Andrew Gates's Blog, page 12

Unexplained Drop in Facebook Followers

Facebook is an interesting beast. As I continue to play around with various means of connecting with fans, a big part of that comes in the form of social media websites like Facebook. It’s huge in the book world, and for really any business at all these days.

While I can’t say for certain how my Facebook presence influences sales or interest (and honestly, I don’t think it leads to much of any sales at all), I do think a strong social media presence is worth having. At the very least, it allows a way for fans of my books to get and stay involved.

That being said, many “fans” of my Facebook page don’t seem to be involved at all. With nearly 2,000 followers on Facebook, you’d think that would correlate to over 2,000 sales of books, but alas, that is not the case. Many of my followers seem to be random people, not customers. It’s as if these people have just clicked “like” because they saw it, not because they actually want to read the books or even subscribe to updates.

While I like to see a big number like 2,000, I think it’s a shame that so few of my “fans” are actually fans. This is a shame because the messages I intend to give out to my actual fans may get lost among all those who don’t care to see it. In other words, if I read the metrics that tell me a post has 345 views, that number might sound significant, but in reality only 10 of those people might actually be interested. So really, the post has 10 views.

The “random fans” are not only a huge problem for my metrics and my data and, but more importantly, if I do want to do any serious forms of paid advertising, these lurking “false fans” are just going to screw up who my ads are targeting. It’ll cost me a lot more if I advertise to people who just don’t care.

But here’s where it gets good…

Interestingly, a lot of these random followers seem to be leaving. My Facebook page had over 2,000 fans for a long time, but now that number (at the time of me posting this) is down to 1,988. While that may sound like a bad thing at first, I actually am glad that some of my “non-fans” are leaving the page, as it will make it easier for me to target the people who are actually interested.

I’m not sure why people are leaving my page, especially all at once like this. Perhaps I’m posting too much? Perhaps the recent legal debacle with Facebook is to blame for people leaving the website? Perhaps they left for unexplained other reasons? I honestly don’t think I post ENOUGH on the page. But in any case, whatever the reason, people are unfollowing my page and I don’t see it as a bad thing.

As I continue to try new things, I will learn more about Facebook, Twitter and all the various social media websites in this ever-evolving landscape. For now, I’ll just keep on writing and putting out new books the way I always have.

Advertisements

Update on Hive + New Concept Art for Veznek

Progress on Hive continues. I’ve now written five chapters plus the prologue, but I think I’m going to go back and flesh out two of the chapters that end a bit abruptly.

So far the story of Hive moves pretty quickly. The first 1/3 of the story is all about setting things in the right place so that once everything is together, the next 2/3 can go on without a hitch. I’m also trying to write it such that this is a book anyone can pick up, even if they haven’t read books 1-3. In the past the books haven’t been too new-reader oriented, so this is something I’m trying to change. Hive is also the most self-contained book in the series.

In other news, I have some cool new concept art to show you from the Color of Water and Sky series:

[image error]

Above, readers of Kholvaria and Cassidy will recognize the Kholvari mothership, Vigilant Behemoth. The ship is larger than most terrestrial cities and remains in geosynchronous orbit above what is current-day Guatemala. The ship is ultimately destroyed by Sanja Parnel from the underwater shelter of the FCP and it’s destruction is the catalyst for most of the events that transpire in Veznek.

Speaking of Veznek, take a look at this art below:

[image error]

Above, readers will recognize the face of a Kholvari, the species featured in all books of the Color of Water and Sky series. The Kholvari are often compared to massive praying mantises and are referred to by the Atlantic Federation as “UBEs”, or Unidentified Biological Entities.

Both pieces were done by artist Felipe DeBarros, who I indirectly commissioned via Sarah Anderson. These art pieces are now mine to use for all promo material or cover art in the future, which makes me very excited!

These two pieces now join the art I have of the Cassidy X20 submarine to give me a lot of cool art to work with. I now have detailed images of people and crafts from under the sea to outer space.

In case you forgot, here was the old piece I commissioned of the Cassidy sub:

[image error]

There’s a lot to work with here. I can’t wait to see how I can use this art for future promotional material.

As always, keep checking back on this blog for more updates.

Advertisements

Here’s Your Long List of Current Book Deals from Various Authors

Like book promotions? Then you’re in luck! Welcome to the a big list of low-priced books! There’s something for everybody here!

Let’s get right to it:

Pew! Pew! – A Fist Full of Pew by various authors

First of all, I can’t do a promo without mentioning a book that I’ve helped author. It’s newly released and currently ON SALE for a limited time for just $0.99. Pew! Pew! is a collection of eight science-fiction comedy stories by eight different writers, including me! That means you’re getting eight stories for less than dollar! Talk about a GREAT discount!

[image error]

To purchase this collection for the low price of just $0.99 for a limited time, click here: LINK to Pew! Pew!

Faith and Her Devoted Duke by Lynda Hurst

Briefly switching genres here, we have a historical romance novel by Lynda Hurst. This book is currently on sale for, again, the low price of just $0.99!

Mystery, Intrigue and Romance abound!

After being evicted from her family home by Devlin, the newly minted Duke of Prestonridge, Faith Revelstoke spends her formative years living with her younger brother. She provides for them both while attempting to unravel the mystery of her mother’s disappearance. But as clues become scarce, Devlin shows up at the door to Faith’s cottage. The Duke is intent on both becoming her guardian and finding her a proper husband. Knowing she will require Devlin’s assistance to continue her research, Faith begrudgingly agrees to become the Duke’s ward.

The pair spend the season in London, their relationship becoming complicated as feelings blossom, mysterious threads unravel and potential suitors loom. Devlin soon finds that his devotion to finding Faith a husband takes an unexpected turn. His own love for the young Revelstoke becomes self-apparent, and he can imagine nobody else by her side. Can they find love in each other’s arms while also solving the mystery of the Revelstoke legacy?

[image error]

To purchase this novel for the low price of just $0.99, click here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B8P47ZT

Space Dragons by Felix R Savage

Did someone say space AND dragons? You bet!

Author Felix R Savage has a brand new book recently released and you can be the first to read his brand new book, Space Dragons, by following this link HERE and checking out his author page on Amazon.com.

Space Dragons is out for the low price of just $0.99! Once again, grab your copy today by checking out his Amazon author page HERE

Riddled Space by Bill Patterson

The third book in Bill Patterson’s Riddled Space science-fiction space series has just been released. In honor of the new release, book 1 has gone on sale! The price of Riddled Space (the first book in the series) has now gone down to $0.99 permanently. Book 2 is going to be $1.99 starting today and continuing for just five days. Then when you’re done with both of them, pick up the newly released book 3, Dead Men Flying. Act now!

The gruesome death of the Moonbase Collins’ chief sets the professional UN Astronaut Corps against the United Nations Space Operations Command and its oily Director General when he attempts to sell .  It’s not quite a mutiny, but the corrupt head of UNSOC is determined to crush any sense of independent action by the willful astronauts, especially the new commander of the UN Space Station Roger B. Chaffee, Lisa Daniels.  All of the workers ‘upstairs’, in orbit and on the Moon, are under the gun—the work is hard, dangerous, and unrelenting.  The morale budget is cut to the bone, the only luxuries are the ones that the shuttle pilots can smuggle up, the vendors using the manufacturing space are being squeezed for bribes at every turn.

Then a massive explosion rocks the South Polar region of the Moon, spewing radiation and a huge volume of rock into cis-lunar space.  Fifteen minutes after the blast, Moonbase Collins falls silent.

Lisa Daniels and her crew are in incredible danger.  Not only have they absorbed radiation equivalent to ten-thousand X-rays, they may be in path of the debris plume blasted off of the Moon.  The Director-General, faced with losing the source of his bribe money, has forbidden evacuation of the Chaffee.  Besides, he has spent his twenty years of rule squeezing the maximum amount of cash from the Chaffee.  Non-essentials, like lifeboats, were never funded. 

Lisa has a plan to get everyone to Earth, but to put it in action, she will have to sacrifice everything she has worked so hard for all of her life, as well as drag in everyone else on the ground into her mutiny.  The real question is: dare she do it?

[image error]

To purchase this novel for the low price of just $0.99, click here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0756WVTPZ/ref=&tag=bilpatsautblo-20

 

Advertisements

Announcing “Valentine’s Day 1979: An Intergalactic Adventure”

It’s a dreary day here at home. There’s a wind speed advisory across the area. Schools and government jobs across the region have been closed. Wind speeds are expected to match that of tropical storm Sandy. So most everyone has been relegated inside today.

But alas, dreary days are not all bad. For today brings the announcement of a new story! Those of you who follow this blog regularly may recall my previous post about my comedy short story called Totalus, which was featured in the Pew! Pew! – Bad versus Worse short story collection.

Well… now I have a NEW story coming out. This story is called Valentine’s Day 1979: An Intergalactic Adventure and it will be featured in the upcoming Pew! Pew! – A Fist Full of Pews! collection.

[image error]

Many of the same authors are back for this collection. The lineup includes M.D. Cooper, James S. Aaron, Amy DuBoff, Bill Patterson, Richard Perry, Andrew Dobell, Felix R. Savage and of course, who else could it be but Andrew Gates? If you look at the product page (LINK to product page), you’ll notice that I am not listed on it. Instead, Drew Cordell is listed in my place. This is a temporary issue and it should be resolved soon. Who knows? By the time you read this, maybe the problem will be fixed.

My story, Valentine’s Day 1979: An Intergalactic Adventure, is a not-so-classic love story between a man and an alien princess. Here’s the official description:

It’s Valentine’s Day in 1979 and for Ryan Gifford, love is just the one thing he can’t seem to find in the City of Brotherly Love. But after a strange encounter at the local cinema, Ryan’s life suddenly takes a dramatic change when he learns he must marry an alien Princess in order to stop an intergalactic war. Whether he is ready for it or not, Ryan is thrusted into a life of romance, intrigue and space aliens who don’t seem to understand his 70s slang.

Pew! Pew! – A Fist Full of Pews! comes out March 8th. You can pre-order your copy today by following the link here: LINK to Preorder

Advertisements

Brief Update on Hive

Hello all.

I should be writing Hive, but I’ve hit a bit of a slow patch and decided to write for this blog instead. I confess to say that when the story slows down, my level of excitement to write dwindles with it.

In particular, one thing I do NOT enjoy writing are scenes that are meant to get the reader caught up on everything that has happened. And that doesn’t necessarily mean between books. For example, if there’s a gap in time between one chapter and another, explaining what that character has been up to in that time is not the most exciting thing to write. On top of that, I’m always worried about the details. Do I have too many details? Too few? What if I neglect to include something important?

If you haven’t made the assumption already, I’m on one of those chapters now. And to give you a taste of what that chapter is like, the summary for this chapter I’ve written in my outline is, “This chapter establishes their situation in the forest “.

So that’s what I have going on.

All in all, progress with Hive is coming along. I’ve written 17,790 words and am just starting page 31 (which is in a Word document, not a finished book, where it would be more pages than that). And in case you were wondering what that equates to in terms of chapters, I’m just starting chapter three. Well, I guess I should clarify… I’ve written the chapter title and that’s it.

The prologue to Hive, as always, is AWESOME. It’s very Star Trek-esque. The prologues are often my favorite bits to write since they are usually so different from the rest of the book. I approach writing them almost like I’m writing independent short stories with their own wholly unique characters, subjects, settings and (in some cases) tones.

I know I say this every time I write a new prologue, but I’m going to say it again…

The prologue to Hive is my favorite prologue I’ve written in the series so far. It’s incredibly exciting from the get-go. I know readers are really going to love it.

Chapter 1 of Hive is nothing to rave about. Much like the first chapter of Iris was nothing fancy and mostly just served to introduce the protagonist, the first chapter of Hive gets us caught up to our characters and reminds us of who they are and their setting. Not a whole lot going on there.

Chapter 2 is where things start to get moving. A LOT of big events take place at the end of Veznek, so this chapter deals with the fallout of those major events and gets the plot going. I think readers will like this chapter, especially those who like the political elements of the series.

In some non-Hive related news, I’ll be posting a few more book promos for other authors on this blog again soon. Whenever you see me do that, usually the reason is because someone else is reciprocating. In other words, if I promote someone else’s book on this blog, they will promote mine on theirs. So just know, if you wonder why I do that sometimes, that’s why.

That’s all for now. I’ll have some big news to bring you soon, but in the meantime, stay tuned!

Advertisements

Book Deal: The Death Fields for Only $0.99

I have a great deal for you all today! Fellow post-apocalyptic author Angel Lawson is putting her book series The Death Fields on sale for just $0.99 for a limited time! Act soon, because this deal won’t last.

“There’s nothing like the end of the world to put things into perspective.”

Humanity is on the brink of extinction, brought to its knees by a virus no man could have predicted. The lucky died. The damned transformed into rabid beasts and the rest? They must navigate the remains of society, the dead and living, as they come to grips with who was responsible and why.

The Death Fields is a post-apocalyptic thriller that follows Alexandra as she’s tasked with a job that will potentially save thousands of lives.

To purchase entire Death Fields series for just $0.99, click here:

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Fields-Post-Apocalyptic-Thriller-Books-ebook/dp/B071GCWLVW/

 

 

Advertisements

Progress Made in Editing of Veznek

Progress is coming along quickly for Veznek, the third book in The Color of Water and Sky series. This is due in large part to finally getting a lot of that difficult Chapter 14 out of the way. I’m currently having two people look over my draft (or three if you include myself) and give substance + grammar edits along the way. As I am also one of these editors, it’s fun for me as a reader to go through and revisit this story again!

The story of Veznek is not as linear as the others. What I mean by that is that all the individual characters are mostly out having their own separate storylines. I think this book has the momentum in the series. The story is a slow upwards build from beginning to end until it reaches a really powerful climax to conclude. I’m getting excited just re-reading it and anticipating the grand finale (even though I already know what happens).

Assuming things don’t slow down for unknown reasons, I anticipate progress on Veznek will continue to go on at a fast pace like this. At this point, I would assume (but cannot promise) that we’ll see an April release.

I’m really excited to get this book out and push the story to its highest stakes yet.

That’s right: the stakes have never been higher… until book 4 comes out, and then the events of Veznek will look trivial by comparison.

On that note, I’ve completed the prologue and first chapter of Hive, the fourth book in The Color of Water and Sky. Currently, I’m working on chapter two, which is a blast to write. The end of book 3 mixes up the world quite a bit so the start of book 4 is all about establishing what’s happened after book 3’s fallout. There are a lot of changes that I’m excited about, but I can’t say much more without revealing some key things.

All in all, things are looking good. Expect some big announcements soon, including an announcement about a major non-Water and Sky related project.

Advertisements

First Two Pages of Hive Written

I’ve taken a brief pause on writing of The Color of Water and Sky series during the last few months as I’ve prioritized my time on non-Water and Sky writing projects. But after so many days of stepping aside and working on other projects, I’ve found that I’ve grown antsy. At long last, I couldn’t help myself and I finally got to work writing Hive, the fourth book in The Color of Water and Sky series (and my favorite title of all four).

Though I’ve only written two pages, these two pages were very science-heavy pages that required a great deal of research. As a result, writing these two pages alone took most of the afternoon (and even involved converting the unit kilmoeters-per-hour into the fictional unit of kotans-per-minute – a “kotan” by the way, is roughly 1.5 meters).

Historically the prologues in my books are very different, both tonally and conceptually, from the rest of the book. The prologue of Hive no exception. Where the prologue of book 1 took us to a surprise attack in a submarine, the prologue of book 2 took us to a spaceship orbiting the Earth and the prologue of book 3 [spoiler alert] took us to the far past, book 4 takes us to… well, it’s somewhere COMPLETELY new.

Come on, you didn’t think I was going to reveal all that right now, did you?

Now that I’ve finally written the first few pages of Hive, the rest of the novel will inevitably follow. I typically find that once I start working on a project, I become invigorated with a boost of momentum and keep going.

Hive will have the largest scope of any book in the series so far and will serve as its final chapter. The book will take us to different Kholvari cities across Kholvaria, to spaceships, to far away lands, and even to some returning locations.

As always, the book will be written in multiple-POV style. I’m still determining if it will follow four or five characters. Most likely, it will be five, since that’s what the other three books have.

In other non-Hive related news, editing is still underway for a particularly sensitive chapter of Veznek. It’s taking some time, but it is a chapter that needs to be handled carefully. Once I get that chapter tweaked and out of the way, progress on Veznek will happen very quickly after that (every project has its speedbumps).

As always, keep checking here for more updates on The Color of Water and Sky series!

Advertisements

General Update on Numerous Projects

Boy, what a week!

I have a lot of writing projects going on right now, most of which are not related to The Color of Water and Sky series. Though this is the main series I work to push, it is not the sole focus of my efforts. I have other series’ as well, including work done under different names. All in all, there’s a lot for me to do in the world of writing and I find myself perhaps stretching myself a tad too thin.

Alas, while I know you lovely-readers are clamoring for more of The Color of Water and Sky, and are likely wondering why I would ever focus my attention on anything else, you can rest assured in the knowledge that my other projects will be finished soon and I will get back to prioritizing your favorite series.

So… what is the status of my books?

Cassidy

It has been a STRONG sales day today for The Color of Water and Sky, all due to a big sales push I’m doing for Cassidy this week. On this day alone, I’ve moved 300+ copies of Cassidy at a reduced price, which in turn, has directly led to an increase in the sale of other books Iris and Kholvaria.

What I’ve learned from this experience is that running a promotion on Cassidy is far more rewarding than running a promotion on Iris. While a promotion on Cassidy seems to lead to an increase in the sale of Iris and Kholvaria, a promotion on Iris generally just leads to an increase in the sale of Kholvaria.

Finally, this book is beginning to show its worth.

 

Veznek

The upcoming third book in the series has been a bit delayed, all due to a particularly difficult chapter: Chapter 14. While the book’s rough draft has already been written for many months now, the editing process is proving to be long and slow, all because of this difficult chapter.

Chapter 14 has a lot going on. I draw inspiration for this chapter from some pretty dark stuff including The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Game of Thrones, and the case could even be made for Saw (but mainly The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo). It’s brutal and gory and divisive and I know if it’s not handled well, it has the potential to lose a lot of readers. They’ll drop the book and never come back. That is why I know this chapter needs to be handled with a great degree of tact. Unfortunately for you all, that also means it’s taking a long time.

But rest assured, once this detailed work on Chapter 14 is out of the way, I’ll start getting other editors involved and the process will begin to move a lot faster. Currently I have one other person looking at it and offering her advice. Her notes will be very helpful.

Pew! Pew!

My short story for the next volume of the comedy sci-fi collection, Pew! Pew!, has already been written and it should be out sometime around April (sorry, I know I said February before, but it’s actually April). I eluded to this story in a prior post, so this may be old news for those of you who follow this blog regularly.

My new story will be titled Valentine’s Day 1979: An Intergalactic Adventure. The story is about a man in the 70’s who must marry an alien named Princess Mayra in order to prevent an intergalactic war. It’s full of 70’s references and slang and it will be my first released story written in the first-person (something I typically do not enjoy).

As always, you’ll get more updates on that closer to the day.

 

Other Projects

Believe it or not, I have a total of five additional books I haven’t referenced yet that have been written. Two of those five still need to undergo heavy editing. Three of those five are in a finished stage and are ready for release.

On top of that, I also have a sixth secret book in the works now, which is about 1/5 written. So… all in all, there’s a lot going on, most of which I am not prepared to share at this time.

One thing I can share, which I eluded to during my last blog post, is my idea for a collection of short stories set in the world of The Color of Water and Sky. You can read more about that by clicking HERE. The second story in that collection, tentatively titled Descent, has now been finished and is in a rough draft stage. So, things are definitely moving.

As I said before, once I get finished with these side-projects, I’ll be able to better re-focus on The Color of Water and Sky series, which I admit, has taken a bit of a backseat lately.

 

Overall, things are looking good. It’s busy, but it’s good. As always, keep checking back here for more news and updates.

Advertisements

Short Stories Set in the Color of Water and Sky World

Happy 2018!

I have an announcement to make!

As the new year begins, I’m putting together a series of short stories set in the world of the Color of Water and Sky series. I have four stories in mind in total, one of which has already been written and the second one is nearly finished.

I’m thinking of including all four of them together in an anthology and releasing it in between the release of the books Veznek and Hive.

For added fun, I’m trying to get another author on board to contribute to the collection, adding another voice to this dynamic series. I love the idea of co-authorships. More on that as it develops.

The stories I have in mind are as follows:

Downfall (already written)

War has come to the North American States.

It is a dark time for the NAS. The overseas war has finally made its way stateside, forcing every able-bodied man and woman to take up arms in defense of their country, including Sarah Prescott, an ordinary police officer who never asked to be on the battlefield. But when her hometown of Virginia City is threatened, she will not stop until her city is safe. Outgunned and outmanned, the newly-minted and desperate soldiers must do whatever they can to win… or to survive.

Set earlier in history than any other tale in the series, witness the downfall of the NAS as the deadliest war on Earth nears its horrifying end.

Descent (mostly written)

Year 100, Atlantic Federation Calendar.

It has been a full century since humanity descended to the Atlantic Station. After all these years, only one still lives who is old enough to remember the days of the surface: the 106-year-old woman, Monroe Greenwood. In honor of the Centennial Celebration, the station calls on the last survivor of the Descent to share her dark and fascinating tale with one basic question: “What was it like to relocate to the Atlantic Station?”

Gallino (trying to get another author to help with this one)

Robert Gallino, the station’s most powerful mob boss, is dead.

Tony has always been loyal to his friends and to his boss, Gallino. But when the boss is killed suddenly in his home, the identity of Gallino’s murderer quickly becomes a mystery. As the confused and desperate members of Gallino’s criminal enterprise scramble to reconcile with this sudden news, everyone becomes a suspect. Loyalties and alliances in the gang are instantly shattered, forcing Tony to fight just to survive and to protect the ones he truly loves from the people he once called his friends.

[Information here about the author]

Allora (yet to be written)

The from the pages of Cassidy, the journey of Sara Gessetti and Damien Saljov continues…

The newly constructed Cassidy City is a haven for some of Earth’s last surviving humans. For months, life has been peaceful for this hidden clan, who manages to keep their neighbors, the deadly ruors, at bay. But there are unseen threats that grow within the walls of Cassidy City, as a long-suppressed enemy quietly returns once more.

This official sequel to Cassidy takes place parallel to books 3 and 4 in The Color of Water and Sky series.

Advertisements