Selena Blake's Blog, page 65
March 18, 2011
Saturday Snippet: Her POV
This week's snippet comes from The Cajun's Captive. Amanda St. James is our heroine in TCC and she's as southern as they come. Beautiful, strong, a dash sassy. I think this particular scene is rather lovely in that it shows how Amanda feels about Sebastian, our ultra hot Alpha hero. Not only does it show how she feels, it shows both sides of the coin: her frustration with him and her current situation and her feelings for him that have never really died as well as her desire for him now.
Enjoy!
"What are you thinking about in that beautiful head of yours?"
"Flattery will get you nowhere."
She had to stay strong. Use what little bit of strength and anger she had left. Being this close to him put her in serious danger of falling for his temptation. Falling under his spell. It was lust. She had to remember that. That's all he was offering.
"That's not true. Your pulse leapt the tiniest little bit when I called you beautiful. You can't deny it, Manda. Any more than you can deny your desire for me."
She huffed. Of course she desired him. She'd have to be blind not to. It ticked her off that she was so easy to read. So obvious in her attraction.
"You're full of it," she scoffed.
"You deny it?"
Before she could answer, he pulled the car to a stop on the shoulder. The sudden movement tossed her forward. The second they stopped, he was out of his seat and opening the back door. Her heart thundered in her chest. He had a dangerous look in his eyes. Water droplets pelted his shirt, clung to his hair.
Somehow, he folded himself into the backseat and then pulled her into his lap.
"What're you doing?" A shiver raced up her spine. He was too close. Much too close. He would surely read all the secrets in her eyes.
She looked away.
"Look at me, chérie."
She shook her head.
Patiently, he cupped her cheek in his hand. Dear God, she wanted to rub against it, wanted to feel his hands in her hair, his fingers against her lips, her skin, her breasts. This was madness. She'd come down here for a funeral, for goodness sakes. This wasn't supposed to happen.
Reluctantly she met his eyes.
"That's better." He stared at her as if searching for something. "Now tell me you don't desire me."
Looking at him made her stomach do little cartwheels. She was so tired of denying the truth. Denying her desire for him. She was tired of protecting herself all the time, of trying too damn hard not to be her mother.
She shook her head again, unable to say the words aloud, but couldn't help leaning into him. His hand stroked her side through the thick material of his robe and she yearned to remove the fabric. To be naked in his arms. To feel his skin against hers.
"That's right. You can't say it. It's not true. You've always wanted me, mon amour. Just as I've always wanted you."
Her eyes swerved up. He knew she'd had a crush on him? He'd always wanted her? What about what he'd said to Jules?
She started to speak but the words came out in a jumbled heap. The chill bumps came back full force and she shivered beneath the thick robe.
"Shh…" His gaze flicked to her lips and she licked them quickly. Hoping, praying he'd kiss her. Their breath mingled. God, how she'd dreamed of this. Of being this close.
"We need to get back on the road. Don't wanna get stuck out here with the storm a comin'."
He kissed her forehead and lifted her from his lap. That was it? That was all?
He came back here and told her how much he wanted her? And didn't even steal a kiss?
"Men," she mumbled.
He got out of the back seat, slammed the door and then opened his to get back in the driver's seat.
She wanted to scream. She wanted to tell him to get back here and put her out of a dozen years of lust-filled misery.
Be sure to check out the other Snippet Saturday authors
Jody Wallace
Emma Petersen
Leah Braemel
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
Lauren Dane
T.J. Michaels
Update on the new Splash Page
For the authors in the crowd wanting a follow up to this post about my new splash page I'm happy to report 33 new subscribers in the last 24 days. Let's hope these results continue and that my new subscribers are enjoying my free reads!
Are you signed up to get access to my free reads? No? Why not! Free reads, people. What's not to love? Sign up here.
Readers, Dee Carney has a list of free reads on her blog and here are a few more I've compiled.
March 15, 2011
Writers' Karma and Professional Jealousy
I've seen very few writers publicly discuss something that I think many of us experience at one point or another during our careers. Jealousy.
Candace Havens recently discussed Writers' Karma over at the genreality blog and she's right on target in my opinion. So often, as readers and writers, we might poke fun at a genre or book we don't like. I'll admit to this. Usually it's out of jealousy (bad author!) or because of how others have treated me (that whole do onto others thing…)
One commenter said:
Maybe it's jealousy – Ms. Meyer wrote something wildly popular and made a ton of money. Her readership numbers are larger than the population of some countries. And I'm jealous as hell, but you know what? That means I need to write something as good if not better.
To which I say: This. Exactly this. Jealousy is such a vile, evil emotion. I suppose it's natural to be jealous of the super stars. And I've felt that evil twinge when I think about Twilight, mostly because I write paranormal. I don't feel that way about Dan Brown or Rowling, perhaps because I don't really write what they do.
But this is exactly right. It just means I need to channel that negative emotion into positive energy and write something fabulous. To push myself harder, keep studying the "masters" and keep writing. I like to think this is a business where you get what you give.
And if you give negative energy, well, you're really only hurting yourself. Does that mean I'm all peaches and sunshine? Heck no. Let's be real. I expect to be jealous at some point, it's not as if I can suddenly turn off the green monster. But I think it's a monster worth fighting. And I think it's worth remembering that Karma can come back and bite you in the butt. So play nice. Be nice. And for goodness sake, sign up to my facebook page! *g*
March 12, 2011
Response to: Write Lots Of Books Or Build An Author Platform. Which Is More Effective?
I don't see why you can't do both.
I think for a fiction writer building a solid readership is key. If your platform helps accomplish that, great. But the best way to develop a fanbase is to write great books that get people talking and excited. Write another book, let your readers talk about it. And then, write another book. Wash, rinse, repeat.Ultimately, the goal of a good author platform, I think, is to sell your product. If you're a fiction writer, your product is your book. You want people to know who you are. You want people to buy your book. Which means you should always be working on your next book.
Just my $.02.
I don't see why you can't do both. I think for a fiction writer building a solid readership is key. If your platform helps accomplish that, great. But the best way to develop a fanbase is to write great books that get people talking and excited. Write another book, let your readers talk about it. And then, write another book. Wash, rinse, repeat.
Ultimately, the goal of a good author platform, I think, is to sell your product. If you're a fiction writer, your product is your book. You want people to know who you are. You want people to buy your book. Which means you should always be working on your next book.
Just my $.02.
March 11, 2011
Saturday Snippet: All About the Hero
The Smokestack bar on the corner of Iberville and Decatur overflowed with locals, tourists, and thick cigarette smoke but Laurent Deveraux still felt alone. Seated at a small round table in the back corner of the dark room, he nursed a glass of whiskey. A moody blues ballad reverberated off the walls and soaked into his bones.
"Slow down there, buddy," Burke said as Laurent drained his glass. "Leave some for the rest of us."
"I doubt New Orleans is suddenly going to run out of whiskey, brother," Laurent said wryly.
Burke cut him a look. "What crawled up yer butt and died?"
"Nothing," he muttered.
He envied his brother's easy going attitude. Burke sat with his long legs stretched out in front of him as if he didn't have a care in the world. He moved his feet to the music and smiled when the waitress stopped by their table for the fifth time that night.
Laurent took another sip of whiskey. Would he ever be happy like that again? Most of the year he managed to shake himself from his funk. But not today.
His inner wolf felt caged. He wasn't known for keeping his temper leashed. What he needed was a good fuck.
He surveyed the crowd, his gaze falling on the females. He worked his jaw back and forth as he looked them over and dismissed them all just as quickly.
None of them were her.
And this close to the anniversary of her disappearance, no one else would do.
~ from Seduced by a Cajun Werewolf (coming soon)
Be sure to visit the other Saturday Snippet Authors:
Emma Petersen
Jody Wallace
Leah Braemel
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
Lauren Dane
T.J. Michaels
Response to: I Was Wrong, Konrath Was Right
Here's a comment I made on Bob Mayer's post I Was Wrong, Konrath Was Right. I thought it was worth sharing here on SAIP.
Hi Bob. Great post. Be ruthless. I like it! One of the author's I look up to once said "be aggressive." I took that to mean be aggressive in your writing, in your pursuit of "greatness" in regard to your writing, be hard on yourself, don't take no for an answer, keep working at it, keep submitting, learn which rules to break….but don't be obnoxious.
As a matter of coincidence, I'm actually featured on Joe Konrath's blog today discussing my success as an Indie author, sharing my Ten Commandments for Indie Publishing and in general talking about what it took to get me where I am today.
As the industry shifts, parts crumble and other parts grow, I think one key thing to remember is there's no right way to become published that will work for all authors. Sort of, there's no right or wrong way. There are different ways. Different avenues to take. Different things to consider. And just like each person is an individual, their path to publication is unique.
It's not that traditional publishing is wrong and ebook publishing is right. I've been invested in the ebook industry for about ten years now. Yes, ten years. It seems like such a new "trend" but people have been publishing digitally (and only digitally) for years now. It's not "new." What's new is the speed with which readers (masses of readers) are adopting ereaders and becoming digital converts.
Each section of the market has flaws. Joe points many of them out. I think what we're seeing these days is the market finally being forced to adjust and hopefully fix those flaws.
March 10, 2011
11 Reasons I Stopped Following You
Be honest, do you "follow" me? Following, such an interesting new word in our daily vocabulary. Following can refer to following someone on twitter or a blog. Admittedly, I don't keep my RSS reader as tidy as I should. But I do cull my twitter and tumblr lists fairly regularly.
Here are 11 reasons I might not follow you anymore.
1) You post too infrequently and therefore I feel like the account is dead.
2) You post too often. (Some users only show up on twitter once a week, but when they do, they post 50 messages in an hour, flooding my list. This is like the guy at the party who won't stop talking and you can't get away from him.)
3) You talk about yourself and nothing but yourself. Never interacting with others. Never asking questions.
4) You never respond when I talk to you. The wall of my office is just as interesting, I'd rather talk to that if no one is going to answer.
5) It's one sales pitch after another.
6) You talk about one thing all the time. Like your kids. Or your book. Or your car. Whatever. I appreciate well rounded tweeple.
7) You come across with an attitude. This may or may not be your fault or intentional, but I don't need someone with an attitude in my life.
You don't talk to anyone but your best buds. This isn't high school. You can expand your circle of friends.
9) You follow 9451 people. Only 6 follow you. 5, if you don't count me.
10) You tweet while drunk. Or your tweets just don't make any sense. I understand the 140 character limitation, but aim for complete sentences. If your tweets read like one big inside joke, I'm outta there.
11) You overshare. I don't need to know about your nose hair. Thanks.
Now it's your turn. Am I guilty of any of the above? *nervously chewing my lip* What makes you stop following someone?
23,000 Copies. Now What?
It's right under the two month mark of when I released The Cajun's Captive and Bitten in the Bayou on Kindle, Nook and Smashwords. In those two short months the books have zoomed up to #11 in the Romance category on Nook and dipped below the #900 mark on the Kindle Paid list. I've gotten many reviews and lots of email from readers. Thus far in 2011, I've sold over 23,000 copies of my indie titles.
Needless to say, it's been an exciting few months.
This is the sort of place I've always dreamed of being. Selling my work. Making a living. Hearing how much readers are enjoying my stories. That's what any author wants, I assume.
But it's also a place of uncertainty. The market is changing so quickly that many of the books on writing that I've read and that grace my bookshelves are now obsolete. Promotion is different. Distribution is different. Publishers, contracts, and even querying are different.
And I'll admit, I'm feeling the pressure. While there are Indie writers selling far more than me, I still think 23,000 is a pretty awesome number. And more importantly, readers are emailing me almost daily about the next books in my series. It's similar to when my books were first released at Cobblestone Press and they shot to the very top of their bestseller lists. Exciting? You have no idea! I took screenshots. LOL But at the same time, that sort of success made me work harder to produce better books. (Which is not a bad thing, in my opinion, unless it contributes to writer's block.)
After I made that list, I put a lot of pressure on myself and for a while it stifled my creativity. This is still a demon I'm fighting today.
So for those of you who are going through the same thing (the doubts, the pressure, the uncertainty of this shift in the industry), here are a few suggestions that I've found helpful.
Return your focus to your book. It's all about the book. It's all about the writing.
Keep writing, no matter what. Disregard bad reviews, a dip in sales, or gloom-and-doom outlooks. You must keep writing.
Keep your eye on the prize. If it's a new dishwasher or a car for Junior, print out a picture and keep it where you can see it. It'll help keep you focused.
Crawl under a rock if you need to. You must protect yourself and your work. If that means socializing less, so be it.
Create an "I Don't Suck" folder and fill it with praise. Take a screenshot of good reviews, reader praise, high sales rankings, or even a copy of your royalty report.
Don't be afraid to go back to your Craft books. Good writers never stop learning in my opinion. So, if you find yourself stumped, go back to the basics. Read a craft book. Use what you learn and get back to work.
Put your Butt-in-the-chair, hands-on-the-keyboard!
March 6, 2011
SSFI: Cajon Captive
Hello Sexy Readers,
I'm not one to belittle those who can't spell or make typos because I've got words that I can't spell correctly no matter how many times I write it on the blackboard. And hey, we all make typos right?
However, I would like to offer a bit of assistance with this week's Someone Searched For It Sunday.
Search Term: Cajon Captive
Technically, the title is The Cajun's Captive.
That's spelled Cajun. Not Canjun or Cajon or Cajion. Yes, I've seen all three alternate spellings. If you want the real deal, look for The Cajun's Captive.
Cheers!
February 28, 2011
After-Oscars Thoughts
If you visited last week, you might have read about my Oscars excitement. I love Anne Hathaway as an actress and as a celebrity who doesn't do drugs, hog the lime light and/or steal things. And James Franco… hello, gorgeous!
It seemed like a match made in Oscar winning heaven.
Let me start with the dresses…Anne, you lucky girl you. Her dresses were incredible! I loved the Valentino best.
And James…stick to the tuxedo, handsome.
I, for one, thought Hathaway was genius, the little bits she was allowed to show. Does it bug anyone else that the hosts get to speak so little and instead they announce another announcer who then announces another announcer. I think half the show is watching people walk onto the stage.
Anyway, I thought Hathaway was engaging, funny, charming, and appealing to all demographics. I thought Franco looked like he'd rather be anywhere but on that stage. The best Franco/Hathaway moments were during the pre-Oscars interviews and commercials. They seemed to really connect. But on stage… not so much.
I think Hathaway connects better with Hugh Jackman.
So without further ado, my nomination for next year's Oscars hosts… Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway. I'd support that 200%.
In other news, a bunch of people won gold statues…no surprises in my book and really not that interesting to me this year. Celine Dion did a great job though.
Remember, vote Jackman/Hathaway for 2012!!!
PS. Yay to Sandra Bullock for ROCKIN' that red dress. Take that Jesse James.
