Leon Stevens's Blog, page 91

Free Book Friday Dec 16: How much is too much?

How much of myself am I willing to give away for free?

That’s what writer’s and authors always ask themselves when deciding how to market their books. If you publish on Amazon, that number is 10% for Kindle, 20% for physical copy (no idea why the paperback would require more).

I think readers should be able to sample before buying, just like those tasty samples at the grocery store. There is nothing more disappointing than buying mini toaster burritos and finding them unpalatable.

I don’t expect every reader to enjoy my work, so I don’t mind sharing some of my writing.

The Poetry Page

Science Fiction Books

-Leon

The story behind Free Book Friday:

I’ve met many authors and readers during my time marketing, cross-promoting, and blogging. I think writers have a responsibility to inform readers about all the indie authors out there in the very crowded world of book publishing. You can’t do it alone, and why would you when you have a supportive group available?

Readers don’t just read one author – they stick with their favorite genres. There lies the power in cross-promotion. If one of my readers buys a book from an author I promote, then chances are there will be a reciprocal effect, or so is the hope. Do I want to boost sales? Of course I do. Do I want to boost other’s sales? Why not. It’s called karma.

Some free book offers require a newsletter sign-up, which is a small non-monetary price to pay to try out a new indie author.

Featured Author: Elizabeth Wilder

Elizabeth Wilder writes, paints, and dreams in Montana. Her words and art have appeared in various publications, such as xoJane, Somerset Studio, Still Standing Magazine, Wild Goslings, and Disney’s Family Fun.

In addition to her quirky little family and their too -many naughty — and very much loved — dogs and cats, Elizabeth is in love with moon-gazing, dancing wild, and drinking too much coffee.
 

Kindle UnlimitedPurchase/Sales Links See previous promos here: Discover New Authors and Free Books

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO) C’mon, space stuff!

Free Book Friday Dec 16:

How much of myself am I willing to give away for free?

That’s what writer’s and authors always ask themselves when deciding how to market their books. If you publish on Amazon, that number is 10% for Kindle, 20% for physical copy (no idea why the paperback would require more).

I think readers should be able to sample before buying, just like those tasty samples at the grocery store. There is nothing more disappointing than buying mini toaster burritos and finding them unpalatable.

I don’t expect every reader to enjoy my work, so I don’t mind sharing some of my writing.

The Poetry Page

Science Fiction Books

-Leon

The story behind Free Book Friday:

I’ve met many authors and readers during my time marketing, cross-promoting, and blogging. I think writers have a responsibility to inform readers about all the indie authors out there in the very crowded world of book publishing. You can’t do it alone, and why would you when you have a supportive group available?

Readers don’t just read one author – they stick with their favorite genres. There lies the power in cross-promotion. If one of my readers buys a book from an author I promote, then chances are there will be a reciprocal effect, or so is the hope. Do I want to boost sales? Of course I do. Do I want to boost other’s sales? Why not. It’s called karma.

Some free book offers require a newsletter sign-up, which is a small non-monetary price to pay to try out a new indie author.

Featured Author: Elizabeth Wilder

Elizabeth Wilder writes, paints, and dreams in Montana. Her words and art have appeared in various publications, such as xoJane, Somerset Studio, Still Standing Magazine, Wild Goslings, and Disney’s Family Fun.

In addition to her quirky little family and their too -many naughty — and very much loved — dogs and cats, Elizabeth is in love with moon-gazing, dancing wild, and drinking too much coffee.
 

Kindle UnlimitedPurchase/Sales Links See previous promos here: Discover New Authors and Free Books

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO) C’mon, space stuff!

Weird Wednesday Dec.14

My newsletter goes out on Wednesdays:

Lines by Leon Newsletter: Dec 14

.

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO) C’mon, space stuff!

Music Monday Dec 12: Travis and Special Guest

There is a radio show on CBC here in Canada that occasionally does a feature called SYNTH: Songs You Need To Hear.

Now, I can’t say to someone, “You’ll like this song” (or book for that matter) because I can’t presume that others will share my taste in music (or books), so it is safer to say, “You might like this” and if they don’t like it, so be it.

Maybe you will find a new favorite.

CBC MUSIC, Central · Mornings with CBC Music

I didn’t know where Travis was from before I needed to look for the clips. Really doesn’t matter though, does it?

Sometimes I will use the official video when I present a song if I feel it enhances the piece. Often, a live version carries the most powerful effects. And as below, I like to hear the audio because that is the way I heard it the first time and I have my own thoughts and memories of it.

Travis are a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1990, composed of Fran Healy, Dougie Payne, Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose. The band’s name comes from the character Travis Henderson from the film Paris, Texas.

I always thought this next song was by Rufus Wainwright (I’ve added a clip at the end to compare).

Here is Rufus:

OK. One more.

-Leon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09PC3N678

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO) C’mon, space stuff!

Weekend Wrap-up Dec 10: Website Update

If you looked at my website in the last few days, you will have noticed the theme has changed as well as some of the linked pages. Just my attempt at making a more minimalist and clean site. Changes are ongoing. But the fun is still there!

The fun?
Well, maybe not fun, fun.
Just give me the blog links. That’s the fun.

From my blog this week:

Free Book Friday Dec 9: Words for the sake of words – Making my book longer.
Weird Wednesday Dec. 7: Final Day (almost)
Music Monday Dec 5: Piano People

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO) C’mon, space stuff!

Free Book Friday Dec 9: Words for the sake of words

The first book of my science fiction trilogy is ~30k words. Book two is slightly longer.

Now, it makes sense for all three books to be about the same length. The problem is: Book three, currently in progress, is shorter. The story is done, and it’s not long enough, and I don’t like adding words for the sake of words.

My books tend to be shorter because I don’t write long detailed descriptions or back stories. Even when I read I skip over those parts.

So, now I go back to see where I can elaborate, add some dialogue tags (because there’s nothing worse—other than a crappy story—then not knowing who is talking and having to go back and assign each line to a character), and essentially write some words for . . .

. . . the sake of words.

-Leon

The story behind Free Book Friday:

I’ve met many authors and readers during my time marketing, cross-promoting, and blogging. I think writers have a responsibility to inform readers about all the indie authors out there in the very crowded world of book publishing. You can’t do it alone, and why would you when you have a supportive group available?

Readers don’t just read one author – they stick with their favorite genres. There lies the power in cross-promotion. If one of my readers buys a book from an author I promote, then chances are there will be a reciprocal effect, or so is the hope. Do I want to boost sales? Of course I do. Do I want to boost other’s sales? Why not. It’s called karma.

Some free book offers require a newsletter sign-up, which is a small non-monetary price to pay to try out a new indie author.

Featured Author: M. Rothmus

Rothmus is a doctoral student in Europe. Originally from the Middle East, his writing fuses the political and philosophical concepts of voluntaryism, individualism, propertarianism, and free will with the futuristic elements of science fiction and post-State societies.

Influenced by the works of Heinlein, Asimov, Herbert, Vonnegut, Rand, and Moore, he writes in the political, metaphysical, and dystopian science fiction genres.

Rothmus is an anti-State and liberty memes thief, collector, and connoisseur.

Free Books Sales/Purchase links Dec 7 Dec 7 See previous promos here: Discover New Authors and Free Books

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO) C’mon, space stuff!

Weird Wednesday Dec.14

My newsletter goes out on Wednesdays:

Lines by Leon Newsletter: Dec 14

.

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Book Two the The View from Here trilogy is now available: The Second View

Not ready to purchase? Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free book of your choice:

Oh, pick me! (only available here and on KOBO) C’mon, space stuff!

Weird Wednesday Dec. 7: Final Day (almost)

Sale ends Thursday morning Well, my book made it to #51 in the Space Exploration category, although I'm still trying to figure out why it's not ranking in the Sci-fi Adventure.  Anyway, if you need any more incentive to take advantage of the sale, I'm almost finished the last and final installment, The Final View, … Continue reading Weird Wednesday Dec. 7: Final Day (almost)

Music Monday Dec 5: Piano People

There is a radio show on CBC here in Canada that occasionally does a feature called SYNTH: Songs You Need To Hear. Now, I can't say to someone, "You'll like this song" (or book for that matter) because I can't presume that others will share my taste in music (or books), so it is safer … Continue reading Music Monday Dec 5: Piano People

Weekend Wrap-up Dec 3: or, why you should buy my book.

I already bought your damn book.Did you like it?Yeah, not to shabby.Then you can continue reading the rest of the post for entertainment purposes only. Why you should buy my book: It’s only 99 cents right now. It’s a stand-alone story, so there’s no commitment if you don’t like it. If you don’t like it, … Continue reading Weekend Wrap-up Dec 3: or, why you should buy my book.