Barbara Freethy's Blog, page 7
November 6, 2012
New Ebook Sales Milestone!
I have some very exciting news. This month I passed the one million unit sales mark at Barnes and Noble for my self-published titles! I’m the first Indie author to sell over a million at the retailer through the PubIt! platform. A few months ago I passed the same milestone at Amazon books, making me the first Indie author to have sold a million on both platforms! Overall, my sales across six retailers is up to 2.7 million ebooks since January 2011.
The self publishing journey I have been on has been exciting and exhausting! I started out self pubbing some backlist titles that had gone out of print and then moved on to ebook originals. I love being able to get my books to so many fans and also new readers, and I want to thank all the readers who have discovered my books for supporting my work in such a big way. It makes going to the keyboard to write every day that much easier.
As some of you may know, I started my writing career in traditional publishing. I’ve published 30 books through four houses, Avon, Silhouette, NAL and most recently Pocket Books. And I’ve now published 3 ebook originals as part of the WISH Series. Book three in the WISH Series, WHEN WISHES COLLIDE, was released this month.
I’m currently working on a new connected series about a firefighting family in San Francisco called THE CALLAWAYS. Generations of Callaways have been raised with the philosophy of “serve and protect” and those who haven’t followed in the family business of fire fighting have still gone into careers where they serve the community like search and rescue, medicine and investigative work. The Callaways are a blended family. The father had four sons. The mom had two daughters, and they married, adding in a set of fraternal twins, making a total of 8 siblings, ranging from 23-35.
Of course, I can’t write a series without lots of dysfunction, family secrets, and moral choices, so I think you’ll enjoy watching the Callaways get tested by life and also by love. Many of the continuing characters will be seen in every book, so I hope you’ll get as interested and addicted to reading about the Callaways as I am about writing their stories. The first book will be out December 25, 2012. More specific details and title information to come!
Happy Reading!
Barbara
The self publishing journey I have been on has been exciting and exhausting! I started out self pubbing some backlist titles that had gone out of print and then moved on to ebook originals. I love being able to get my books to so many fans and also new readers, and I want to thank all the readers who have discovered my books for supporting my work in such a big way. It makes going to the keyboard to write every day that much easier.
As some of you may know, I started my writing career in traditional publishing. I’ve published 30 books through four houses, Avon, Silhouette, NAL and most recently Pocket Books. And I’ve now published 3 ebook originals as part of the WISH Series. Book three in the WISH Series, WHEN WISHES COLLIDE, was released this month.
I’m currently working on a new connected series about a firefighting family in San Francisco called THE CALLAWAYS. Generations of Callaways have been raised with the philosophy of “serve and protect” and those who haven’t followed in the family business of fire fighting have still gone into careers where they serve the community like search and rescue, medicine and investigative work. The Callaways are a blended family. The father had four sons. The mom had two daughters, and they married, adding in a set of fraternal twins, making a total of 8 siblings, ranging from 23-35.
Of course, I can’t write a series without lots of dysfunction, family secrets, and moral choices, so I think you’ll enjoy watching the Callaways get tested by life and also by love. Many of the continuing characters will be seen in every book, so I hope you’ll get as interested and addicted to reading about the Callaways as I am about writing their stories. The first book will be out December 25, 2012. More specific details and title information to come!
Happy Reading!
Barbara
October 25, 2011
Exciting News - and Thank You
I'm very excited to announce that I've reached one million units sold!
Releasing my digital backlist and reconnecting with my stories, characters, and new readers has been an amazing experience. I look forward to releasing more of my previously published stories in the coming months as well as ebook originals.
Thank you to all my readers, and you can view the full details in the news section of my website.
Releasing my digital backlist and reconnecting with my stories, characters, and new readers has been an amazing experience. I look forward to releasing more of my previously published stories in the coming months as well as ebook originals.
Thank you to all my readers, and you can view the full details in the news section of my website.
September 21, 2011
GARDEN OF SECRETS - Book Five of the Angel's Bay Series - Releases Today
Back in June, I blogged about getting back to my writing and how I was working on story minutiae and needed help naming a river. Now I'm on the other end of that journey and am so pleased to share Charlotte, Andrew and Joe's story with you in GARDEN OF SECRETS, the fifth installment of the Angel's Bay series.
Garden of Secrets continues to explore the community of Angel's Bay. You can read more about its history on my website.
The paperback is available at bookstores and online with Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound and other retailers. The ebook is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple and other retailers.
I hope you like Garden of Secrets, and I hope that in addition to joining Charlotte, Andrew and Joe, you get a glimpse of some favorite Angel's Bay residents along the way.
Garden of Secrets continues to explore the community of Angel's Bay. You can read more about its history on my website.
The paperback is available at bookstores and online with Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound and other retailers. The ebook is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple and other retailers.
I hope you like Garden of Secrets, and I hope that in addition to joining Charlotte, Andrew and Joe, you get a glimpse of some favorite Angel's Bay residents along the way.
September 19, 2011
SILENT RUN and SILENT FALL hit the bestseller's lists!
Thank you for putting SILENT RUN and SILENT FALL on the USA Today List as well as the BN Top 10 and Amazon Top 100!
Brothers Jake and Dylan Sanders fight for their family and their freedom in these linked romantic suspense novels.
In SILENT RUN, a woman wakes in a hospital bed with no idea of who she is. Her memory is gone, her baby missing. All she has is the gripping certainty that she is in mortal danger. Then a handsome, angry stranger barges in and makes a terrible accusation. He was her lover--and her child's father--until she disappeared seven months ago.
In SILENT FALL, Dylan Sanders is attending a wedding in the mountains when his trip takes a terrible turn. A former lover appears out of nowhere, demands a private conversation, and lures him into the woods, then leaves him there, drugged and disoriented. The next morning, the woman has disappeared, and Dylan is accused of her murder.
I'm excited both books are doing well and hope you enjoy them!
Brothers Jake and Dylan Sanders fight for their family and their freedom in these linked romantic suspense novels.
In SILENT RUN, a woman wakes in a hospital bed with no idea of who she is. Her memory is gone, her baby missing. All she has is the gripping certainty that she is in mortal danger. Then a handsome, angry stranger barges in and makes a terrible accusation. He was her lover--and her child's father--until she disappeared seven months ago.
In SILENT FALL, Dylan Sanders is attending a wedding in the mountains when his trip takes a terrible turn. A former lover appears out of nowhere, demands a private conversation, and lures him into the woods, then leaves him there, drugged and disoriented. The next morning, the woman has disappeared, and Dylan is accused of her murder.
I'm excited both books are doing well and hope you enjoy them!
July 19, 2011
Join Me For a Live Online Chat!
I'm pleased to release my latest e-book, LOVE WILL FIND A WAY, now available online at Barnes and Noble and am celebrating with a live chat at Barnes and Noble PubIt this Wednesday 7/20 at 5pm PST/8pm EST.
Please join me on the BN PubIt Facebook Page for an in-depth discussion on self-publishing. Bring your questions on marketing, indie publishing or writing in general!
I hope to see you there.
Please join me on the BN PubIt Facebook Page for an in-depth discussion on self-publishing. Bring your questions on marketing, indie publishing or writing in general!
I hope to see you there.
June 13, 2011
Back To The Writing ...
After a week of fun and list making ... I'm getting back to work. Mondays are good for that!
But before I officially do - Summer Secrets was officially in the #1 spot ... on the top of the NYT!
It's so exciting. And if you scroll down, you'll see that in addition to Summer Secrets, Don't Say A Word shows up at #24. I can hardly believe it.
And one last bit of good news ... ALL SHE EVER WANTED is now #1 on B&N's Top 100!
Okay, but my blog is supposed to be about getting back to work. As writers, it's easy to get distracted by the business of publishing. So much of our work is done in isolation, that when something more public happens, it's fun to take a moment to enjoy it and share it with friends. Because every writer knows these moments don't come around that often. But when the hoopla dies down, it's back to the next book.
I remember a line from a movie about ballet - Center Stage - and the head/retired ballerina tells the young dancer that when things go wrong, when life gets too crazy, you always go back to the barre -- the barre is home (okay, I'm paraphrasing). But I think as writers, home is always the book, the writing, the next story, the next scene, the next sentence.
So that's what I'm doing today -- as soon as I finish this blog. I'm working on a new book and there are so many decisions to make, what each character looks like, the setting, the time of year .... all those little things that tend to bog me down when I'm racing ahead to the big scenes I see coming up in my plot. But life is in the details, and books are the same. Thoughtful decisions about the little things always add color and depth to any story, so I persevere. Then when I get to the big scenes I can't wait to write, I have a lot more to work with.
Whether traditionally publishing or self publishing, all writers have to remember that it's always about the book. And all the other distractions of the business of publishing or even life in general are just what we have to fight through to get back to the book.
So my decision today -- what to name the river that's an important part of my story. The book is set in Northern California, there's some wild white water rapids, but also some peaceful, lazy parts ... any ideas?
But before I officially do - Summer Secrets was officially in the #1 spot ... on the top of the NYT!
It's so exciting. And if you scroll down, you'll see that in addition to Summer Secrets, Don't Say A Word shows up at #24. I can hardly believe it.
And one last bit of good news ... ALL SHE EVER WANTED is now #1 on B&N's Top 100!Okay, but my blog is supposed to be about getting back to work. As writers, it's easy to get distracted by the business of publishing. So much of our work is done in isolation, that when something more public happens, it's fun to take a moment to enjoy it and share it with friends. Because every writer knows these moments don't come around that often. But when the hoopla dies down, it's back to the next book.
I remember a line from a movie about ballet - Center Stage - and the head/retired ballerina tells the young dancer that when things go wrong, when life gets too crazy, you always go back to the barre -- the barre is home (okay, I'm paraphrasing). But I think as writers, home is always the book, the writing, the next story, the next scene, the next sentence.
So that's what I'm doing today -- as soon as I finish this blog. I'm working on a new book and there are so many decisions to make, what each character looks like, the setting, the time of year .... all those little things that tend to bog me down when I'm racing ahead to the big scenes I see coming up in my plot. But life is in the details, and books are the same. Thoughtful decisions about the little things always add color and depth to any story, so I persevere. Then when I get to the big scenes I can't wait to write, I have a lot more to work with.
Whether traditionally publishing or self publishing, all writers have to remember that it's always about the book. And all the other distractions of the business of publishing or even life in general are just what we have to fight through to get back to the book.
So my decision today -- what to name the river that's an important part of my story. The book is set in Northern California, there's some wild white water rapids, but also some peaceful, lazy parts ... any ideas?
June 9, 2011
SUMMER SECRETS hits #1 ON THE NYT E-Books Bestseller List
Wow! Lots of exciting news today. SUMMER SECRETS hit USA Today at #13 and on June 19th will be #1 on the New York Times E-Books Bestseller List. I saw a preview copy yesterday and couldn't believe my eyes. To make it even sweeter, DON'T SAY A WORD hit USA Today at #84 and on June 19th will be #24 on the New York Times E-Books Bestseller List.
To say I'm stunned would be an understatement, especially because these books are self-published backlist titles. I got the rights back to the books last year and went into publisher mode. I designed the covers, got the books scanned, formatted and uploaded to all the E-book sites, which was quite a labor intensive undertaking. This is one reason I haven't been blogging much the past few months. I've been putting up my backlist (12 titles and counting ...)
When I started the self-publishing experience, there wasn't as much information as there is now, so there was a lot of trial and error involved. I had one horrific experience very early on when I discovered that uploading the book to one of the sites turned all my em dashes into question marks ... a crazy anomaly that never occurred again, thank goodness. But there was definitely a learning curve involved.
I soon realized that I was wearing a lot of hats, not just writer, but art designer, proofreader, copy editor. I was in charge of marketing and tweeting and posting on Facebook and generally shouting my books and name to the universe. I became very familiar with html and codes and even accidentally signed up to be an App developer at Apple when I really meant to sign up to upload my books to the IBookstore! LOL. But hey maybe one day I'll do an app.
Everything seemed daunting at first. Every time I went to a new site, I had that sinking feeling that I hoped I wasn't about to screw everything up when I hit upload. Those of you who have been through this know exactly what I'm talking about. The one great thing about doing everything myself was that I really learned how to do it all. And I felt empowered!
I love being able to see my numbers in real-time. I love being able to tweak a cover that isn't working. I love being able to change a price and give readers a one day special here and there. I'm thrilled that some of my favorite books that went out of print after only a few weeks are now available again. That's the absolute best part.
I'm very excited that Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders/Kobo, Smashwords, Apple and Sony have made themselves available to self-publishing and have embraced my books. All the booksellers have been very responsive and supporting, and I've had great experiences with all of them.A lot of my friends are asking me what's next. I'm still publishing books with Pocket. My 5th and last book in the Angel's Bay Series, GARDEN OF SECRETS, comes out on Sept. 20th, 2011, and I'm really excited to bring Joe and Charlotte's story to life. I will have another book for Pocket after that so I definitely have my feet in both traditional and self-publishing and certainly appreciate the support I've had from my publishers.
Who knows what the future will bring? The book world is changing so fast. I think for readers having more books to choose from is a win! And for writers having more opportunities to get books into a reader's hands is also a win. I've also become a big fan of the Nook and the Kindle -- yes, I have both, and they're amazing. I never thought I'd enjoy reading electronically, but I do.
I can't end this blog without giving a shout out to my friend Bella Andre/Lucy Kevin who gave me a tremendous amount of advice when I was getting started in this new endeavor.Thanks for sharing my wonderful news. If anyone has any questions, I'm happy to answer ...
June 1, 2011
Summer Secrets hits #2 on Amazon's Top 100 Kindlebooks
Hi everyone - I'm thrilled to report that Summer Secrets has risen to #2 on Amazon's Top 100 Kindlebooks List. I love this story and I'm so excited that readers are loving it, too.
The book is a fun summer read, as indicated by the title! It's about the McKenna sisters who years ago as teenagers won an around the world sailing race with their bigger than life father. But something happened during that race, a secret that no one has uncovered. Kate, Ashley and Caroline now live in the San Juan Islands. Kate runs the local bookstore, Ashley is a photographer and Caroline is a hair stylist. Their lives have moved on.
And then Tyler Jamison comes to town, a reporter who seems determined to unravel every last secret. But he has a secret of his own ...
If you're interested in an intriguing and sometimes emotional read with a few surprises, I hope you'll give Summer Secrets a try.
Buy it from AmazonBuy it from Barnes and Noble
May 21, 2011
Don't Say A Word hits #2 on B&N Top 100!
It's been awhile since I've had a chance to blog. I've been busy digitizing some of my backlist titles so that they'll once again be available for readers to read. This turned out to be a rather lengthy process, but I now have twelve titles up at most retailers. It's exciting to be able to bring these books back to life, many of which were only on the shelves a short time. I wish I could bring them out in print but right now they're only available in electronic format.
One of my personal favorites, DON'T SAY A WORD hit #2 today on B&N'S Top 100!
DON'T SAY A WORD is a book with a lot of layers, romance, adventure, a little mystery, love, family relationships, and some really fascinating lead characters.
From the back cover:
Everything she's been told about her past is a lie ...
Julie De Marco is planning a perfect San Francisco wedding when she comes face-to-face with a famous photograph, the startling inage of a little girl behind the iron gate of a foreign orphanage -- a girl who looks exactly like her. But Julia isn't an orphan. She isn't adopted. And she's never been out of the country. She knows who she is -- or does she?
Haunted by uncertainty, Julia sets off on a dangerous search for her true identity -- her only clues a swan necklace and an old Russian doll, her only ally daring, sexy photographer Alex Manning. Suddenly nothing is as it seems. The people Julia loved and trusted become suspicious strangers. The relationships she believed in -- with her mother, her sister, and her fiance -- are shaken by new revelations. The only person she can trust is Alex, but he has secrets of his own. Each step brings her closer to a mysterious past that began a world away -- a past that still has the power to threaten her life ... and change her future forever.
Reviews:
"Powerful and absorbing ... Sheer hold-your-breath suspense." -- Karen Robards
"An absorbing story of two people determined to unravel the secrets, betrayals, and questions about their past. The story builds to an explosive conclusion that will leave readers eagerly awaiting Barbara Freethy's next book." -- Carla Neggars
"A page-turner that engages your mind while it tugs at your heartstrings ... DON'T SAY A WORD had made me a Barbara Freethy fan for life!" --Diane Chamberlain
"Dark, hidden secrets and stunning betrayal boil together in a potent and moving suspense. Freethy's story-telling ability is top-notch." -- Romantic Times Magazine -- 4 1/2 Stars - Top Pick of the Month!
Read a Sample Chapter
I hope you'll check out this book. I'll be featuring some of my other backlist titles in the next few weeks!
Until then - happy reading!
One of my personal favorites, DON'T SAY A WORD hit #2 today on B&N'S Top 100!
DON'T SAY A WORD is a book with a lot of layers, romance, adventure, a little mystery, love, family relationships, and some really fascinating lead characters. From the back cover:
Everything she's been told about her past is a lie ...
Julie De Marco is planning a perfect San Francisco wedding when she comes face-to-face with a famous photograph, the startling inage of a little girl behind the iron gate of a foreign orphanage -- a girl who looks exactly like her. But Julia isn't an orphan. She isn't adopted. And she's never been out of the country. She knows who she is -- or does she?
Haunted by uncertainty, Julia sets off on a dangerous search for her true identity -- her only clues a swan necklace and an old Russian doll, her only ally daring, sexy photographer Alex Manning. Suddenly nothing is as it seems. The people Julia loved and trusted become suspicious strangers. The relationships she believed in -- with her mother, her sister, and her fiance -- are shaken by new revelations. The only person she can trust is Alex, but he has secrets of his own. Each step brings her closer to a mysterious past that began a world away -- a past that still has the power to threaten her life ... and change her future forever.
Reviews:
"Powerful and absorbing ... Sheer hold-your-breath suspense." -- Karen Robards
"An absorbing story of two people determined to unravel the secrets, betrayals, and questions about their past. The story builds to an explosive conclusion that will leave readers eagerly awaiting Barbara Freethy's next book." -- Carla Neggars
"A page-turner that engages your mind while it tugs at your heartstrings ... DON'T SAY A WORD had made me a Barbara Freethy fan for life!" --Diane Chamberlain
"Dark, hidden secrets and stunning betrayal boil together in a potent and moving suspense. Freethy's story-telling ability is top-notch." -- Romantic Times Magazine -- 4 1/2 Stars - Top Pick of the Month!
Read a Sample Chapter
I hope you'll check out this book. I'll be featuring some of my other backlist titles in the next few weeks!
Until then - happy reading!
June 22, 2010
NEW E-BOOKS AVAILABLE
I'm starting to digitize my older books so that while they've gone out of print, they'll live on electronically. I'm very excited as some of these books were personal favorites and have also garnered a lot of reader mail over the years. I've converted two books so far, SUMMER SECRETS and JUST THE WAY YOU ARE. The books are being offered for $4.99 on various sites in various formats listed below. Hopefully one will work for you.
(A Writers Work is an author website created by authors for readers where you can find both out of print and never published titles.)
Summer Secrets is the story of three unique sisters ... the secrets that bind them for life ... and the summer that will set them free.
Eight years ago, the three McKenna sisters -- Kate, Ashley, and Caroline -- had their fifteen minutes of fame. Driven by their ambitious father, they won an around-the-world sailing race as teenagers. But something happened out on the turbulent sea -- during a fierce storm they could never forget ...
Now Tyler Jamison has come to Castleton, a picturesque island off the coast of Washington State, asking questions about the famous McKennas. But even as the sisters close ranks against the tenacious reporter, the past threatens to drown them in its wake. It will take Caroline's willingness to right a wrong, Ashley's struggle to face her greatest fears, and Kate's attempt to embrace life -- and love -- again to finally calm the winds and stop the rain...
AWritersWork.Com - Summer Secrets
On the Kindle - Summer Secrets
On Smashwords - Summer Secrets
Take a romantic journey with Barbara Freethy to Tucker's Landing, Oregon, where Sam and Alli Tucker have mad a life together ... a life about to be tested by the return of the only woman who can break them up ... Alli's sister, Tessa.
A baby brought them together -- and even though Alli has always loved her strong, sexy husband Sam and the life they've built together, she has decided to set him free to follow his youthful dreams. It is no longer enough for her to be wife and lover when she knows she holds so little of his heart.
Sam has always dreamed of a life away from the close-knit world of Tucker's Landing, but marriage and fatherhood ended all that. Now Sam is torn between what was and what was meant to be. He must decide if it's time to rekindle the dreams of the past ... or accept Alli, and her love, just the way she is.
Don't miss this heartwrenching tale of a man torn between two sisters , the one he loved, the one he married ...
AWritersWork.Com - Just The Way You AreOn the Kindle - Just The Way You AreSmashwords - Just The Way You Are
(A Writers Work is an author website created by authors for readers where you can find both out of print and never published titles.)
Summer Secrets is the story of three unique sisters ... the secrets that bind them for life ... and the summer that will set them free. Eight years ago, the three McKenna sisters -- Kate, Ashley, and Caroline -- had their fifteen minutes of fame. Driven by their ambitious father, they won an around-the-world sailing race as teenagers. But something happened out on the turbulent sea -- during a fierce storm they could never forget ...
Now Tyler Jamison has come to Castleton, a picturesque island off the coast of Washington State, asking questions about the famous McKennas. But even as the sisters close ranks against the tenacious reporter, the past threatens to drown them in its wake. It will take Caroline's willingness to right a wrong, Ashley's struggle to face her greatest fears, and Kate's attempt to embrace life -- and love -- again to finally calm the winds and stop the rain...
AWritersWork.Com - Summer Secrets
On the Kindle - Summer Secrets
On Smashwords - Summer Secrets
Take a romantic journey with Barbara Freethy to Tucker's Landing, Oregon, where Sam and Alli Tucker have mad a life together ... a life about to be tested by the return of the only woman who can break them up ... Alli's sister, Tessa.
A baby brought them together -- and even though Alli has always loved her strong, sexy husband Sam and the life they've built together, she has decided to set him free to follow his youthful dreams. It is no longer enough for her to be wife and lover when she knows she holds so little of his heart.
Sam has always dreamed of a life away from the close-knit world of Tucker's Landing, but marriage and fatherhood ended all that. Now Sam is torn between what was and what was meant to be. He must decide if it's time to rekindle the dreams of the past ... or accept Alli, and her love, just the way she is.
Don't miss this heartwrenching tale of a man torn between two sisters , the one he loved, the one he married ...
AWritersWork.Com - Just The Way You AreOn the Kindle - Just The Way You AreSmashwords - Just The Way You Are
