Romarin Demetri's Blog, page 3

Holiday Book Hop! Nov. 27th- Dec. 9th

 
Hello, and welcome to the 2nd Annual Holiday Book Hop hosted by H.C. Bentley! I’m Romarin Demetri, your host for this stop.
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There are many great authors and bloggers taking part, with a TON of prizes to give away (including the Grand Prize of a Kindle Fire, loaded with books by authors on the hop), so be sure to make your way through the list of stops! Enjoy the hop, and best of luck!

In case you come across a broken link, visit the event for the full list of participating pages: https://www.facebook.com/events/126604358055307/


Today I’m giving away a $5 Amazon gift card (grab some books!!) and my series The Supernatural London Underground as Kindle copies! Here’s how to enter, so please read the instructions below carefully so you won’t be disqualified!!!


Enter at Rafflecopter here!

 
The link above will prompt you to:

1. Like Romarin Demetri on Facebook
2. Subscribe to my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/c6NDvH
3. For  bonus entries, join the mailing list for my paranormal romance serial sending in May 2018!
 

Winners will be chosen at random. Giveaway is open from 11 am EST on November 27th until 11:59 am EST on December 9th.
 
The next stop on the Holiday Book Hop is
Author Sarah Stein

https://www.facebook.com/authorsarahstein/
 
Don’t forget to take part in all participating pages to be entered for the Grand Prize Giveaway. 
Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/126604358055307/ for more information.

Facebook giveaways are in NO way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. Information collected is NOT collected by Facebook. In signing up for this promotion, participants release and indemnify Facebook from all liability.

 

3 Easy Reasons to Leave a Book Review

Months and years are involved in the creation of one book. How can you say thank you or keep books alive? Tell people about them!

Leaving a book review is as easy as 1-2-3

You don’t have to talk to anyone—just post it online with no conversation with a live human involved.
No one’s asking for a book report or literary analysis. Say what you liked and end it with as little as 1 or 2 sentences.
Especially if you read and ARC or free copy, leaving a review is just the mark of a decent human being, and if you’re a reader already, that sounds like you.

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Book Proms: why you can’t be a “best-seller” without a number

So yeah, i’m quiet lately, and expecting to release my next book in fall of 2018, but I feel the need to blog about book proms, and so you get this. Saying you are a best-seller is useless unless you add a quantitative number and location to your best-selling book.

What do I mean by book proms? I mean popularity contests, not based on sales rankings from retailers that actually produce the book. These contests have nothing to do with actual book sales by retailer. The contests are usually taken from a small pool of participants and often award likes or sales from genre. On facebook, polls are opened.

What do virtual book proms do for a book? I don’t know, really. Do you see more success if you change your profile picture to a golden seal of book prom? I have no clue. What I do know is that author events and takeovers online have seen a decline in participation. Could needless contests be why? Is it worth it for bloggers to hold book proms? Are we so over-saturated with polls and proms that we’re sick of scrolling?

Book fair book prom

Real life events can also resemble prom. At some book events, sales from a book are reported to find the bestseller in each genre. Book prom.

I was at a book fair that did this. The book that won in my genre did not have legible text on the book jacket (though it could have been a really awesome book in all fairness!). The organizers told us that if our buyers reported the sale and we won, that we would now be a best-selling author! I was taken aback. Book proms are like cheating. You’re taking a small amount of sales from a small pool of books, and all of a sudden you’re a best-seller just like that, 5 books later?

When I see that a book is a best-seller, I don’t even blink anymore. The word best-seller means nothing, unless it says #1 and lists a retailer, I’m not interested, and I’m sure it’s confusing readers as much as it’s confusing me.

The only right you have to being a best-seller, is if the retail producer or seller of your book can validate it, and don’t bother stating anything unless your a top 10 because you look a little desperate.

Top 500 best-selling author on amazon

In another instance, I ran across an author turned publisher (I have read something represented by her publishing company that was poorly edited and constructed.) who was proclaimed best-selling, and looking at her ranking, the highest she got on amazon was #465. While that is impressive, I think we can all agree that it’s best stated if you can say top 10. Top 500 best-seller on amazon is great for you, but is it suitable for your bio? No, that’s why most people just say “best-seller” and completely leave out the rank. That sounds great for my troll bio. Again, I think top 500 is great, however, do people read 500 books a year? Probably not, so they are reading the 499 that rank above yours. Ouch, truth, ouch.

I don’t think book proms should grant you any titles such “best seller”. “Most popular” would be acceptable. better yet, just crown the book prom king or queen. If I had more time, perhaps I would organize an awesome book prom for you.

Gee, what won’t you bitch about, Romarin?

I do approve of contests that list the organization or giver as part of their award. “Buzzy’s Book Blog genre winner 2017” is ay okay.

If you don’t have a place and number before your best-selling title, then sit down, you don’t even go here. You need to cut it out, guys.

 

 

It’s okay to be proud of your writing. No matter what.

In my first year as a writer, after studying the publishing world for a year prior, I learned that the literary agents living in NYC were right– the success and visibility of a fiction novel come down to trends and the books the masses pick up, meaning that the books non-readers read and recommend are King.

Never in a million years did I think I’d fail at something I worked hard at. Usually, you can tell how a series is going to do after the third book (yeah I have 3 out), and it was clear when the second one was released that the majority of the people who bought book 1 just don’t want to read the rest. Yes, I did advertising and worked with a PR rep, and worked countless weeks on social media. I thought that all dreams came true with work, but it’s not true in an over-saturated market, where most work is treated like a dime store novel. Most avid readers are after free books, not out to see you making a living. Wouldn’t you rather have something you don’t have to pay for? Yeah, me too.

Lesson learned.

On the way through my first series, I also met fantastic readers that got my way of writing–that understand my story! I also received a few perfect reviews from an editorial service that also rate traditionally published fiction.

While I was discouraged, I didn’t share my personal struggles about failing on my author page, and held on to my great reviews and how much I appreciate the readers I do have. I wasn’t going to end my series in spite, and I’m still going to finish the story for readers even though I can’t make a career out of it.

That brings me to tell you that I’m still proud of my writing. I’m proud of growing, and I’m proud of how fast I could write a novel in the year that I spent being able to jot down 2,000-10,000 words in 24 hours! I saw progress, and because of that, I saw great reviews from readers and editorials.

I can say it: I am amazing at writing.

I’m wonderful at using literary devices, and symbolism, and making sure my characters have not only fears–but goals and imperfections. I write twists, things get dark, and challenges are involved. I show what real life is like in a fantasy setting.

I don’t think many writers without representation will see success in the post-twilight era, where the most popular book right now, 50 Shades of Grey, is a rip off of Twilight. A book that feels like it was filled by the author pointing to random words in the dictionary (Twilight) is still dominating the book market years later. For the most part, Urban Fantasy is over for the time being, and I accept that. Gripping plots are way more important to readers than the actual writing. Familiar plots are even better than gripping ones.

Recently my opinion was flat out asked for from another writer. It was more or less asking if other writers ever feel like they’re nor good enough and second guess every word, or think that they have no knack what so ever for writing. I said that I know I’m amazing but have self doubt because I don’t write what’s trendy. I said the writer was not alone, and that reflection is good but self-doubt isn’t. I said keep going. Unfortunately, I don’t think my opinion was being asked for, I think I was supposed to hold back my opinion, pat the writer on the back, and go.

The response I got was a way of saying that my opinion (the one that was asked for) was essentially wrong. The first point in the response was the writer telling me that the second-guessing had nothing to do with how other people receive their work. It’s about a lack of self-confidence in writing with no one else’s opinion involved. I get that people have different reasons for doubt. However, it was the second part of the response that got me thinking.

I was basically told, and very politely and tactfully I  might add,  that I shouldn’t say that I am amazing. After I go and begin my encouragement to keep going with “I know I am amazing,” the writer flat out states that their reason for being hypercritical is because they don’t want to be alone in thinking they are a good writer. They don’t want to be one of those people who is alone in thinking they are amazing.  Does that go against the first statement of saying that doubt has absolutely nothing to do with reviews or what’s popular, that it has nothing to do others? Yes… but it’s okay to think that way.

But thinking this way, that you’re so humble that you can forget about other people’s reviews of your work, and feel like your writing it utter crap, is a choice to be stricken with depression and anxiety about your writing. By saying that the opinions of others don’t matter, while you are trying to make sure that you’re not the only one who thinks you’re writing is great, you’re setting yourself up for upset you don’t deserve. Your humility and the conflict between self-reflection and pride will make everything so much harder. But my opinion on this is wrong, and am supposed to let you wallow in your humble ways.

But I can’t. I can’t broadcast the depression I felt over failing, and the way I paused my life while I spent my savings on editing and producing my books. I can’t make other authors commiserate and feel like every word they pen could be wrong because I know there is EXCELLENT writing out there that no one will ever see. I can’t completely turn in on myself and forget the readers who are buying my books, reviewing them, and reading them. I can’t leave readers out of the equation and turn in on myself, panicked that every word is wrong. Yes, I’ll do a revision on my first book, but I’m not going to say that it’s horrible, because it’s not.

Being proud of your writing isn’t wrong. Saying that you know you are amazing does not mean that you don’t have room to grow. It doesn’t mean that you’re better than others. It doesn’t mean any of that. It’s only about you. It only means that you are proud of the time and work spent on your story, and that you love your story.

I, Romarin Demetri, have failed at making a career out of something I excel at, and I’m not going to think less of my talent for it. Surely, I could be forfeiting getting future 5 star reviews, unable to have my books edited anymore, but you know what?

I’m a genius, and I will not downplay my accomplishments, or the readers who fell in love with my story and characters. It does not mean that I am the best writer out there (Come on, it’s Shakespeare and always will be if you look at things mathematically), and it does not mean that I can’t improve.

I don’t think anyone else should have to keep from being proud either.

I don’t think writers should turn in on themselves, because when you release a book, you put it out there, and you’re asking for readers to be a part of it. How can you then take away all meaning that readers hold?

Sometimes when you ask for an opinion, you will get a blog post like this. Any writer reading this needs to stop doubting themselves. Don’t toss every accomplishment you’ve met aside and let the fear of picking the wrong word cripple you. Don’t pick 1 line and read it over and over again in contemplation. Don’t choose to set yourself up to be unhappy doing something you love and have a knack for.

Just write.

You are amazing too.

Happy Birthday, “A Mirror Among Shattered Glass”!

The suspenseful start and peek into the lives of guarded, imperfect characters turns a year old today! Where has the time gone?

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Mirror paved the way for books 2 and 3, The Frost Bloom garden and Wanions of the Wicked to get perfect editorial reviews from Readers’ Favorite, and be entered into a contest. I’ll know the results in September. I did my job this year, and I continue to learn and improve.

I told the story I needed to for the characters, and it’s different than a conventional story line. Mirror reflects on the main character and her decision to be in control of her own choices. It’s a story of self.

The first book in the series doesn’t reveal everything. Romarin doesn’t get to London and find automatic best friends who give her a tour of her new house and then go shopping with her. There is no montage of trying on outfits in this book. There is no instalove, and instead, Romarin finds out freely given trust isn’t the best way to make lasting relationships with the cast of new people in her life. She needs to come into her own and sort out the issues in her own head before she can fix everyone else. That’s what the suspense and layered characters are about. These are characters that might show you a scar one minute, and then cover it up and act like that never happened a moment later.

Of course, publishing independently is hard, no matter how many color-coded spreadsheets and tasks an author has. It’s hard to get even local exposure and an Independent author, and we rely heavily on awesome volunteers! During the release of The Frost Bloom Garden in December, my laptop broke, and I’ve been editing graphics and writing on an older, slower laptop, and can’t comprehend even planing a release until I have the proper tools again. I didn’t expect it would be this challenging, but at least I’ll never be short on material when I can write faster than I can release! These are the coolest things that happened to me as an author the past year:

Physical book events were AMAZING, because I got to meet new readers and friends! I enjoy seeing my favorite familiar faces!

Online events and the Indie book community were really helpful. I think I love my Drama free Book Community events the most!

One of my friend’s coworkers got Mirror for Christmas because it was suggested to her mom on Amazon!

My cover song was technically played on the radio (click the link for the archived file) as the intro to my appearance on Off The Chain With Yvonne Mason. Music is something I don’t want to forget how to do, so I’ll integrate it from time to time with my writing. I’ve seen too many friends give up all together!

I learned how to do cover design and made the cover for book 3! Again, editing on a slow machine takes ages, but I’m pleased with the final draft of the cover.

I learned how to write a book in a month. With proper outlining, I can finish writing a 75,000 word book in under a month now!

Books 2 and 3 got prefect reviews from Readers’ Favorite!

I grew by putting in edits by hand, and I’m learning how to make the most out of sending my creative writing to a technical editor! I’m also becoming excellent and showing and not telling.

Tens of people fell in love with my books and characters!

 

I have 13 more books planned. Thank you being a part of my publishing journey! We have many fun years ahead of us.

HP fan turns fan page “Pottermore-Slytherin” into Adolf Hitler shrine. As a reader I urge you: Unlike. Please share this post.

You might not know me as an author or person, but I have always thought that it is imprudent to make assumptions about an entire group of people without getting to know them, and one Harry Potter fan has taken to his or her Pottermore fan page to post quotes and pictures about how “Hilter did literally nothing wrong.”

Unfortunately, Adolf Hitler (who is pictured behind a Winston Churchill quote by the page owner) needs no introduction of his own.

When I read Night by Elie Wiesel, it made me physically shake with anger. The book is about how Wiesel and his father were commended to a concentration camp, and the images still haunt me today, especially as an author of fiction. I read it in college and it was not assigned reading. A reader who commented on the posts praising Adolf Hilter says “If you can even advocate any of the things he did, you probably need to reevaluate your life choices,” the page owner says, “I do advocate it.”

Another page admin, who like me, doesn’t tend to get into politics, has made the decision to unfollow the page (I wasn’t following it–I’m a Ravenclaw

Lilly Luchesi: A Bloody Legacy Release!

 

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Apr 27th

 

 

 

 

 

Give in to the darkness within.

Rebecca Renfield and her best friend Johanna Seward are reopening an old sanatorium to start their psychology practice when Bec discovers old recordings from a John Seward pertaining to someone with her surname. What she finds in the recordings are unnerving, but their new night-shift doctor promises to provide the distraction Bec needs.

Victoria Draconis is a mysterious, beautiful woman who opens doors into levels of pain, pleasure, and submission that Bec had never imagined existed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lily Luchesi is a young author/poet born in Chicago, Illinois, now residing in Los Angeles, California. Ever since she was a toddler her mother noticed her tendency for being interested in all things “dark”. At two she became infatuated with vampires and ghosts, and that infatuation turned into a lifestyle by the time she was twelve, and, as her family has always been what they now call “Gothic”, she doesn’t believe she shall ever change. She is also a hopeless romantic and avid music-love who will always associate vampires with love, blood, and rock and roll.

Her interest in poetry came around the same time as when she was given a book of Edgar Allan Poe’s complete work. She then realized that she had been writing her own poetry since she could hold a pen, and just had not known the correct terms. She finished her first manuscript at the age of fourteen, and was first published at twenty-one.

Her debut novel, Stake-Out (Paranormal Detectives Series Book One), was published by Vamptasy Publishing on May 19th, 2015. Book two, Miranda’s Rights, was released on January 8th, 2016. Book three, Life Sentence, was released on August 2nd, 2016 by Vamptasy Publishing, and book four, Right To Silence, was also just accepted by the publisher and will be released on January 17th, 2017.

She had a short story, “Undead Ever After” in the CHBB Publishing anthology Love Sucks (released on June 13th, 2015). Her first erotic short story, “Have No Fears”, was published in the Hot Ink Press anthology Naughty Bedtime Stories: In Three Words on October 10th, 2015. She will also have a short erotic horror story, “The Devil’s Dozen”, in the Hot Ink Press anthology Death, Love, Lust, which was released on February 4th, 2016. Her horror short “Too Young To Kill” was released in the CHBB Publishing anthology Lurking In The Shadows on June 28th, 2016.

 

 

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Seven’s Pub and Plundery: The Pub and Restaurant Book Blog Tour

Welcome to the first stop on The Pub and Restaurant Book Blog Tour! Your stop today is

Seven’s Pub and Plundery

from The Supernatural London Underground Series

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Setting up the series for you:

It’s been two decades since an attempt to eradicate the supernatural forces in the city under the guise of understanding them began, and about seven since it ended in chaos. After their escape, four twentysomething housemates try to learn what being human means, as the hidden part of the city starts to rebuild itself, and they must open their world up to a daft American girl with a dark secret, and potential for their cause. There is only one way for Romarin to become part of the Supernatural London Underground: Can she be the one who challenges the misfits to put down their ghosts and demons and make their world together?

 

Long before our Misfits living in Whitham Castle met the troublesome Romarin, they have been going to their favorite haunt, Seven’s Pub and Plundery.

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When visitors walk down the London alleyway that leads to Seven’s a feeling of doom and paranoia hits them.

“We twisted through an alley as the sky grew significantly darker around us. The narrow pathway between buildings gave me a creepy feeling, and I frequently glanced behind me, when I was not staring at my feet, worrying that my heels would get stuck in between the worn cobblestones.”- Book One, A Mirror Among Shattered Glass.

When you are able to brave the alley, you quickly find that Seven’s is one of the safer parts of London for paranormals, and that every supernatural subculture is represented there. It’s s safe place for people like Romarin to drink blood, without causing extra attention to herself.

Travis and Audin take Romarin to Seven’s as a kind of peace offering, because those guys are not so trusting and have secrets to protect. Romarin meets another cast of characters out at Seven’s, and the pub continues to be an important setting throughout the rest of the two books.

Though the pub is the social hub of the world, it’s not as safe as you might think. Characters fight and even die there, as there is still more than a fair share of danger in London. The best part? Even though this is modern London, it still has a working jukebox.

On Halloween for her first year in England, Romarin is invited to go to Seven’s for Halloween. Her friends won’t tell her what Flapdragon is, but won’t take her with until she agrees to play in the traditional tournament. If she wins, there is a pretty good prize involved. So what is Fladragon (Also known as snapdragon), you ask? Here’s a quick visual… and some swearing?

Tell me in the blog comments if you would play this Halloween Game at Seven’s! Be sure to comment  on this entry so your entry for the grand prize is valid!

To read the full Halloween chapter, it’s my gift to you, here: http://media.wix.com/ugd/4856bb_ceb95d7f145148b49ce2a9b0f8bb4815.pdf

Thanks for being here to celebrate the release of Wanions of the Wicked with me!

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Thank you for visiting my stop! Enter the giveaway at: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/851cc3d65 , and comment on each daily stop to validate your entry! You can find additional daily entries by tweeting through the Rafflecopter page.

A directory of the stops will appear in the main image of the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1290412891008262/ or the landing page.

Stop hyperlinks will be posted daily. Join us for author takeovers on April 30th in the facebook event. Good luck!

Have you entered into the Barnes and Noble Gift Card giveaway for the Pub and Restaurant Book Blog Tour yet? (Ends May 1st)

Mark your calendars for a flexible virtual event, and the chance to with $20 to Barnes and Noble! I want to give you the gift of books for celebrating the release of Wanions of the Wicked with me!

Visit each daily author hosted stop from April 24th-April 29th to win! You can even enter now for more entries!

Tour schedule (all times EST):




April 24th: Romarin Demetri– Seven’s Pub and Plundery
April 25th: Lesley Donaldson— Bath and Barrel in London of The Queen’s Viper
April 26th: Debbie Manber Kupfer– Victor’s Dining Hall in London P.A.W.S.
April 27th: K. L Roth– K.L.’s Pub in The world of Royal Lies
April 28th: Lisa Emme– The Lodge and Ice House

April 29th: Lilly Luchesi- Crowley’s Pub in the Paranormal Detectives Series

Event landing page link: https://www.facebook.com/events/12904…

Here is the rafflecopter link to enter as a tour participant: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp…

You can send tweets through the rafflecopter form every day for until the contest closes for extra entries! Any link you need will be posted in the description of the main image in the facebook event. You have until May 1st to visit all of the daily stops! Hope to see you there!

Are DNF reviews really all that helpful?

This post is full of some hard truths.

When I became and author I made the decision to not leave “Did Not Finish” reviews, and will not currently leave anything less than 3 stars. Yes, reading is subjective, and not everyone will love your story, but the problem I see with DNF reviews is that a reader didn’t actually read through your whole book. Should they post about something they don’t know? That’s the question today.

As a writer, you’re going to catch a reviewer on a day that’s not–how shall I say it– good, and sometimes low stars and DNF reviews happen because a scapegoat is needed, and sometimes, you are the projection of their bad day. Other readers can spot these easily. Still, you spent months writing the book and are responsible for putting it out there, regardless of how people will react to it. You did this as a writer and you knew this day would come. It’s not like every single person will read it correctly either, don’t believe me? if you don’t know what I’m talking about yet, there is a review out there just waiting for you.

Some bloggers will give it to you straight and tell you if they post these types of reviews, but some won’t.

Sometimes it’s not straight forward. I once had a blogger tell me a book wasn’t for them and that they would post for a release day spotlight, and instead they left a DNF review. I also have great (and *cough* perfect) editorial reviews, so I guess it evens out in the long run. It was unprofessional for that reviewer to change their mind, and I think of book bloggers as professional people. Yes it’s a hobby, and yes they don’t get paid, but they spend so much time meticulously crafting a professional website, that it’s a shame to see a crack in the facade.

A DNF review to me says, “do not read this book, and though I couldn’t take the time to read it all, I decided to take time writing this review… for some reason.” I view the behavior as petty, which is the hard truth I am expressing today. It makes more sense to to spend your time writing about something you like a maybe boosting your affiliate income to keep your blog going. DNF reviews aren’t helping anyone in the long run, and if you post them, you’re wasting your time. It’s vindictive. I also think they chip away at your credibility and make you seem like a curmudgeon. If you like to save time by picking your battles, don’t be posting DNF reviews.

Not leaving a review says more than a DNF. By not mentioning the book at all, you really send your message home. No attention. No wasted words. And look at you being professional.

So what to do when you can’t finish a book? I’m thinking about 8/10 authors will tell you it’s okay to fill out a contact form or message them if you see errors, or if there is something you’re not following. I have a hard time with this myself, but am trying to be more honest, and the authors who want to improve will take your advice. If they don’t take your suggestions or hear you out, they’re not opening to growing, and then, maybe you have a very valid point.

Readers, do you post about DNF books and why?

Authors, do you like when readers politely point out errors?