Selena Blake's Blog, page 12
January 18, 2018
For Writers: Good enough
Do you struggle with perfectionism?
Right now my to do list is several miles long. 2017 was a topsy turvy year and while I learned a lot, I let a lot slide too.
So now I’m looking at updating my covers, branching my contemporary titles off under their own name, advertising, and so much more.
And that’s aside from actually writing.
Today I wanted to promote the Stormy Weather Collector’s Edition on Facebook via ads. But as I looked through my website and notes, I realized the book isn’t on Kobo, Google, iBooks or Draft to Digital.
That’s four vendors that don’t have the book on and therefore their readers can’t access and save money on this bundle.
This is the sort of thing that happens when you have this many balls, er, books in the air.
There are so many moving pieces and things are constantly changing. It’s easy to get left behind.
So as I started thinking about running the ads, I thought, I should post it to those sites.
The book is wide (meaning distributed on all platforms) and if I’m going to incur the expense of running ads, I want there to be as many opportunities for people to buy it as possible.
That makes sense right?
But here’s a bit of what my to do list looks like for this book:
update the cover art on various sites- the cover art is the 3d box set looking cover, but certain platforms (iBooks) don’t allow that style. In that case I have a standard 2d cover. However in the years (yes, that’s how long I’ve left money on the table!) since this book has been available, the size requirements have changed. Which means redoing the cover.
Redo the cover – as explained above.
Reformat the book – back matter gets stale, I have new software that makes beautiful files and for seamlessness, I’d like to use it on all my books.
Add the book to Kobo
Add the book to iBooks
Add the book to Google – wait, do I still have a google account? I’ve never bothered publishing with google since they had all that price changey funny business when they launched… years ago. (See a pattern?)
Add the book to Draft to Digital
Advertise the darned book.
So obviously, I wanted to finish the redesign of the cover before anything else. And I wanted to reformat the book too.
But here’s the thing.
I have a cover art file that’s not the size I want, and not as perfect as the new one will be, but it’s close enough. And sure, the file might not be reformatted in the new software but I do have a perfectly clean copy that was good enough for me to upload to amazon, etc. years ago. I touched up the back matter, hit save and off we went.
So now I can post the book to Kobo and Draft to Digital TODAY.
Yeah.
Today.
Perfect isn’t always the best option. Sometimes good is good enough.
Doesn’t mean those items are off my to do list and it doesn’t mean that I don’t want readers to have the very best experience possible. But I’m probably the only one who’s going to notice that there’s not a wolf on the cover or that it isn’t the “new, super size” or that the book is formatted in Word and not Vellum.
That’s on me. Sometimes, okay, usually, I’m the only one who’s gonna notice the details.
And I need to stop letting that type of thing derail me.
Because good enough really is (usually) good enough!
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November 24, 2017
FlashBack Friday – A Vegetarian Werewolf?
This scene still makes my teeth chatter. Having spent some time in the White Mountains of New Hampshire where this book is set, I can tell you, the cold there is all consuming. Kendall is so lucky that a Deveraux stumbled across her because she would have been a Popsicle before too long.
—
Stranded with a Cajun Werewolf
She looked like an angel, a cherub, with glossy pink lips. With a bloody gash across her forehead and — was that a pink streak in her hair? He leaned closer. And a thick purple stripe too.
A fierce wind howled over head, making the trees sway and groan. She gave a soft moan, and then, as if she’d awoken, her body went rigid.
“You’re okay, petit. Just relax. Where do you hurt?”
Stunning aqua blue eyes met his for an instant before she closed them again, wincing. The fear he’d glimpsed there shocked him. “Please,” she said, her voice hoarse and barely a whisper. He leaned toward her to hear over the roar of the elements. “Don’t let…him…take me.”
SOUND OFF
Are you one of those rare folks who likes the cold? Or would you prefer to live somewhere warm? (Leave a comment below)
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November 17, 2017
FlashBack Friday – The Whisper That Made My Knees Give
#FlashBackFriday to one of my favorite openings I’ve ever written. As soon as Dameon whispered the words in my ear, I knew that was how the book should start. Old school, teasing, so very wrong and yet, oh-so-right. No wonder Valencia is shaken.
Imagine the sexiest voice you’ve ever heard, lace it with a delicious French accent and then have it whisper in your ear…
“Hello lady wife.”
Valencia Fabelle froze atop her crystal encrusted Manolo Blahniks. She would recognize that voice till she took her last breath. Two hundred eighty-nine years and ten thousand miles did nothing to lessen its potency.
SOUND OFF
What’s the sexiest accent you’ve ever heard? (Leave a comment below.)
PS. An excerpt from my new book, Second Chance With Her SEAL, is up in the SB Fan Club.
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October 27, 2017
The Best Week Ever To Get Sick + What I’m Reading
It’s that time of year again!
Autumn is in the air and so is the pollen. And you guys know how much my body, sinuses in particular, just LOVE pollen! Like hard core snuggles and squeezies.
Yeah, not so much.
So that sinus headache turned into a full blown cold on Monday and good thing too. You see, one of my design clients, Michelle Helliwell, had just send me a sneak peak at her new release, Never Trust a Rogue in Wolf’s Clothing (Enchanted Tales)[image error].
So I spent most of the day in bed reading about Bastien and his bid for Eleanore’s heart.
And when I was done, I swooned.
Then, I of course, bought a copy of the book because it hit bookshelves Tuesday.
And that same day, I had a flurry of mail! Mail from several favorite authors letting me know that they had new releases out. Color me thrilled.
See, not such a bad week to get sick after all. Now, I kept on working (design clients need covers regardless of the state of my head cold and I wrote too, because #RomanceHeals) but here’s what I’m looking forward to reading this weekend.
In no particular order:
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July 5, 2017
My New Writing Trick
My new writing trick is actually an old writing trick.
In fact, Rachel Aaron covers this in her 2,000 to 10,000 Words book.
If you’re anything like me, you waffle between being a planner and a panster. I guess that makes me a planster. Perfect. I love plants.
Anywho. The trick.
This isn’t the first time I’ve done this. It’s probably not even the 100th. It’s just something I usually forget until I’m desperate. Depending on the book I’m writing, I’ll have a solid plan in mind or I’ll just be going with the flow. Either way I can sometimes come to a grinding halt, even if I have a general idea of where the book/scene is headed.
So here’s what I do.
In the same document, underneath the scene I’m currently writing, I’ll jot down what I need to happen next. It’ll be general things and usually action oriented.
Such as: Boomer fixes the flat tire. Celita leaves and he and Sabrina are alone. She peppers him with questions and he cuts her off, terrified of his reaction to her reappearance in his life.
Here’s what else I write beneath that.
I list what the scene/chapter is supposed to do. What emotions the characters show, how the setting affects the scene, etc. These are the overarching “keep this in mind” type details that I like to know so that as I’m writing and especially revising, I can keep in mind.
And that’s it. Somehow, jotting down those notes (and sometimes they’re longer than what I’ve already written) takes some pressure off and knocks things loose so I can move forward and write.
So when in doubt, create a little outline for yourself to finish out the scene/chapter. And give those “purpose/mood” details a shot.
Source: startupstockphotos.com
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June 26, 2017
Seeking Kindness
Recent events in my life have made me explore kindness and what it means to be kind. It’s also made me wonder if we, as a society, should go looking for kindness.
Just today I had several experiences, moments of friction, and I’ll be honest, I feel like there’s a general sense of “everybody’s out to get us.” Has it always been like this?
Is this caused by the current climate?
I don’t know.
In my books, there’s conflict, drama, action and a full gamut of emotions. There are legit concerns about “people out to get me.” Wouldn’t it be nice if those concerns could stay in fiction?
Do you seek kind acts in your daily life?
It might sound hokey or whatever, but there are times when I’ve done something, or not done something, and given myself a mental gold star. But did anyone else notice?
Can we establish a pay it forward system of kindness if we’re all in “they’re out to get me” mode?
Thoughts? Maybe you don’t suffer doubts the way I do, but I’d love to know where you feel we are, you are, your current surroundings are on the kindness meter.
~Selena
Source: stokpic.com
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May 23, 2017
Book of the Week: Bitten to the Bayou
Jules and Andre Deveraux have been hired to find wildlife photographer Angelica Humphrey. She’s lost somewhere in the Louisiana bayou and there’s a hurricane brewing. Angelica has never met anyone like Jules or Andre and she’s instantly attracted. But she doesn’t have time to act on her desire because she has to get away from the ex-boyfriend who stalks her. They take her back to their cabin, offering her protection and shelter from the storm.
But Angelica quickly finds herself falling under their spell and they happily show her that if one Deveraux is good, two are infinitely better.
Warning: Contains two sinfully handsome Cajun werewolves with voracious appetites, a splash of danger and a naughty game of scrabble.
Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon FR |Amazon DE | iBooks | Nook | AllRomanceEbooks |Smashwords
“Selena Blake has created a steamy escape down in the bayou. These quick, fun reads are a pleasurable experience to have when time is short.” ~ Kristy Bock, ParanormalRomance
“Fantasies come true in STORMY WEATHER 2: BITTEN IN THE BAYOU, as unanticipated circumstances turn into delightfully wicked fun.” ~ Amelia, SensualReads.com
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March 28, 2017
Say hello to Teo and Jill (Toying With Her SEAL)
Hello book lovers!
I’m so pleased that Toying With Her SEAL is available as a stand-alone story. If you purchased the Seven Naughty SEALs bundle in autumn of 2015, you have a copy of this sinfully sweet holiday romance.
It was supposed to be a no-strings, harmless, shortlived, get-the-SEAL-out-of-her-system fling.
The men in Jillian’s life don’t stick around and she’s come to grips with that. Yet, when one week turns to two and Teo shows no signs of moving on, she can’t help but get her hopes up.
Teo just got out of long, committed relationship with the military. He has no intention of settling down, no matter how delicious Jillian tastes.
Except… maybe it’s his retirement or perhaps the holiday cheer, but he can’t get the curvy, brunette coffee shop owner out of his head. And he did promise her a fling…
Lucky for her, a SEAL never does anything half-assed, especially when it comes to making a woman scream with pleasure.
——
See if Teo can make you scream: Amazon | Amazon UK |Amazon FR | Amazon DE | iBooks | Nook | Kobo |
——
Tell a friend!
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March 20, 2017
Freebie Alert!
Heads up Wolfpack. There are freebies available today.
Hope you find something fabulous: http://www.omgreads.com/spring-into-love/
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March 13, 2017
I’m Super Excited…
Even though I’m still on my self-imposed break up with writing, I am super excited.
By telling myself “no writing” (with the occasional wrist slap) I’ve found the urge increasing daily.
I’m so excited about a new story idea.
And the other day I was thinking about a story I’d started a while back and all the pieces just fell into place. (For the writers in the crowd, I asked myself how I could make the plot more high concept and boom. The answer fell into my lap. Love when that happens!)
So while I’m not writing yet, I have jotted down a few notes. Don’t want to let them get away, you know.
It’s a paranormal story, set in Louisiana. I’m not sure if it’s set in the Stormy Weather world yet or if the Deveraux’s might make a cameo. One step at a time.
Your Turn
What have you been reading lately?
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