Kate M. Colby's Blog, page 17

April Events for Book Lovers

Hello, everyone! I just wanted to write a quick post to share about some awesome events happening this month. If you’re a book lover, you’ll want to pay attention.

Brain to Books Cyber Convention

What: A virtual book fair packed with giveaways, discussion panels, blog tours, and fantastic novels of all genres.

When: April 8 through 10

Where: Goodreads & Facebook

As many of you know, I’m participating in the convention! It’s a bit of a maze, so here are your short links to all the places you can find me this weekend. If you have a few minutes, come say hi and hang out!

My Virtual Booth on Goodreads

Friday, April 8 – 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. (EST)

Saturday, April 9 – 10 a.m. to 10 p.m (EST)

Sunday, April 10 – 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (EST)

B2BCC Facebook Takeover

I’ll be hosting the B2BCC Facebook page on Saturday, April 9 at 9 a.m. (EST). Stop by to chat all things steampunk and enter to win a copy of The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) !

Cover Wars

Vote for The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) in Cover Wars HERE!

Science Fiction Blog Tour

Learn more about my inspiration behind The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) , my writing process, and other great sci-fi books by taking the tour, starting HERE.

The Sci-Fi tour includes a giveaway! Enter to win a copy of The Cogsmith’s Daughter HERE.

An interview with Charlie!

Charlie is the mechanical frog on the cover (and Aya’s childhood “pet”). He’s being interviewed about his froggy life and writing style HERE at 6 p.m. I’ll reblog it so you all can read it easily.

Read Self-Published Month

What: A month dedicated to exploring great self-published books.

Where: Wherever you are! Follow other readers and authors on social media with #ReadSelfPublished.

Read Self-Published Month includes a giveaway! Enter for your chance to win two of 22 fantastic indie books (including TCD) HERE.

Sales and Free Books

Beyond the giveaways listed in red above, I also have books on sale!

For April 8 to April 10 ONLY, The Cogsmith’s Daughter is $0.99 USD on all retailers. Get your copy here:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU| Barnes & Noble |iBooks | Kobo | Smashwords

April 8 – 100 Children’s, Teen, and Young Adult Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 3) is FREE on Amazon.

April 9 – 100 Romance Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 2) will be FREE on Amazon.

April 10 – 100 Fantasy Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 4) will be FREE on Amazon.

Filed under: Fiction Ideas Series, Musings & Fun Things, The Cogsmith's Daughter Tagged: blog tour, book fair, book lover, books, bookworm, brain to books cyber convention, fantasy, indie books, read self-published month, reading, science fiction, self-publishing, steampunk

Desertera Book Club: Welcome & Name Meanings

For those of you who have read and enjoyed The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1), I’ve started a new playlist over on my YouTube channel called ‘Desertera Book Club.’ I hope this channel can be a forum for you to ask me questions, discuss the series as it progresses, and learn some fun tidbits and behind-the-scenes facts about the book.

The first video is spoiler FREE. It covers the pronunciation of some of the main characters’ names, as well as which names in the novel hold personal significance for me (and now will for those of you in certain geeky fandoms!).

I’m not sure how often I will post these videos on my website, so if you want to make sure you see them all, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Thanks for watching!

*Note: The Brisbane Lions is the team that rivals Collingwood. Thought I’d clear that up, lest my Aussie peeps shame me!

Do you have any questions about the Desertera series, or about my process as an indie author? Leave them in the comments!

Filed under: The Cogsmith's Daughter, The Desertera Series, Vlog/Video Tagged: author, book, book club, desertera, fantasy, Q&A, science fiction, self-publishing, steampunk, the cogsmith's daughter, vlog, vlogging

How I Overcame My Sophomore Writing Slump

They say the second book is the hardest to write. Well, I don’t know who they are or how they came up with this idea…but based on my experience with Desertera #2, I believe them. This sequel was about a million times more difficult to write than its predecessor, The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1), and I’m beyond relieved that my first draft is finished. Now, it’s just a matter of revising until it’s ready to publish. Not easy, by any means, but easier for me than pulling words out of thin air.

To help other writers learn from my lessons (and mistakes), and give you readers a few teasers, I want to share with you all some of my biggest challenges and triumphs from drafting Desertera #2, as well as how the experience compared to writing The Cogsmith’s Daughter.

Why I Wrote It

TCD – To prove that I could I write a book. To kick off my author career.

Desertera #2 – I wanted to continue the story of Desertera and the characters within it. Also, to prove TCD wasn’t a fluke and that I really can do this author thing.

Both books had emotional reasons behind them, but Desertera #2 also came with added pressure. I mean, I have to A) live up to readers’ expectations from TCD and B) keep the series moving in the right direction, while C) remembering every detail from the first book.

Lesson learned: Don’t think about expectations or end game, just give this book its due, then edit the rest in later.

Planning & Pre-Writing

TCD – A detailed list of story beats/major plot points, a map of world, basic character sketches. Stayed about 80% on outline.

Desertera #2 – A semi-detailed list of plot points. Stayed maybe 50% on outline.

Note to self: Make a better road map for book three.

How Long I Wrote It

TCD – A mad, 30 day, roughly 52 hour dash during NaNoWriMo 2014. Like ripping off a Band-Aid.

Desertera #2 – A drawn-out and grueling nine months of mostly procrastination and 80-ish hours of actual writing. I started it while TCD was in line editing (June 2015), only to abandon it while finishing up TCD, then start over the next NaNoWriMo. I finally finished in March (after seriously recommitting myself in February).

I hope to never drag out a manuscript in this way again. And I finally accepted that maintaining a consistent writing schedule is the key to success.

How I Felt While Writing It

TCD – This is great! Woohoo! Writing is the best thing ever!

Desertera #2 – What the hell have I done? This is absolute crap. Why did I ever think I could be an author?

Lesson learned upon revising: The truth is always somewhere in between, but at least it’s not yet been crap.

A relic from June 2015

Writing Atmosphere

TCD – Mostly on my desktop in the study, with little snippets on my laptop during lunch.

Desertera #2 – Mostly on my laptop on the train (which has actually become my new favorite place to write!), with the beginning on the desktop in the study.

Big tip: If stuck, mix up your writing routine. You just may find a new center of productivity!

Story Differences in Desertera #2:

A new point-of-view. That’s right – book two does not star Aya Cogsmith. Learning to write a new character’s voice was equally freeing, frustrating, and instructive. My newsletter subscribers already know our new protagonist, but the rest of you can guess in the comments!

Humor and sociability. My new protagonist is much more light-hearted than Aya, so injecting a different sense of humor into the dialog and interactions were fun challenges. Plus, the new protagonist is almost always surrounded by other characters (whereas Aya is more introverted), so that heavily influenced the plot, my writing style, and character relationships.

Darker themes. In Desertera #2, we see our characters change in the aftermath of book one. Greed, corruption, and violence dominate the narrative in a whole new way. 

Same characters, new roles. Because Aya is no longer the focus, the way the reader interacts with previous characters had to change. As such, we get to see new sides of our old friends and learn more about some of their roles in society and ambitions as people.

Longer chapters. The structure of this novel lent itself to longer (and more consistent) chapter lengths. However, I tried to maintain the quick pace and cliffhanger-esque endings that readers enjoyed the first time around.

In Conclusion…

Although my first two novels are in the same series, I had opposite experiences with writing them. The Cogsmith’s Daughter was easy and quick to write, while I struggled regaining my groove with Desertera #2. In the end, I managed to overcome my Sophomore writing slump by finding and sticking to a routine, no longer worrying about how the sequel would compare to its predecessor, and allow my character to guide the plot and even my writing style.

But I’m not done yet. Beyond editing, what’s my final challenge? Figuring out a damn title.

What is the most difficult part of writing a book for you? Did you go through a “Sophomore slump,” too? Who do you think (or hope!) is the protagonist of Desertera #2 ? Share your thoughts below!

Filed under: General Writing, The Desertera Series Tagged: desertera, fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, the cogsmith's daughter, writing, writing advice, writing tips

Month-End Update: March 2016

March was a doozy. The biggest item on my to-do list was to finish the first draft of Desertera #2, which I did! However, in order to accomplish it and make time for my other goals, I had to really push myself. While I had some early mornings, late nights, and strenuous train rides, working that hard was actually incredibly satisfying.

Ending March, I feel accomplished, fulfilled, and more creatively energized than I have in a long time. I cannot wait to dive headfirst into April with an exciting virtual convention, Camp NaNoWriMo adventures (follow my cabin at #wordcountslayers), and getting Desertera #2 even closer to publication. But first, let’s take a quick look at March:

Writing

Blog Posts Written — 9 (and one guest post)
Fiction Words Written — 26,089
# of Days I Wrote Fiction — 19
Nonfiction Prompts Written — 100 prompts (plus front/back matter material)
# of Days I Wrote Non-Fiction — 5
Outlines Written — 1 (100 Fantasy Writing Prompts)
Days Without Writing and/or Editing — 3

Editing/Revising

Drafts Revised — Desertera #2 and 100 Children’s, Teen, and Young Adult Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 3)
# of Days I Revised — 4

Reading

Books Finished

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: No Future for You by Brian K. Vaughn
Iterate and Optimize: Optimize Your Creative Business for Profit by Sean Platt & Johnny B. Truant
Angel: After the Fall (Volume 1) by Brian Lynch




Books Begun/In-Progress

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 (Volume 2) by Joss Whedon
Let’s Get Visible: How to Get Noticed and Sell More Books by David Gaughran




Books Reviewed

The Earl and the Artificer (The Ingenious Mechanical Devices #3) by Kara Jorgensen

*Remember, I review every book I read on my Goodreads page.

Author Business Activities

Completed the first draft and self-edit of Desertera #2
Published  100 Children’s, Teen, and Young Adult Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 3)
Reviewed two advance copies of An English Country House and Garden: A Fine Art Colouring Book for Adults by Arthur J. Penn and Joanna Penn
Participated in the #MarchCreateParty photo challenge on Instagram
Sent three email newsletters (subscribers read the first chapter of Desertera #2!)
Rebranded my author website and social media pages
Hosted a birthday sale and paid promotion
Prepped for the Brain to Books Cyber Convention

Goals for April

I have a few very exciting items on my agenda this month, which I’ll be sharing with you as April progresses!

Participate in the Brain to Books Cyber Convention on Goodreads & Facebook
Participate in and “win” Camp NaNoWriMo
Complete the content edit revisions of Desertera #2 
Publish 100 Fantasy Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 4)
Resume vlogging (yet again trying to get back into this!)

Who else has accomplishments to share from March? What are you working toward in April? Share in the comments!

Filed under: Writing Updates Tagged: Author Business, blogging, book review, books, creative writing prompts, dystopian, fantasy, goals, independent publishing, indie author, manuscript, nonfiction, revising, science fiction, self-publishing, steampunk, writing

100 Children’s, Teen, and Young Adult Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 3) – Now on Amazon

Happy Monday!

This is just a quick note to let you know that my next prompts booklet is now available on your friendly local Amazon for $0.99 USD.

Pick up your copy on Amazon, shelve it on Goodreads, then leave a review on both!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA

Have you always wanted to write a children’s book? This booklet contains 100 writing prompts to help you get started.

Do you have a young adult novel burning inside you but feel trapped by writer’s block?

Are you an aspiring, young writer looking for story ideas?

If you’re ready to stop staring at the blank page and start writing NOW, 100 Children’s, Teen, and Young Adult Writing Prompts is the booklet for you. There’s no fluff and no wasted words – just 100 fiction prompts to get you back to what you do best: writing.

100 Children’s, Teen, and Young Adult Writing Prompts is packed with character- and story-focused prompts to jumpstart your fiction writing. The prompts have been carefully designed to address themes important to young readers, to be age-appropriate, and to be easily adapted as nonfiction prompts for young writers.

Inside, you’ll find prompts on the following topics:

1. Action & Adventure

2. Animals & Nature

3. Cars, Trains, & Vehicles

4. Other Cultures

5. Fairy Tales

6. Family

7. Fantasy

8. Growing Up & Life Skills

9. Romance & Relationships

10. School

Each section contains 10 thought-provoking prompts. Practice them in order, or dive right into to what inspires you most. You’ve already wasted enough energy on writer’s block. It’s time to get started on your children’s book or young adult novel today.

Inspire the next generation of readers. Buy 100 Children’s, Teen, and Young Adult Writing Prompts today.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA

Filed under: Fiction Ideas Series Tagged: children's books, creative writing, fiction, fiction prompts, teen books, writing, writing ideas, writing prompts, writing tips, young adult, young adult fiction

My Five Greatest Achievements as an Author (So Far!)

I have a habit of being too hard on myself, as well as focusing too much on what’s ahead and not properly celebrating what I’ve accomplished. It’s been nearly six months since The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) was released – but in independent publishing time, it feels like six years.

While my readership and sales figures are still small, I do have a few notable accomplishments that I want to share. Partly, I’m posting these to validate my work to myself (and you, potential readers). And partly, I want to show aspiring or fellow authors that, even early on in your career, there are still plenty of cool moments to be had.

The bookstore proof!

1. My book is being taught in a university classroom.

That’s right! On this very day (yes, I checked the syllabus), The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) is the subject of analysis in Dr. Charles French’s Contemporary Fiction class at Muhlenberg College. Dr. French and I have been ‘friends’ in the WordPress world, he read and enjoyed my book, and picked it up for this course – and his science fiction course this summer!

2. My grandma, who doesn’t often read fiction, read my book.

So did my mom (who rarely makes time for reading), my aunts and uncle, and several other friends and family members. The fact that many ‘non-readers’ in my life made time for my novel makes me incredibly proud. The fact that many of them have vowed, earnestly and enthusiastically, to read the second book makes me even prouder.

3. I received my first five-star review from a non-friend/family member.

And a few more since! As much as praise from friends and family means to me, it’s extremely validating to get a strong review from someone who A) has never met me, B) has no reason to like or support me, and C) had to have found my book through natural channels, my marketing efforts, or all on their own. Nothing says, “I can actually do this author thing” like kudos from a 100% unbiased source.

Holding my book for the first time (after learning to format it myself) was another huge win!

4. My first “Super Fan” found me.

As authors, we dream about that reader who will devour our work, then seek us out on social media. Well, I had that happen. And, as a bonus, she also reviewed The Cogsmith’s Daughter, signed up for my email newsletter, and featured my book on her blog. An even bigger bonus? She’s an illustrator with a penchant for steampunk, and if our friendship grows, I see some commissioned art in my (and my readers’) future!

5. My book is available at the Yale University library. 

Okay, this one is all thanks to my husband – or as he likes to call himself, my ‘manager.’ All it took was one request from him, as a student, and The Cogsmith’s Daughter is now in a university library system with a global reach. For those of you who want to read my novel (but don’t want to shell out any cash – I get it, no judgment), feel free to do the same. I’ll still get royalties on the copy the library buys, and arguably more valuable, I’ll gain a wider network of readers. Fellow authors, I highly recommend you and your own readers do the same!

So you see? Even at an early stage – when your social media following is teeny-tiny, your book has only a handful of reviews, and your sales are no where close to supporting you (or even your cat) – being an author still rocks.

Celebrate every little win, and embrace every new experience. Millions of people never even finish a book, let alone publish one. You’ve done (or will do!) both, and you deserve every awesome thing that happens to you along the way. Enjoy it and don’t be afraid or ashamed to share your joy with others. The people who matter will be over-the-moon happy for you.

You have full, uninhibited permission to brag. What are your biggest accomplishments as an author? What goals are you working towards, and how can your readers help you reach them? What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Filed under: The Cogsmith's Daughter Tagged: accomplishments, dystopian, fantasy, independence day, independent publishing, inspiration, motivation, science fiction, self-publishing, steampunk, writing

The Fussy Librarian vs. Bargain Booksy

I’ve recently taken my first crack at the world of paid advertisements for The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1). And in the indie publishing spirit of transparency and helpfulness, I thought I’d share my results in case any fellow authors were interested in the same or had their own experiences to add.

In short, both The Fussy Librarian and Bargain Booksy are email newsletters that provide subscribers (readers) with a daily list of discounted books, curated based on their reading preferences. The best-known (and apparently best, period) of these services is BookBub, but they’re not interested in tiny fish like me. Therefore, I thought I’d test the waters with what I’ve been told are the next two best options.

As you’ll see below, I tried to keep all factors within my control the same. Obviously, there are dozens (read: thousands) of factors outside my control (whether all the subscribers check their inboxes, the other books featured in my genre that day, perceptions of my cover/description, etc.).

The Fussy Librarian

A screenshot of my Fussy Librarian promotion

Date Promotion Ran: Tuesday, February 16 (between 9 am EST and noon)

Genre and Subscriber Count: Science Fiction, roughly 103,000

Price to advertise (based on genre): $16 USD (via PayPal)

Price of my book: $2.99 USD

Description: A shortened version of my standard sales description.

Retailer Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords, Goodreads

Limitations: I had to include that my novel contained adult language and sexual content.

Return on Investment: $4.69 (sold 7 copies on Amazon, 1 on iBooks, 1 paperback)

Other factors: The other Science Fiction book promoted that day was free, which may have taken sales away from my book.

What I liked: Low price, customizable advertising, wide range of retailers included, showed my Amazon ratings

What I didn’t like: Free books included in the newsletter (tougher competition)

Notable perks: When you place your advertisement, there is an option to send yourself a reminder after a specified date range (21 to 90 days). If you do this, they give you a discount on your next promotion. Likewise, when listing in two genres (at any time), the second genre is half price.

You can see full details on how to run your own Fussy Librarian promotion HERE.

Bargain Booksy

A screenshot of my Bargain Booksy promotion

Date Promotion Ran: Tuesday, March 15 (between 9 am EST and noon)

Genre and Subscriber Count: Science Fiction, 68,500

Price to advertise (based on genre): $35 USD (via PayPal)

Price of my book: $2.99 USD

Description: They pull your book description straight from Amazon, without your HTML formatting.

Retailer Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks

Limitations: None

Return on Investment: None, loss of $22.44 (sold 6 copies on Amazon)

Other factors: My book also received a feature on the Bargain Booksy website, which did allow me to customize my book description. However, because Bargain Booksy allows several books in each genre to be listed each day (as opposed to the Fussy Librarian, which limits it to two books per genre), there was a lot of competition, some of which was on sale for $0.99.

What I liked: Website feature, no free books advertised

What I didn’t like: Higher price, crowded newsletter, less customization

You can see full details on how to run your own Bargain Booksy promotion HERE.

A screenshot of my Bargain Booksy website promotion

Would I advertise with these email newsletters again?

Because of the Fussy Librarian’s low cost and proven ability to create a positive return on investment, I have scheduled a second promotion for April, during the Brain to Books Cyber Convention. While I won’t be able to test the newsletter’s effectiveness perfectly (as I will be doing other promotions and have my book on sale), I believe it is a worthwhile investment due to the discounted rate and my larger promotional plans.

As for Bargain Booksy, I wouldn’t try it again at this point in my career. With only one book available (and let’s be honest — a book that I’m still trying to figure out the best way to market), I don’t think it is worth the risk. Perhaps when I have more in the series, a book that is not cross-genre, or a free book (for which I would have to use the partner site, Free Booksy), I will try it again.

Have you used either the Fussy Librarian or Bargain Booksy? I’d love to hear if they worked for you. Also, if you have any questions that I didn’t answer, feel free to ask them in the comments!

Filed under: Author Business Tagged: advertising, bargain booksy, book marketing, email marketing, indie author, marketing, novel, science fiction, self-publishing, the fussy librarian

Is it REALLY Writer’s Block? Three Writing Myths that Make You Doubt Yourself

Writer’s block is a heated issue in the writer community. I’m not really sure why. Okay, the cynical side of me has a theory.

That theory is that those who believe in writer’s block adamantly defend it, because if it doesn’t exist…then they don’t have anything on which to blame their lack of writing progress or skill. At the same time, those who don’t believe in writer’s block (like myself) prefer the idea that it doesn’t exist…because if it’s fake, then what separates them from the non-writing ‘writers’ is a matter of character.

But again, that’s just cynical, jaded me.

For the sake of this post, I don’t give a flying hoot whether or not you believe in writer’s block. What I want to know is what you believe about the act of being a writer.

You see, if you’re struggling with your writing, you may not have writer’s block at all. Maybe, you’re just judging yourself by the wrong standards. There are a lot of romanticized (and outright ridiculous) myths about what it’s like to be an author. And if you’re holding yourself to them, it’s no wonder your creativity is suffering!

These are just three of the limiting beliefs you might harbor.

1. Writing should be easy for me.

As Hemingway famously said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” This implies that writing is a simple matter of sitting down and poetically spewing your thoughts — as natural and effortless as blood flowing through your veins.

The truth? Most days writing is not easy. In fact, it’s damn hard. Sure, you may get one or two golden moments of seamless eloquence, but don’t count on it. If writing is difficult for you, that doesn’t mean you’re blocked. It means you’re like 99.9% of your fellow authors.

The treatment? Write anyway. Eventually, it will get easier. Not easy, but easier.

Just a friendly reminder…it’s not the end of the world.

2. Writing should be difficult for me.

The last word of that Hemingway quote is bleed. Because that’s what we have to do as writers, right? We have to toss and turn in restless fits, pull out our hair, rip out our guts. If you’re not slapping your soul onto the page, you’re not writing.

The truth? You can enjoy writing. You don’t have to play the struggling artist. You don’t have to bemoan your tortured creative soul. Just because you don’t feel like your writing is ‘gritty’ or ‘painful’ enough, that doesn’t mean you’re blocked. It means you’re not a cliche.

The treatment? Write anyway. Even if writing is — gasp — fun!

3. My writing should be good.

First off, this is just ridiculous. Literature is subjective. My favorite novel might be viewed as trashy dribble by another person. There is no 100% accurate and objective measure of ‘good.’ And if you’re just writing for passion or pleasure, ‘good’ doesn’t even matter so long as it is satisfying.

That being said, if you want to make a living with your writing, then yes, it needs to be ‘good’ in the eyes of several people. But you know what? You can take as long as you need to learn, rewrite, and edit your writing to ‘good’ status. Your first draft doesn’t have to be ‘good,’ and neither does your first novel, for that matter. I’m not advocating mediocrity. I’m simply saying: think long and hard about what ‘good’ means to you, then be kind to yourself and allow yourself to get there one step at a time.

The truth? Someone in the world will love your book. And someone else in the world will hate your book.

The treatment? Write anyway. Don’t worry about what others will think. Do your best, learn what you can, and always keep improving.

I won’t belabor you with more examples. More than likely, you know what myths or problems are holding you back. Often, we can identify them, but we quickly cast them under the “writer’s block” umbrella, thus making them a faceless enemy. Don’t do that. Drag your excuses into the light and look them straight in the eye. Approach them with a potent mix of logic, defiance, and humor. Most of the time, you’ll discover that it’s really just self-doubt lurking in a less personal costume.

But no matter what is dampening your creativity, there’s only one way to move past it. Prove your excuses wrong and write anyway.

What beliefs about writing or writers make you doubt yourself? What other problems keep you from doing your creative work? Share your tips for beating them or seek advice in the comments!

Filed under: General Writing Tagged: author, independent author, inspiration, motivation, self-publishing, writer problems, writers block, writing, writing advice, writing tips

Five Female Science Fiction Characters I Love

As a female Science Fiction fan (and author), I always adore seeing strong leading (and supporting) ladies represented in my genre. Some of them I admire and try to emulate in my personal life, and others provide a source of inspiration for my own characters. While I could name several fictional women I adore, I thought I’d start with a list of five.

Source

1. Faith Lehane from

Happy Birthday to YOU! (Discounted and FREE books)

Today’s post is rather self-indulgent. You see, it’s my birthday, and receiving presents and well wishes always puts me in a giving mood.

Longtime readers of my blog will remember last year, when I shared a preview of The Cogsmith’s Daughter (before even beta readers or my content editor got their hands on it!).

This year’s birthday treat? All my book(let)s are on sale!

If you haven’t yet read The Cogsmith’s Daughter…

A) You’re missing out.

B) You can grab the ebook TODAY ONLY for $0.99. And that’s not just American dollars. Pounds, Euros, Canadian and Aussie dollars, too. Prices are low, folks.

Pick up your copy at any of the retailers below:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU| Barnes & Noble |iBooks | Kobo | Smashwords

And for you writers out there, you can download 100 General Creative Writing Prompts and 100 Romance Writing Prompts FREE on Amazon.

General: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA

Romance: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA

Feeling a little guilty about receiving so much for MY birthday? Here are some presents I would love:

Tell a friend who might like my work about today’s sale.
If you have read and enjoyed any of my published works, leave a review on a retailer and/or Goodreads.
Help spread the word through reblogging and sharing on social media (links are, as always, at the bottom of the post).
Sign up for my author newsletter (whose subscribers are receiving a very special treat this afternoon!).
Just say hi in the comments below!

I’ll say thank you in advance. Here’s to another fantastic year on this crazy, beautiful planet!

Filed under: Fiction Ideas Series, Musings & Fun Things, The Desertera Series Tagged: 99 cent books, books, creative writing, creative writing prompts, discounted books, dystopian, fantasy, free books, sale, sci-fi, science fiction, steampunk, writing advice, writing tips