Rebecca Main's Blog, page 4
October 6, 2019
Embracing Distractions
One thing I’ve learned in my few years of self-employment is that it’s okay to be distracted. Especially, when it comes to writing.
There are times in my work where I come to a hitch in the road. It’s unavoidable. … Read the rest
September 19, 2019
Edit Without Mercy
Let me tell you about my new favorite program—one I will happily advocate for to any other writer out there (aspiring or otherwise).
And guess what? AutoCrit is an editing software and I love it.
*le gasp* credit: giphy… Read the rest
November 2, 2017
What time is it? Free time!
Midnight Scoundrel is FREE!!! Get your copy here for a limited time only!
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Sale ends Monday, November 6th
November 1, 2017
#NaNoWriMo are you ready?
I’m no noob when it comes to NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month challenge). I participated in 2012, 2014, and 2015. “Winning” my first and third year. It’s not an easy task, nor is it meant to be, but finishing is so rewarding. For all those reading and participating this year, I’ve got a message for you:
You’ve GOT this!
Go to write-ins, virtual or IRL. Push past the shitty parts—you know, the parts of your story where you really dislike what you’ve written. It’s okay. Write that shit down anyway, then make a note on the side to yourself that this particular part needs to be reworked later. To show/explain/feel something more. Or less. Whatever it may be, then continue writing your story. Besides, when you go back in December—the month of “revision”—you’ll find it much easier to write what you really want. Keep a running note on your phone just for your story. If you’re writing everyday your novel will be on your mind, and new ideas or ways to rework a scene are going to pop into your head all the time. Trust me. You’ll want to jot those down and keep them all in one place. Tell your friends and family. Update them on your progress. Hold yourself accountable. And last, but not least, write more than the daily average. When Thanksgiving comes around you’ll be glad for the cushion you’ve given yourself.
We’ve got this.
Want to write with me? Message me and let’s schedule a time and date!
xoxo
Rebecca
October 30, 2017
Cover Design ain’t Easy
Yep, you heard me. Designing your own book covers is not a simple task. Unless, that is, you plan on using only a solid background to accompany your title and name. Even said color choice and font can feel like a heavy responsibility—especially if you’re writing a series and want consistency throughout your books.
I did quite a bit of research before diving into my cover design. What were fellow romance writers doing? What drew people in more? Survey said: partly naked men and animals. When combined the two make a pretty deadly combination, and so my first book cover was decided.
Canva turned out to be my greatest ally. I signed up for their Canva for Work to use my custom fonts and got to work. But it wasn’t easy. My husband started to get pretty tired of me scrolling through photos of shirtless men ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Luckily, the third time around has been much easier (though I have ditched the animal aspect for an even easier time)! I’m pretty pleased with the results of my work so far, and I hope my readers are too.
Wardens of Starlight will hit the stands in mid-December!!
xoxo
Rebecca
October 19, 2017
#Preptober
It’s that time of year again…Preptober. My plot line is completed. My notes scattered across multiple notebook pages. Scrivner is loaded up with character and setting information. Everything is ready for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), except instead of waiting out the next 13 days in anticipation I’ve begun writing.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
What can I say? I’m trying to time the release of each book to be roughly three months apart. I can’t wait for NaNoWriMo to start writing! It’s too tight of a timeline to release something of good quality by mid-December. Hence why I’ve begun writing.
October 11, 2017
Book Club part deux
October 5, 2017
iBooks, Nook, Kobo!
A small announcement…
Coven can now be bought and read via iBooks, Nook, Kobo, and Smashwords!! Hip hip hooray!
That is all.
xoxo
Rebecca
October 3, 2017
Coming Soon…
Extended listing of Coven (A Soulmark Series Book 1) through multiple retailers! Including: Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Baker & Taylor Bilo, and Smashwords!
A Flash SALE!!! More details to come in the coming week–updates will be made via my Instagram (@Mrs_RebeccaMain) and Facebook !
Midnight Scoundrel’s Book Club Discussion Questions!
September 28, 2017
Midnight Scoundrel
Midnight Scoundrel is now available for purchase on Amazon!
I’m so happy that this book is finally available for purchase, but the past week has been a true test of my patience and heart. With the second book of the Soulmark Series I decided to place it on pre-order. I wasn’t quite confident I would have anyone pre-order, but I thought: Why not? What was the harm?
…….
The “harm” turned out to be a bigger pain in the ass than I could have anticipated. You see, I received a 1-star review during my pre-order period. A fact that both baffled me and made me sick to my stomach. I discovered the review a day or two after it was posted (for non-authors or sellers on Amazon, you don’t receive notifications when you receive a review) and promptly had a heart attack/maybe cried.
The review was brief, explaining that they had enjoyed the first book but were disappointed to purchase and download the second only to receive 13 pages.
At the time of reading the review it felt like I had received a physical blow to the stomach. I couldn’t understand how this could happen–my book was only supposed to be available by pre-order. How had the customer been able to read anything? Worse still, a customer and a fan had received an un-finished and sloppy product from me. That is not what I want for my readers. I was so disappointed.
As for the 13 pages, I had uploaded them as a place holder instead of the actual book. When participating in pre-order you have to upload your final product 72 hrs before the release date, but you need to upload something in order to complete the process of placing your book for pre-order. I had six days to do just that, so what was the deal?!
I responded to the reviewer (though I’m not sure if they were notified of my response [image error] ) and immediately contacted Amazon’s support. Well, they fixed my pre-order problem. They reset it and made it once more only available for pre-order. Problem one solved. Problem two…not solved. I wanted the review removed. Per my Author Central FAQ regarding Customer Reviews, no one is allowed to leave a review during the pre-order period.
Amazon’s mistake should not be my consequence. My book was set to release in less than 10 days, and if that 1-star review remained it would immediately tank my book in the ratings. The pressure was on.
Unfortunately for me, Amazon has been less than helpful. Despite contacting them numerous times, I received only one response: the review is not in violation of the review guidelines, as such, it would remain. Technically speaking, it wasn’t. There was nothing foul or mean about it. It was an honest review. Except that wasn’t my issue with the review. My problem was that the review should never have been able to be placed since it was only supposed to be available on pre-order. A fact I tried to explain to no response.
When I next heard from Amazon (two days before launch), they told me the reviewer was part of Vine Voice and entitled to review my product.
Vine Voice? I had never heard of it…but it felt like another blow. It didn’t seem fair or right, which meant my husband and I had some researching to do.
Vine Voice is an invite-only Amazon program that allows trusted reviewers to review products before their release. You can read about it in full here. I was feeling pretty defeated, and, yep, I cried again. My second book wasn’t going to have a chance at being seen on the new release list with that 1-star review being displayed like some scarlet letter.
By some stroke of luck, my husband found out that all members of Vine Voice have a “badge” on their customer profile page indicating them as a member. Even more so, when they leave a review instead of saying “Customer Review” it says something along the lines of “Amazon Vine Voice Customer Review”. We went back to check the reviewer’s profile and their review…they weren’t a member of Vine Voice. No badge. No label.
What. The. Hell!
It was as if Amazon hadn’t actually read my complaint and reasonings, and was trying to give me the brush off with any explanation they could come up with. With only a couple of days left until my release I frantically tried to reach out to Amazon with what means I could: email and chat. My husband and I are currently in Budapest, Hungary and can’t afford that type of long distance phone call. -__-
In the end, I was given the same response as the first time: the review wasn’t in violation of their review guidelines. There was nothing they could do to help me further and they wouldn’t be speaking to me on the subject anymore.
That’s the email I woke up to this morning. On the day of my book release. (Insert some more tears right about here) Thoroughly crushed, I went through the other emails I had received from Amazon. It seemed like all my emails from the days past were only just now being answered, and they were all touting the same thing. Except for one. Someone responded to an email sent over the weekend that was written by my husband…and it was not a kind email my friends, but at least it got some traction. I’ve had more responses in the past day than I have had in the weeks’ time trying to reach out to Amazon to resolve this problem.
Although I’m semi-resigned to having this scarlet letter on my book, I do carry a small hope that maybe Amazon will come through and correct the error. I also hope that I can find a way to personally contact the customer reviewer and apologize again, as well as make sure they received the final product. If not, maybe there is a way I can get it to them personally.
As for the “now”, there’s nothing to do but wait. Wait for Amazon to respond. Wait for people to hopefully give my book a chance. Read it. Like it–no–love it, and drop a glowing review.
Here’s to hoping it’s you.
xoxo
R. Main
