Can you give us a brief overview of yourself and your featured book?I am a retired oil company executive born and raised in rural Louisiana. I've been living in western North Carolina since retiring and moving here from Dallas about ten years ago.

My book is titled In Search of the Yellow Dog. First let me say, there are no canines in this book – the reader will learn quickly what the yellow dog is and who is searching for it (and who doesn't want it found). 

A brief overview: Randall Oliver is a lawyer semi-retired from a Dallas practice now living in the rural Louisiana community where he grew up. His only active client is his former father-in-law dying of cancer but wanting to drill his last wildcat oil well in an environmentally sensitive Louisiana swamp. Life is peaceful in the little town of Bogalusa, Louisiana, and that suits Randall Oliver just fine. He keeps his legal skills sharp mostly by helping his family and childhood friends with their legal matters, but is happy to take on one final project for his former father-in-law, dying oil wildcatter Buck Townsend. It's hardly the routine affair he expected. Within weeks, Randall finds himself neck-deep in a quagmire of environmental politics. His opponents, including his own brother James, are more than willing to use dirty pool and strong-arm tactics in an attempt to halt the drilling in the swamp near Bogalusa. It's nothing Randall hasn't encountered before, so he forges on in the face of both negative political ads and physical threats. He's made a promise to Buck, and refuses to bow down to the bullying of their adversaries...though his resolve is seriously tested when eco-terrorists strike the project, and his fiancée, Deena, is attacked by armed gunmen. Driven by a relentless determination to protect Deena and complete this final project for his dying friend, Randall pushes onward through a morass of political cupidity, family crises, and repeated attacks to pick apart the tangled threads of a conspiracy seemingly designed to destroy everything he loves. What he discovers isn't quite what he expected...and it almost gets him killed.Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Search-Yellow-Dog-ebook/dp/B004RHB5YW

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?Yes, I submitter queries to 26 agents and got only one nibble and after I sent her the additional items she requested even that possibility evaporated – that's when I went the self-publishing route.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?No, I haven't joined any groups – I'm basically a loner. I will mention that for my current work in progress I have submitted my manuscript to four 'beta readers' and have gotten some great feedback from them. Incidentally, that work in progress is a prequel to In Search of the Yellow Dog.

What authors have influenced your style?I've read mysteries and science fiction ever since I can remember – I guess the greatest recent influences would be Dick Francis, Ross MacDonald and James Lee Burke.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?Yes, I used Floyd Largent for In Search of the Yellow Dog. Right now he has started editing the prequel which has been tentatively titled, The Treasure of Money Hill.

What have you learned during your self-publishing journey?I've learned a lot about myself, and I've learned when an idea strikes you at three a.m., you'd better get to the computer right away or that idea is going to vanish!

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?I've published on Smashwords and the book is available through their various marketing outlets. Hard copies of the book are available at a couple of independent bookstores that have agreed to carry it: Bayou Booksellers in Hammond, Louisiana and Malaprops Bookstore and Café in Asheville, North Carolina.

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?I have a Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/InSearchoftheYellowDog and I am just starting my own website: http://bluetiger41.wordpress.com/ which was set up for me by my granddaughter.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?Not really – being retired has numerous advantages and having sufficient time to devote to writing a new work and promoting my existing ones is perhaps the greatest of those advantages.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?Just to paraphrase the shoe company, "Just do it!" I had wanted to write this novel for some time – I checked "how to" websites and bought a couple of books, but in the final analysis it just took me sitting down in front of the computer and letting the story write itself.

[image error] What's next for you?As I mentioned above my next book, The Treasure of Money Hill, is with my editor and I expect it to be published this summer. I'm currently working on a book; I don't even have a working title yet, set in rural Louisiana in the 1930s and 1940s, following friends, three boys and two girls, coming of age as World War II looms.

Thanks for this opportunity to express myself to your readers.

World of Symbols: Sphinx

 The Majestic SphinxMichelle Snyder, M. Phil, Symbolistwww.whiteknightstudio.com http://whiteknightstudio.blogspot.com/

Most everyone is familiar with the Egyptian Sphinx at Giza, towering over the sandy landscape, facing the rising sun. Its animal form, the lion, has long been a symbol associated with the sun. The Giza sphinx is carved out of bedrock and is the largest single-stone sculpted statue in the world. Perhaps as long as ago ca. 8000 BC the great sculpture was part of a megalithic observatory. Four thousand years later, two pillars were placed in front of the sculpted monument to facilitate measuring the movement of stars and planets. An Egyptian Pharaoh had the sphinx's head re-carved in his own image. For the Egyptians, sphinx statues represent kings or gods and are usually male; they are symbol of divine sovereignty.

The sphinx symbol has its origin in ancient astronomical observation. With a lion's body and a woman's head, this symbol suggests the relationship between Leo and Virgo. These two constellations appear together at the point where the sun's path crosses the equator at the autumnal equinox. The sphinx symbolizes this time of year, both during the Great Year (26,000 year cycle) and the solar year (12 month cycle).

Greek sphinx statues are usually depicted as a winged lion with a woman's head, or a woman with the paws and claws of a lion, a serpent's tail, and eagle's wings. This feminine sphinx is usually seated upright, rather than horizontal, as the Giza Sphinx is. These are majestic and magical beasts; some are guardians, and some are dangerous. They represent sacred and secret knowledge. Variations of the sphinx are found in all parts of the ancient world, both sculpted and imaged. The watchful beast wards off evil, especially at temple entrances; sphinxes with animal heads or bodies often line the approaches to temples.

Oral tradition surrounding the sphinx is also found in many cultures. A Greek legend tells of a sphinx at the gate of Thebes who asked a riddle of anyone passing by. If they did not know the answer, she killed them. When King Oedipus answered correctly, she threw herself into the ocean. The riddle was this: What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs at night? (Answer: a human) This riddle suggests the cycle of life, and is also associated with Yggdrasil (Tree of Life) and the Phoenix. The sphinx, as an astronomical symbol of Leo and Virgo, also represents a life cycle.           

In art from ancient Greece the sphinx is a common motif, usually depicted winged and crowned; with wings, they symbolize transition to higher consciousness. In South India the sphinx is known as purushamriga meaning human-beast. It is found depicted in temples and palaces where it serves as protection from evil. At one temple in India two of these guardians sit on either side of the grand doorway, guarding the entrance. They are the divine beings, warding off evil and removing sins. They smile mysteriously. One is male, one is female; they have been seated side by side for many centuries.

In contemporary symbolism this fabulous creature symbolizes mystery, power, royal dignity, vigilance, strength, secrecy, silence, inscrutability, and the riddle of the Universe; also, divine and human wisdom, discernment, and temperance. Sounds just like what my cat thinks of himself.

Article © 2011 Michelle Snyder, author of Symbology: Decoding Classic Images , and eBooks World of Symbols , and World of Symbols: Secrets of the Mermaids . Ask the symbologist at her blog: http://whiteknightstudio.blogspot.com/.

Interview with Caddy Rowland

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? My latest book is the 2nd book in the Gastien Series, which came out in December 2011.  The title is Gastien Part 2: From Dream to Destiny.  In it, Gastien is now living in his studio in Montmartre.  He is an artist during the nineteenth century bohemian art era of Paris.  Here is the formal blurb:  "I am Gastien Beauchamp, artist and lover. Any Frenchman would tell you that a peasant could never own property in nineteenth century France. Yet here I am, in my very own studio. The personal cost was horrendous. I barely survived the choices I made, and my sanity was pushed to its limits.

Still, I finally now have security, peace, and freedom. For the rest of my life I can spend time "making love to the color", making love to beautiful women, and enjoying the wild nightlife of bohemian Montmartre. What more could a man need or want?

Then, one night, I see her. One look at Sophie, and my heart wants to betray me! I try to tell myself that I know better. Who needs love, anyway? I am already married-to my art! 

No woman would ever understand and accept my lifestyle; nor am I about to give that lifestyle up. Not when I paid so dearly for it! Besides, I am too badly damaged to ever open up my heart...and if Sophie found out about my past she would not want to even know my name. I can't take that chance. I have had enough pain to last me a lifetime."

Because this is a series, I think it is important to start with the first book. Although book 2 can be read on its own, it is much better if the reader knows about Gastien's past. Book one is Gastien Part 1: The Cost of the Dream.  That first book is the story of Gastien's coming of age.  It follows him from leaving his home on the farm, under the heel of an abusive father.  His struggle to stay alive on the streets of Paris is horrendous.  Both books are very steamy.

In this first book of the Gastien series, young Gastien Beauchamp begins his journey from the farm to Paris with two goals in life. The first is to become an artist with his own studio, following his own rules. That is an almost impossible dream for a peasant with no money or formal training. Paris spits out talented men into the gutters every day. "Good" gets you nowhere. "Great" maybe gets you a bowl of soup.

The second is to become the greatest lover in France. That should be easy. With his stunning looks and willingness to learn, the women of Paris are about to be awakened in a way they have only dreamt about in the nineteenth century!

Gastien also has focus, drive, and raw, natural talent. With the dream burning inside of him, he is determined to succeed at any cost. Poor Gastien. If he could only know in advance what brutal struggles await him, he might turn around and go back home.

Sometimes the "impossible" is possible. But the cost can be extremely high.This series has adult themes and is historical fiction/family saga.  Both book are very steamy.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers? No.  I had been self-employed in sales for several years. I like calling my own shots.  I also did not want to waste several months waiting for a publisher to pick me up, only to find out I would still have to do the majority of marketing and take less of a percentage than I would get on my own.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing? Not currently.  I have been invited to one and may possibly join.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon? The things I mentioned above.  Also, I liked the fact that my voice would be heard in the way I wanted and when I wanted.  So many books used to go unpublished because the genre was not popular.  Today, if you don't write about vampires and werewolves you are in the minority.  I want to write what I want how I want and when I want.  Indie publishing has lost a lot of its stigma.  It is now quite "cool"…kind of like indie films.  There are still some traditional authors that knock us, but perhaps that is because they feel threatened. I don't know.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing? No.  I did my own editing and proofing, but I also have a half dozen beta readers that are very good.  The editing takes longer than the writing.  Each book is over 400 pages.  Both of them took me 4 months each to edit and format.  I will be faster with the formatting now, but the editing needs to be done carefully.  I am aware that there is a lot of crap out there by people that self publish.  They think spell check is editing.  Some don't even use that!  It really angers me when I see indies that put out sloppy work.  A few mistakes I can forgive in a full-length novel.  I even see that with books that are published by major publishers. However, to have several words spelled wrong, poor punctuation, and awful formatting is unacceptable to me.  At some point I hope to be able to afford a good proofer because it takes more time than writing the book.  I could double my output if I did not edit and proof.

What have you learned during your self-publishing journey? That I can use the left side of my brain when I need to!  Formatting for publishing is very left brained.  I am fully right brained.  I thought at times my head would explode!

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale? Yes.  They are on BarnesandNoble.com for NOOK.  They are also available as paperbacks at Createspace.com.    Here are all of my links:

 Gastien Part 1: The Cost of the Dream Available in Paperback at https://www.createspace.com/3664944 Available on Amazon.com for Kindle http://tinyurl.com/3ecu8ku Available on Barnes&Noble.com for NOOK http://tinyurl.com/3ue4a7h                Gastien Part 2: From Dream to DestinyAvailable in Paperback at https://www.createspace.com/3749863 Available on Amazon.com for Kindle http://tinyurl.com/bv9zosn Available on Barnes&Noble.com for NOOK http://tinyurl.com/cx87deq

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)? I tweet some, but need to improve. My handle there is @caddyorpims. I have a fanpage for Gastien on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Gastien.Beauchamp.

I also update friends on my personal page.  I do author interviews and guest posts, have done Pixel of Ink (which was very good for Gastien Part 1), and blog about five days a week.  My blog is called Writer of Fiction, Painter of Life & Energy.  I blog about writing, painting, men, women, life, love and whatever else I feel like on a given day.  Here is the link: http://caddyrowlandblog.blogspot.com I am constantly looking for more reviewers for my book and contacting them.  Yes, I know you are closed!  J

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book? Yes, definitely!  That is the hardest part of all.  Another difficult thing is marketing a series.  You want to market the later books in the series as they come up, yet you want people to start at book 1, so you also need to keep marketing that one.  Plus, when I ask for reviews, I always ask for book 1 to be reviewed.  Book 1 will always be the biggest part of my marketing.  Readers will buy the others because they love book 1. Any of the books can stand alone, but they are best read in order so that the reader understands the life experiences of each character and why they do what they do.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?Just do it.  It seems overwhelming, but if you want it bad enough you can do it. Trust yourself.  And trust me when I tell you that you WILL get through the formatting.  There are forums with people to help you through it.  Every question I posed they answered. Most importantly: If you are not REALLY GOOD at grammar and proofing, pay someone.  And I mean REALLY GOOD.  If you are that good, then spend months doing it.  My books get a dozen read throughs by me after they are in the final draft and one of those is out loud.  It is amazing the mistakes you find when reading out loud. 

What's next for you? I am halfway through the first draft of book 3 of the Gastien Series. It is titled Tristan Michel: Bloodline of Passion.  I took a break to do this interview and then I will be back at it. I hope to have it released in late spring.  Emphasis on the word hope!  J 

There will be at least 4 books in the series, possibly five.  I hope to have book four released by August.  Book 5-if it happens- is targeted for December.  It all depends upon how I feel about the first draft of each book, how much rewriting is involved and then those weeks and weeks of editing. I also paint and I hear my favorite brush calling…

New Release: TRADING UP by Sandra Edwards

Book blurb:

A high school reunion...



A weekend husband...



Finally, a chance to save face!

Tiffany Pearson hasn't been home in eight years, not since her ex-fiancé left her standing at the altar—literally.



Not even a ten-year reunion can induce Tiffany to chance a trip back home when the gossip is alive and kicking in her small hometown of Driftwood, CA—not unless she can waltz in on the arm of some hottie she's convinced to be her temporary husband.



Who says you can't go home again...?



It just might be possible now that Tiffany's run across super-sexy Jon Singleton.



**Trading Up is a short novella of approximately 11,000 words. About 50 pages.





Buy link:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007IE4R00





Author bio:

Sandra is an award-winning author of romance. She has eclectic tastes, penning tales in a variety of genres such as paranormal (mostly time travel and reincarnation), contemporary and suspense. She lives in the U.S. (west coast) with her husband, two kids, four dogs and one very temperamental feline. Sandra's books often push the envelope and step outside the boundaries of conventional romance. For more info on Sandra's books, visit her website at www.sandrawrites.com.