Q. Kelly's Blog, page 26
September 12, 2011
Reviews of "Strange Bedfellows"
Howdy! "Strange Bedfellows" has been getting great reviews, so I've put together a collection of links to the various reviews (in no particular order). I'll post more links soon and as they come.
Review on Affinity E-books
Goodreads review (Goodreads page for "Strange Bedfellows here)
Amazon reviews
Jae's review
Review on Affinity E-books
Goodreads review (Goodreads page for "Strange Bedfellows here)
Amazon reviews
Jae's review
September 6, 2011
"Strange Bedfellows" is at Smashwords now!
OK, I've put "Strange Bedfellows" on Smashwords for $5.99 (same price as at Amazon and BN).
There are many, many versions, and I previewed what I could. However, I don't have all these devices. If you purchase a copy and it doesn't come out right formatting-wise, please let me know. I will try to fix it, and I'll also send you a replacement copy/file.
You can sample the first 20 percent for free.
(Make sure you have your "adult filter" deactivated so the book shows up.)
Here is the link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/86761
This also means that in a few days, "Strange Bedfellows" should be available in the Apple bookstore, Sony bookstore and a few other places. However, Smashwords is a one-stop shop for ANY device.
Any questions, let me know! Thank you.
There are many, many versions, and I previewed what I could. However, I don't have all these devices. If you purchase a copy and it doesn't come out right formatting-wise, please let me know. I will try to fix it, and I'll also send you a replacement copy/file.
You can sample the first 20 percent for free.
(Make sure you have your "adult filter" deactivated so the book shows up.)
Here is the link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/86761
This also means that in a few days, "Strange Bedfellows" should be available in the Apple bookstore, Sony bookstore and a few other places. However, Smashwords is a one-stop shop for ANY device.
Any questions, let me know! Thank you.
Buy it at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/3kg7c9x
Buy it at Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/3hegq8f
September 4, 2011
"The Odd Couple"
Quite a few people have asked me about a book called "The Odd Couple" and if it is mine.
Short answer: Yep!
Long answer: A revised and expanded edition is coming out about January. The rights to "TOC" are back to me, and it was my first book. I definitely see room for improvement and expansion. I want to thank "TOC" reviewers for their valuable feedback.
So, look for "Waiting" in October, and then "The Odd Couple" about January.
Short answer: Yep!
Long answer: A revised and expanded edition is coming out about January. The rights to "TOC" are back to me, and it was my first book. I definitely see room for improvement and expansion. I want to thank "TOC" reviewers for their valuable feedback.
So, look for "Waiting" in October, and then "The Odd Couple" about January.
August 27, 2011
First Four Chapters of "Strange Bedfellows"
Here are the first four chapters of "Strange Bedfellows" in .pdf.
Click this link to open the file (no download required).
This gives you access to a bit more than you get through Amazon and Barnes and Noble's samples.
Buy it at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/3kg7c9x
Buy it at Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/3hegq8f
Click this link to open the file (no download required).
This gives you access to a bit more than you get through Amazon and Barnes and Noble's samples.
Buy it at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/3kg7c9x
Buy it at Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/3hegq8f
August 26, 2011
"Strange Bedfellows" is for sale
"Strange Bedfellows" is for sale in e-book at Amazon.com and BN.com. A print version is coming in about a month.
Summary: What happens when the queen of the ex-gay movement decides to come out of the closet? The person who helps Frances Dourne with this enormous task is a call girl Frances hires. A call girl with a secret of her own. Can they learn to trust each other enough to find the love they seek in each other's arms?
Buy it at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/3kg7c9x
Buy it at Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/3hegq8f
Here is an excerpt:
"We need to figure out how we'll introduce you to my family."
The prostitute undid Frances's ponytail and moved her hands into Frances's hair. "I like your hair down."
"I like yours down, too."
"Strawberries and cream?" Her breath tickled Frances's ear and neck. Goosebumps prickled and swayed on Frances's arms, legs and stomach. The prostitute again smelled of watermelon, but that did not bother Frances. Not now.
Frances felt soft lips nibbling her neck. Her thoughts spun. Her insides spun. The prostitute continued nibbling. Her hands curled around Frances's waist, coming to rest on her stomach. Her hips and her breasts pressed into Frances's back.
"Your name," Frances managed. "We need a name to tell my family. Make something up."
"Later."
"Why?"
"I don't want to lie to you. Not tonight, anyway. We have time to think of a name."
"It's not lying if I tell you to do it."
"I suppose."
"Tell me something about you."
"I want you, Frances Marie Dourne. Let me please you."
Damn, she was good. You don't want me. You want my money. The next time Frances was with a woman would be right. True. She wanted deep, heartfelt kisses, excited, eager tongues. Gentle caresses, maybe whispers of: "I love you." Not a prostitute's rules, such as no kissing, no touching here or there, no this or that.
"Tell me something about you," Frances insisted.
"I brought you the necklace."
Frances's heart thudded. What?
The prostitute reached for her briefcase and presented the necklace. The necklace did not have sand in it, not technically. The "sand" was pieces of fake green crystals. No matter. The necklace was lovely, and Frances traced its smooth, gold surface. It's not the same necklace. She bought a look-alike. I hope. "I couldn't. I really couldn't."
"Yes, you can. Turn back around so I can put it on you."
She's angling for a big tip. She's doing her job. Well.
Frances imagined for a moment that the woman before her was her lover, not a prostitute. She pretended that maybe they would make love that night. Her need to open herself up like a flower to another woman, to taste another woman, to kiss her, have their juices mingle, was great. Perhaps too great.
She had never tasted another woman. Pathetic.
The other prostitute--Frances had never asked her name--had been utilitarian. Workmanlike. She went down on Frances mechanically. Frances had not been tempted to touch her. Contempt shone in her eyes. Yet Frances returned week after week, until shame got the better of her. Frances was not sure why she had kept returning. Perhaps to spite the prostitute. Two could play that game. If the prostitute was not going to respect Frances, Frances was not going to respect her, either. Stupid. Petty. Chicken.
This new woman, this new prostitute, was different. She would be good. Frances longed to feel the heat of bare, female skin on her. One hotel room. One night. Maybe even just one hour.
She needed this. Deserved this.
"Let's get the necklace on you," the prostitute urged.
"I really couldn't."
"Are you sure?"
"Is it yours? Or one you bought today?"
"It's mine. I want you to have it."
"Tell me who gave it to you."
"I hardly wear the necklace. You'd wear it. It's beautiful and deserves to be worn. That's all there is to it. Okay?" The prostitute guided Frances to the mirror on the wall. The prostitute's breath on Frances's neck was hot. The area between Frances's legs clamored to be addressed. Three years was a long time. Too long.
The prostitute put the necklace on Frances. The combination was Christmassy, with the green close to Frances's red bra. Frances met the other woman's hazel eyes in the mirror. "Thank you."
August 25, 2011
About "Strange Bedfellows"
What happens when the queen of the ex-gay movement decides to come out of the closet? The person who helps Frances Dourne with this enormous task is a call girl Frances hires. A call girl with a secret of her own. Can they learn to trust each other enough to find the love they seek in each other's arms?
*** Credit for the awesome cover design goes
to Joy Argento. Check her out here: http://joyargentopaintingaday.blogspot.com/
Why Independent?
I am embarking on what promises to be an exciting journey. Risky, too, but so is the alternative. Forget about extending my big toe and testing the waters. I am flinging my arms open and belly-flopping into the world of independent publishing. Belly flops are fun. They cause big splashes and waves. And heck yeah, sometimes they hurt, but it's a fun, achy, red kind of hurt.
So, independent publishing. In other words, self-publishing, but independent publishing sounds more distinguished. Sure, there's a stigma, but as more and more authors find success through independent publishing, they're the ones laughing. Ebooks have changed everything.
How did I get here, especially since I had publisher interest and a contract at the ready? This publishing company has very nice people. I would have been glad to work with them, and maybe I will at some point if my belly flops doesn't work out. Honestly, I'm not sure how I got here. All I know was it happened bit by bit, until I realized: "Hey, this self-publishing shtick just might be the best thing for me."
*** Let's look at royalties first. With independent publishing, I can set my own prices. I'm not limited to a publisher's price maximum. I also get to keep 60 percent to 70 percent of sales money. In most cases, the figure will be 70 percent, because the majority of sales are through Amazon's Kindle. With a typical publisher, I would have gotten 30 percent of net distribution. A friend broke down an example for me quite starkly.
Say my ebook sells for $5.99 on Amazon. Amazon takes 30 percent, or about $1.80 That leaves $4.19 (and that is assuming the publisher uses Kindle Direct, not Smashwords. Figure on another 15 percent with Smashwords.). If I go independent publishing, that entire $4.19 is mine. With the publisher, if I negotiated to 50 percent, I take about $2 (the 50 percent net is based on the figure after Amazon takes its cut). With 35 percent, I'd be making about $1.46 per sale.
$4.19 sure looks a lot better than $2 and $1.46 especially when multiplied by X number of sales a month. Plus I can control and adjust pricing as needed.
*** Now let's look at upfront investment. When you go the independent publishing route, you supply your own cover, formatting, editing, ISBN if necessary and a few odds and ends. That costs money, heck yeah. Paying someone to do your cover can set you back anywhere from $100 to $1,500. Editing is about the same but can go much higher in some cases. Formatting is a bit cheaper at $100 to $200, but that's still good money. Fortunately, I've met someone (another independently publishing author) who will help me with my book covers and formatting. In exchange, I'll help her with story ideas and editing. In the long term, the higher royalty rates should offset the short-term investments.
*** This is the big question I've been asking myself: What can this publisher (and any publisher, really) do for me that I can't do for myself? The answer is a bit of marketing. But how much? Many of the self-published ebooks I've looked at have higher sales figures than many publishers' books. With any publisher, I will still have to do a lot of marketing and promotion work. The burden will still be on me.
So here I go. The water's warm!
So, independent publishing. In other words, self-publishing, but independent publishing sounds more distinguished. Sure, there's a stigma, but as more and more authors find success through independent publishing, they're the ones laughing. Ebooks have changed everything.
How did I get here, especially since I had publisher interest and a contract at the ready? This publishing company has very nice people. I would have been glad to work with them, and maybe I will at some point if my belly flops doesn't work out. Honestly, I'm not sure how I got here. All I know was it happened bit by bit, until I realized: "Hey, this self-publishing shtick just might be the best thing for me."
*** Let's look at royalties first. With independent publishing, I can set my own prices. I'm not limited to a publisher's price maximum. I also get to keep 60 percent to 70 percent of sales money. In most cases, the figure will be 70 percent, because the majority of sales are through Amazon's Kindle. With a typical publisher, I would have gotten 30 percent of net distribution. A friend broke down an example for me quite starkly.
Say my ebook sells for $5.99 on Amazon. Amazon takes 30 percent, or about $1.80 That leaves $4.19 (and that is assuming the publisher uses Kindle Direct, not Smashwords. Figure on another 15 percent with Smashwords.). If I go independent publishing, that entire $4.19 is mine. With the publisher, if I negotiated to 50 percent, I take about $2 (the 50 percent net is based on the figure after Amazon takes its cut). With 35 percent, I'd be making about $1.46 per sale.
$4.19 sure looks a lot better than $2 and $1.46 especially when multiplied by X number of sales a month. Plus I can control and adjust pricing as needed.
*** Now let's look at upfront investment. When you go the independent publishing route, you supply your own cover, formatting, editing, ISBN if necessary and a few odds and ends. That costs money, heck yeah. Paying someone to do your cover can set you back anywhere from $100 to $1,500. Editing is about the same but can go much higher in some cases. Formatting is a bit cheaper at $100 to $200, but that's still good money. Fortunately, I've met someone (another independently publishing author) who will help me with my book covers and formatting. In exchange, I'll help her with story ideas and editing. In the long term, the higher royalty rates should offset the short-term investments.
*** This is the big question I've been asking myself: What can this publisher (and any publisher, really) do for me that I can't do for myself? The answer is a bit of marketing. But how much? Many of the self-published ebooks I've looked at have higher sales figures than many publishers' books. With any publisher, I will still have to do a lot of marketing and promotion work. The burden will still be on me.
So here I go. The water's warm!
