Selena Blake's Blog, page 63
August 9, 2011
You know you want it…
I'm doing something special for the next chapter of my free read. If you're not subscribed to my newsletter, you can still get access to the chapter. Just click the link below. It will take you to Pay with a Tweet.
All you have to do is send a note to Twitter or Facebook, via the buttons on Pay with a Tweet, with the link back to this post. The website makes it a simple 2 step process.
And then you get to download the latest chapter. Did I mention you're helping to spread the word about Kaden and Ava's romance? How awesome of you!
— Get part 6. —
Questions? Leave a comment below.
July 7, 2011
Really? Romance is bad for you?
If you've been on the twittersphere recently you might have heard about a new article making the rounds. Boiling it all down – the article claims romance is bad for women.
What?
Stories of love, monomogmy, family, communication, and respect are bad for you? Well, crap. I'm screwed.
The article evidently uses a 15 year old survey of 70-80 romance novels written and published in the 80s and early 90s. According to the survey, 1 in 10 stories mention condoms. *gasp*
Come on readers. I know you're smarter than that. Just because a character in a book doesn't use a condom, I know you are smart enough to use one if you need to. I know you know the difference between a strong, committed relationship and a quickie with a stranger. I'm not going to insult your intelligence by educating you every step of the way.
For the record – my books include condoms when needed.
My characters are smart folks just like you, so assume that they're doing what they need to do to stay healthy and safe.
And I know a LOT of romances these days use condoms. I'd say 75 – 85% use condoms. Personally, I could care less if the book mentions condoms or birth control. Why? Because I trust the characters to be smart. And I don't like how such serious talk ruins the mood. And I know regardless of what I've read/learned in romance novels over the past decade that if a condom isn't involved, no sexys for me. It's a personal rule. Worrying about characters and their sexual safety is like being overly concerned about a character not wearing a seatbelt. It's a book. A story. Yes, I want my characters to be safe, but at the end of the day, I'm an educated woman. I'm smart enough to use my seatbelt. And I know my readers are too.
If you're looking for a hot, sexy read (condoms included!) check out Just a Little Taste. Two characters meeting in the night for a passionate rendevous. A hint of suspense. A lovely French setting. Oh yeah, and fabulous wine. No passport required.
June 23, 2011
Guest: Sara Reinke on becoming a storyteller
I've been writing stories since I was very young, pretty much as long as I can remember. My mom has all of them packed away in an attic somewhere, I'm sure—spiral-bound notebooks filled with handwritten tales of unicorns, dragons and little-girl detectives. I don't know what inspired me at that time, except that I could read from a very early age, and undoubtedly books helped my imagination to bloom. I don't think it occurred to me that the people who wrote those books did so for a living; for me, it was always an intrinsic sort of call, and I guess I've always assumed—then and now—that anyone else who did it, too, felt the same way.
When I was in second grade, my uncle Pete gave me a paperback set of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and I read them cover to cover, until they were falling apart, literally taped back together. I remember realizing as I dove into Tolkien's world of Middle Earth that this was what I wanted to do—I wanted to be a storyteller, a writer; I wanted other people to read and enjoy my work.
Throughout my childhood from that point forward, I went through a series of typewriters. My parents bought me a play one when I first told them I wanted to be a writer. As they watched me pound out stories on its little keyboard, I guess they eventually figured I was serious, so they bought me a real one—a huge steel-cased manual that probably weighed as much as I did. I'd lug it from room to room, pecking and typing. At some point over the years, my family got sick of the racket and bought me a (silent) electric one. By high school, I'd upgraded to word processors, and in college, I bought my first laptop.
The tools of the trade may have changed over the years, but the desire behind them has always remained the same. I love to write. I would write stories even if no one else ever read a single word of them. That I get to share them with readers—that other people enjoy them—is an added bonus and one of the greatest sources of satisfaction I know.
Read an excerpt of Sara's latest, Dark Passages.
ABOUT SARA
"Definitely an author to watch." That's how Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine describesSara Reinke. New York Times best-selling author Karen Robards calls Reinke "a new paranormalstar" and Love Romances and More hails her as "a fresh new voice to a genre that has grownstale." Find out more at www.sarareinke.com.
CONNECT WITH SARA
Blog: http://sarareinke.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/Sara-Reinke/100001807057213
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaraReinke
June 22, 2011
Everyone is an expert. Not.
Hello dear friends and followers,
I've been noticing a lot (and I mean a whooooole lot) of articles going by in my twitter feed lately about publishing, self publishing and what it takes to make it as an author these days. There are the haters (hi guys!), the disbelievers (howdy) and the evangelists (bonjour).
And everyone seems to think they're an expert.
But I'd like to point out that hardly anyone is an expert these days. Of the books on my bookshelf that tell me how to get published and promote my books, none of them have any advice for writers like me. Why? Because these books are old. Even two years old is old at this point.
If you want to know who the experts are, look to the authors who are living this roller coaster ride. Look at authors who are successful today. Look to the authors who are constantly evolving, constantly bettering their craft, constantly working toward new projects and better things. Look at the authors who are pioneering the Digital Book era.
These authors are the ONLY ones, in my opinion, that can tell you anything at all with any degree of certainty as to what works and what doesn't work. In other words, unless you're living it, you have no idea what it takes to become an overnight success. You have no idea what it's like to shoot up the online bestseller lists. You have no idea about the hard work that goes into writing, perfecting your craft and finally see that work pay off.
These are the experts you should be listening to. Everyone else, it's just an opinion and they don't have all the facts.
June 21, 2011
Response to: Askers vs. Guessers: Which one are you?
This is one of those posts.
When I find an interesting blog post I often comment there but sometimes I like to come back here and collect my thoughts, expand a little, and present a post for my future reference and yours. That said…
Here's another fascinating blog post from Isabel Swift.
"In some families, you grow up with the expectation that it's OK to ask for anything at all, but you gotta realize you might get no for an answer. This is Ask Culture.
In Guess Culture, you avoid putting a request into words unless you're pretty sure the answer will be yes. "
Until I read this post I never really considered the two sides of the coin.
I think I'm a Guesser trying to be an Asker. In other words, I try to read between the lines and sort of flirt around the edges of things but have a hard time asking for what I want. For instance, I always (ALWAYS) get nervous when I have a new book coming out. I feel very insecure in asking readers to check it out, much less buy it.
But I'm overcoming that more and more thanks to some awesome readers who push (and sometimes shove.)
I think the key to being an asker or a guesser is to be respectful and professional. I don't think there's anything wrong, for instance, with pitching your book to an editor or agent so long as you do so in an appropriate manner.
For instance, I recently saw an editor (or was it an agent?Unfortunately, I digested the advice and didn't note the advice giver – oops) on twitter mention not to pitch to an agent or editor in a bar, in a restroom, on their blog, twitter, facebook, etc.
That makes sense to me. Those are intimate, private areas where the editor or agent is having personal time. In other words they're off duty!
In the same vein, readers requesting promo materials is A-okay to me. That's why we authors have them made. It's okay for readers ask authors questions and engage in conversations so long as they're respectful. And I hope it's okay for authors to do the same.
Regardless of your type, I'd say the key is always respect. Respect for others time and talent and energy. And professionalism. Politeness goes a long way whether you're guessing or asking. (Luckily, I have the politest, best readers in the world!)
June 20, 2011
Response to: Research the Market
I'm back with another response to a blog post. This one is called The Completely Backwards Way to Amazing Self-Publishing Success and it's over on The Book Designer blog.
Wow. There are so many things I want to respond to.
First, love the idea of Imaginary Blog Articles.
Second, I agree about researching the market. My only issue with that is that if traditional publishers have researched the market and therefore know what should sell well, why do so many books lose money? Over on Forbes.com today I read that 80-90% of books lose money. So while I am all for researching the market (it should be required!) at some point you have to jump in with both feet and hope you float. At that point you will have something new and incredible on your side. You have information you didn't have before. You'll have statistics on how well that idea/topic/genre sells and you will hopefully have feedback. Then the goal is to make the most out of both.
June 15, 2011
Summer Book Club
I thought I'd try a little summer project. Book Club! Follow along if you want to talk books. If you haven't read the book in question, I'll link to it on amazon/bn.com so you can get a copy and join in. If you want to suggest a book, shoot me an email.
Join the discussion on my Facebook page.
June's Book - Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Contact Page Updated
Need to get in touch? Have a question? Suggestion? Want to rant or rave about your favorite book? My contact page has had an overhaul. Check out the facelift here http://site.selena-blake.com/contact-selena/
June 14, 2011
What do you want?
Pondering upcoming projects this afternoon. What do you want to read after the Stormy Weather series wraps up? Someone said more Cajun werewolves. I suggested Cajun Vampires.
What say YOU?!
June 10, 2011
Yes, I'm a "real" author…
'Yes, I'm a "real" author. My bank statement says so.' Pins!
Get yours now. Only $1.50!
Coming soon: 'Yes, I'm a "real" author. The IRS says so.' pins.
